Lionel Shriver, We Need To Talk About Kevin Review

Overall Rating

The only thing that kept me reading 'We Need to Talk about Kevin' was the fact that other people had recommended it so highly and the blurb suggested the end would be worth it, otherwise I would have given up in the first few pages. To describe Shriver's style as turgid is being kind. Some of her sentences were so convoluted that I had to reread them three or four times. The pace creeps - 150 pages of will she or won't she get pregnant, when we know from the back cover that she does. The letter device is corny and transparent - it was clear to me almost immediately what was going on and perhaps Shriver should be reminded that Raymond Carver had a sign on his desk saying 'NO TRICKS.'Having said this the set piece when it finally, finally, finally, comes is brilliantly described and almost makes up for the impatience and frustration I felt getting there. So I would say if you have a long life ahead of you go ahead and read it - if time is short don't bother.