We need to talk about Kevin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one of my top 10 favorite books.

What's the other 9?

Not telling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve owned this book since 2005 and only now got around to reading it. Holy hell, it is one of The best things I have ever read. Any one have any recommendations for similar books? Or books with a similar mood/ tone. I love anything subtly eerie, books about sociopaths and maternal ambivalence.

It's not nearly as well-written but I think you'd like The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth too.

Though I like the genre, the Good Sister was so poorly written, it's hard to recommend. Mother-in-law was better.

I was disappointed in the Good Sister as well and it was SO hyped.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read that, but I love Lionel Shriver. Big Brother is absolutely fabulous - I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Defending Jacob
Room
Sharp Objects

[Anonymous]

****SPOILER ALERT****









I thought both the book and the movie were fine, but it didn't ring true to me that the townspeople were so cold to her, especially given that her husband and daughter were killed, too. It would seem more realistic if they saw her as a victim, too, instead of shunning her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve owned this book since 2005 and only now got around to reading it. Holy hell, it is one of The best things I have ever read. Any one have any recommendations for similar books? Or books with a similar mood/ tone. I love anything subtly eerie, books about sociopaths and maternal ambivalence.

I could not watch the movie. There are parts of the book that still hit every once in a while.

I'd recommend Ghost Wall for something similar. Equally jarring, but much shorter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:****SPOILER ALERT****









I thought both the book and the movie were fine, but it didn't ring true to me that the townspeople were so cold to her, especially given that her husband and daughter were killed, too. It would seem more realistic if they saw her as a victim, too, instead of shunning her.

I thought so too! I know, "blame the mom" is strong, but the son also killed her normal and loved daughter and her husband. I think there would be some more sympathy about Kevin being a really "bad seed" and less focus on her failings as a woman. She was, in fact, largely a victim if not the *perfect mother* which is what makes it so interesting.

The only way I can see her catching this blame is that when faced with tragedy like this, some people have a VERY strong need to feel like anything similar would NEVER happen to them. A blame the victim mentality. It couldn't be hardwiring, it HAD to be she was a bad mom! Rape is sad and all, but that would never happen to me, I don't dress like a alut and go to bars! Maybe it was that at play? "MY boy would NEVER!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:****SPOILER ALERT****









I thought both the book and the movie were fine, but it didn't ring true to me that the townspeople were so cold to her, especially given that her husband and daughter were killed, too. It would seem more realistic if they saw her as a victim, too, instead of shunning her.

I thought so too! I know, "blame the mom" is strong, but the son also killed her normal and loved daughter and her husband. I think there would be some more sympathy about Kevin being a really "bad seed" and less focus on her failings as a woman. She was, in fact, largely a victim if not the *perfect mother* which is what makes it so interesting.

The only way I can see her catching this blame is that when faced with tragedy like this, some people have a VERY strong need to feel like anything similar would NEVER happen to them. A blame the victim mentality. It couldn't be hardwiring, it HAD to be she was a bad mom! Rape is sad and all, but that would never happen to me, I don't dress like a alut and go to bars! Maybe it was that at play? "MY boy would NEVER!"

I don't even think it has to be a conscious thought of "my boy would never..." it can be just a great difficulty putting oneself in her shoes and imagining the devastation and horror of what she lived with and through...you don't have to be a pearl clutching, Karen to not want to face this type of trauma or imagine it even beyond a second. We all want to innately look the other way at some traumas...that's the nature of them...they evoke horror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one of my top 10 favorite books.

What's the other 9?

Not telling

I'm the one who wrote the original comment and I did not write this "not telling" response.

Why do people do that around here? Do they get kicks from that??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's one of my top 10 favorite books.

What's the other 9?

Not telling

I'm the one who wrote the original comment and I did not write this "not telling" response.

Why do people do that around here? Do they get kicks from that??

So what are the other 9?