We Need To Talk About Kevin

[Abstract]

She made a point about it being presented from the mother's point of view

Ah. That is interesting. She purposefully told the entire story and described Kevin and his behaviour through the lens of the mothers eye.

And if that eye belongs to a a mother who did not really want her child to start and who is not able to bond with him then we have to keep that in mind. So I guess we wonder how Kevin would have been portrayed if done so from an objective point of view.

I had no sympathy at all.

As I said I only watched the film and did not manage that much of it but I also had this response. His cruelty and game playing and from such a young age are hard to manage.

It was both that and the fact that the mothers should never have had him to start that had me stop watching. I found both very disturbing despite my great interest in the topic. I would still like to attempt to read the book at some point.

All aspects of the main themes interests me. Nature versus nurture; the effects of a mother not bonding with a child; and how truths are flavoured by the agenda of the story teller.

I believe the book had good reviews in general so possibly appreciation is partly down to the book not being someone's cup of tea.

 

[Lucycat]

I finished this book yesterday. I too had it as an audio version and loved the interview with the author at the end.

I could not 'put this book down' - or the audio equivalent! I loved it. It really made me think, and although it is very dark there is so much in it.

Strangely I DID sympathise with Kevin. He was not wanted from even before his birth. It is a fascinating exploratory insight into parenthood and relationships.

 

[Hashi]

I could not 'put this book down' - or the audio equivalent!

I never know how to talk about audiobooks. It doesn't feel quite right to say I'm "reading" one, but I get funny looks if I say "the book I'm listening to". :unsure:

It really made me think, and although it is very dark there is so much in it.

Yes, that's how I felt about it.

I also thought it was well written, both the mother's grim everyday experience of living with Kevin, and the scenes in the gym then the way she found out about things, which actually had me holding my breath.

 

[Hashi]

So I guess we wonder how Kevin would have been portrayed if done so from an objective point of view.

Yes, and for me this was especially so from the situation at the end of the book, and the mother's relationships with people at that point. I won't say more in case it would be a spoiler.

Although, I suppose it's partly that there is no objective point of view - just different points of view.

 

[Abstract]

I think I will give the book a try at some point.

And yes, "objective" was not the right word as there is no such thing in reality. To be precise it would rather be "more objective".