Hey everyone,
Today I want to start what I hope will be a monthly "series" on my blog: book of the month. I could talk about books 24/7 and I would probably bore anyone to tears after a while so I decided to compile my musings about books into a monthly blog post where I focus on one book I have been reading and review it, recommend it or warn you against it.
For the month of June 2015, I have been reading We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. This book was recommended and loaned to me by my friend Tess, and I’m very grateful that she loaned it to me because it was such a fascinating book.
Initially I didn’t know what to expect from a book about a teenager who, according to the blurb, kills seven of his fellow high school students, a teacher and a cafeteria worker, but the reasons behind it aren’t completely clear in the book either as it is from the point of view of Kevin’s mother Eva. The style of writing in the book is brilliant: Eva narrating her memory of Kevin’s life in a series of letters to Franklin, her estranged husband who is now absent from her life. As the book progresses we see the effect Kevin’s actions had on Eva and vice versa.
I can’t say much more about the plot for fear of spoiling some of the mystery surrounding it, but I will say that I did not see the end coming, as captivated as I was by it. The ending was everything that I wanted, whether I realised it or not, and gave a sense of closure but also an openness for the future. Best of all, this book made me think deeply about many things, and that is always a sign of a good piece of writing.
After reading the book I did watch the film adaptation, directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller. I didn’t like it as much as the book, which is a common occurrence for many avid readers. I felt that the film focused too much on the imagery and less about the plot, leaving out many key moments from the book that related to Kevin and his behaviour. However, all the actors involved were fantastic in their portrayals.
I hope you enjoyed this review/ recommendation, be sure to check back next month for a new Book of the Month and next week for a new blog post. Also, leave me a comment if you have read We Need to Talk About Kevin or if you have any book recommendations for me!
Much love,
JMG, stylenua.
