Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

21 reviews

melissahawco's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Mass/school shootings, Death, and Child death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Racial slurs

boundforinfinity's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Eva's pretentious attitude to life and unattractive opinions on motherhood make for an unlikeable, unreliable narrator. That being said - that was the point. And boy does that point shine through.

In regards to the Nature vs. Nurture debate, which surrounds this novels primary focus (Kevin), I would argue more than ever that the majority swings to the nurture side. I, as a reader, find that whilst Eva's actions weren't necessarily harsh or unloving - her tone and attitude towards her son breed the hostile nature that he harbours. Yes - parenting is hard - and especially when the child is not what you were expecting. Franklin's character, whilst also repulsive and pretentious, held a fair stance on parenting. 

Why was it that Kevin left Eva? Not necessarily to torture her, I don't think, but because he craved attention and love from the person who put up a façade of a doting mother. A mother who would look after him but would scream about him being a monster and evil when she thought he couldn't hear. In response, he grabbed her attention in the way she'd alluded to in different parts throughout his childhood. Her "favourite" things. 

I realise this is just my view on the book coupled with my own opinion on parenting - but I stand by it. 

A great read for the opinionated and interested in psychologies of killers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Child abuse, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Child death, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Freud would love it.

kstericker's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual content, Confinement, and Cursing

Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Body shaming, Self harm, Sexism, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, and Body horror

jessbrownette's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Violence

techigeekchic's review

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent

shangchunsong's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

one of my favorite books of all time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent

do not read if you can't stomach violence

gizley0420's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, and Violence

pockymonster_'s review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Body shaming, and Animal cruelty

ellensmith's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Damn. Really good. Really sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, and Pregnancy

evaorbit's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A little slow at first, but once she gives birth to Kevin it moves really fast. Really interesting to hear her perspective on nature vs. nurture and parenthood. Every character is so well written. You really get a sense of how alone Eva is. The scenes in prison are excellent. Lots of great writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Mass/school shootings, and Grief