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Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh's Reviews > We Need to Talk About Kevin
We Need to Talk About Kevin
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Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh's review
bookshelves: dark, family, awards, 2012, social-issues, lit-usa, reviewed, favs-recent
Jul 22, 2012
bookshelves: dark, family, awards, 2012, social-issues, lit-usa, reviewed, favs-recent
This book should be sold at the pharmaceutical counter right next to birth control pills, I can’t think of a better deterrent for unwanted pregnancy. It did a great job of confirming a few truisms, maternal instincts are not a given, some children are just born bad, and the worst mistake a couple can make is to allow a child to divide them. It’s the story of Kevin, a lethal mix of nature and poor nurturing resulting in the child from hell. Yet it’s the character of his mother Eva that I found the most disturbing. Totally self-absorbed, high-octane critical; full of discontent, no wonder she’s completely unable to form healthy relationships with anyone including the husband she purports to adore. Ergo a neurotic son.
It’s not as sensationalist as I expected, this is a terrific book. Would I recommend it? Oh yeah, but with disclaimers; it could easily offend and it’s horrific, so read at your own risk. It will make you think and it will stay with you, ‘Rosemary’s Baby� for the 21st century only way scarier because it’s based on reality. The writing style is unusual, at times painfully raw, often elegant and always intelligent. Be forewarned, she tends too overkill in the adjective department - like me:)
Memorable Quote: "You can only punish people who have hopes to frustrate or attachments to sever. Impenetrable passions have never made Kevin laugh. From early childhood they have enraged him. They were determined to find something mechanically wrong with him, because broken machines can be fixed. It was easier to minister to passive incapacity than to tackle the more frightening matter of fierce, crackling disinterest."
It’s not as sensationalist as I expected, this is a terrific book. Would I recommend it? Oh yeah, but with disclaimers; it could easily offend and it’s horrific, so read at your own risk. It will make you think and it will stay with you, ‘Rosemary’s Baby� for the 21st century only way scarier because it’s based on reality. The writing style is unusual, at times painfully raw, often elegant and always intelligent. Be forewarned, she tends too overkill in the adjective department - like me:)
Memorable Quote: "You can only punish people who have hopes to frustrate or attachments to sever. Impenetrable passions have never made Kevin laugh. From early childhood they have enraged him. They were determined to find something mechanically wrong with him, because broken machines can be fixed. It was easier to minister to passive incapacity than to tackle the more frightening matter of fierce, crackling disinterest."
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Reading Progress
July 22, 2012
– Shelved
September 4, 2012
–
Started Reading
September 10, 2012
–
Finished Reading
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by
Beth
(new)
Sep 04, 2012 04:23PM
I've been wanting to read this! Please let me know how you like it.
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I will for sure Beth. The writing style is very smart & elegant, only 50 pages into it but so far I'd say it's going to be a good one.
Reading your review I want to read it again and it's not so long ago that I did. Loved this book.(so glad I am not easily offended. I would miss out on so many good books ;) )
� Marlene� wrote: "Reading your review I want to read it again and it's not so long ago that I did. Loved this book.(so glad I am not easily offended. I would miss out on so many good books ;) )"Well said, Marlene!
Theresa wrote: "Great review Florence!"Thanks for saying so, Theresa!
I just noticed that you listed this as one of your top ten reads for 2012. I watched the movie before I realized the movie was based on a book and found the movie profoundly disturbing After reading your review, however, I may give it a try.
Jennifer wrote: "I just noticed that you listed this as one of your top ten reads for 2012. I watched the movie before I realized the movie was based on a book and found the movie profoundly disturbing After readi..."Hi Jennifer, the book is disturbing as well - but pulp fiction it's not. I haven't seen the movie (want to) but the book is usually better? Our taste is pretty similar... I'd be interested in your spin on it if you do read it:)
Eva is a reluctant mother, but capable of forming an attachment to a child, surely, as is demostrated by her reaction to the birth of Celia. Kevin is as he is, and as he is born. The first rejection is surely his in spurning his mother's milk.
Anne wrote: "Eva is a reluctant mother, but capable of forming an attachment to a child, surely, as is demostrated by her reaction to the birth of Celia. Kevin is as he is, and as he is born. The first reject..."Agreed Anne, Kevin was born messed up. As I was saying in the review, a lethal mix. Forming an attachment is one thing, maintaining it another...
Great review. I can't wait to read this :)
It's pretty freaky Emma, but then how couldn't it be given the subject, a killing rampage in a school - hope you get something out of it, sure hit home with me. And thanks for the compliment:)
I bought it along with American Psycho, so I suppose I was having a dark and twisted kinda day ;) and no problem: you compliment me enough! :P
That'll make for some light reading:) Tempted to read American Psycho - I'll watch for what you think. Hear it's really twisted - in a great way.
Definitely ;D
I'll probably read it soon, and I might post a few lines about it. (or, I'll message you more in-depth, as there is room for error when only one person views the message) I'm looking forward to that, too: I love twisted books.
I'll probably read it soon, and I might post a few lines about it. (or, I'll message you more in-depth, as there is room for error when only one person views the message) I'm looking forward to that, too: I love twisted books.
Emma, if you're happier messaging me, go for it - works for me. But don't worry about making errors - so what? Just keep writing them:)
Thank you :)
Eh, I guess it's how I'll learn. My little reviews have to improve over time. :)
Eh, I guess it's how I'll learn. My little reviews have to improve over time. :)
:)No rule they have to be long, in fact I prefer short reviews, and I really like yours. Emma, I've been writing a review on every book I read for just the last year - new to me too. It gets (a bit) easier:) You should see my 1st reviews, lol. Believe me, you're off to a better start than I was...
Aw, thank you :D
Well, regardless of your (apparent) poor start in the world of review-writing, I'd say you're pretty good now...I hope mine can be as good as yours :P
Well, regardless of your (apparent) poor start in the world of review-writing, I'd say you're pretty good now...I hope mine can be as good as yours :P
Not sure if I'd want to read this, but great review.
Joseph wrote: "Not sure if I'd want to read this, but great review."Thanks Joseph, appreciate it - Lionel Shriver is a great writer. Not sure I'd recommend you read it either unless topic of interest. Is for me, experienced a highschool shooting when I was in school - been trying to figure out the why of it all ever since.
This is an excellent summary of this book.
Shelly wrote: "This is an excellent summary of this book."Thanks Shelly, appreciate that.
Great review, Florence. I just loved this book. One you never forget. So cleverly written (in the second person). So painfully honest (albeit a fictitious narrator). It really forces us to think about what it means to be a parent -- a mother, in particular. It's chilling, thought-provoking, and feels absolutely true.
Trish wrote: "Great review, Florence. I just loved this book. One you never forget. So cleverly written (in the second person). So painfully honest (albeit a fictitious narrator). It really forces us to think ab..."Thanks Trish - I was also really impressed with her writing, and I do plan on reading more by her. It's one I won't forget either.
Good review to you too Florence! We just discussed this book at my book club last week. All were very positive about the book although all agreed it was one of the most difficult reads in terms of the subject matter. It provoked one of the longest discussions of the book we have had. I enjoyed looking at your book lists and loved the one entitled "Abandoned." Well done!
Read Gone Girl, it has a lot of pizzazz!
Jane Anne wrote: "Good review to you too Florence! We just discussed this book at my book club last week. All were very positive about the book although all agreed it was one of the most difficult reads in terms of..."Thankyou Jane Anne! I would have enjoyed being in a book discussion on this one, still thinking about it a year later - sure sign of a good book:)
I dislike abandoning books (it's this completion compulsion I have) but it was pretty bad...
Definitely going to get to Gone Girl - SOON. Cheers.
I just seen the movie version of this book very powerful and disturbing. since the book is usually always better then the movie I knew I had to have it so I put my order in with Santa and I see my loving girlfriend ordered it from AmazonSeeing your fantastic review I know I made the right decision Happy Holidays to You Great job
William wrote: "I just seen the movie version of this book very powerful and disturbing. since the book is usually always better then the movie I knew I had to have it so I put my order in with Santa and I see my ..."hi William - broke my wrist so I've been off-line for a while, excuse typo's - thanks for your lovely comment. Haven't watched the movie, heard the acting is great so will one day. Hope Santa came through for you - the writing is truly fantastic. Happy new year:)
Brilliantly original first sentence, Lefty. It made me laugh out loud. Why? Because it's so true!!!
Lisa Mae wrote: "Brilliantly original first sentence, Lefty. It made me laugh out loud. Why? Because it's so true!!!"Hey Lisa Mae, thanks for commenting - glad I gave you a laugh! Dead straight it's true> I never had the great urge to have children, suspect I'd have been a terrible mother - great with pets though:)
Cheryl wrote: "Ditto to Lisa Mae's comment: the first sentence is masterful. Thanks for a great review."Nice of you Cheryl. It works because it's so true:)
Loved your review!! :-)
She's a GREAT writer Aditi - Thanks again!
LOOOOL @ sold at a pharmaceutical counter LOOL
"I can't think of a better deterrent for unwanted pregnancy"... That statement's very true of this book, actually.
Mothering a child like Kevin is extremely difficult. They literally won't let their mothers bond with them; due to the strange sensory issues they have, unlike most babies they don't want to be touched, don't want to be held, played with, or even talked to. These types of children, to paraphrase something Eva says about Kevin, just seem to be born angry and miserable. Intellectually they are normal, but otherwise some circuits are missing - like curiosity, passion, and empathy - that complete the puzzle of what makes us really human.
