Skip to main content

We need to talk about Kevin

This is a book about a high-school murder by a teenager.

Sounds familiar? Well, it's actually quite different.



'We need to talk about Kevin' is written in the form of letters from a wife to her absent husband. Their son is in jail serving time for killing seven of his classmates, a teacher and a cafeteria worker.

The book is from Eva's point of view starting from the time of his birth to the actual incident. Eva tries to find out what went wrong. Was it the fact that she never wanted to have Kevin in the first place? Or was he just born with a mean evil streak? Or did he somehow learn this? Or was this all just to get his mother's attention?

The book asks the biggest question --- the nature v/s nurture debate.

It also makes you question Kevin's motives. It makes you wonder about him --- he's such a dark character. Why did he do it? He was never bullied. Was he just born this way? It makes you question what is required of parents. It makes you question whether Eva's point of view is the actual truth.

It doesn't answer all of these.
However, it does have a sense of emptiness and leaves a void.

The book is good and well written. However, I would like to caution anyone who is feeling a bit low --- this book will make you depressed. I felt very empty and depressed after reading it.

On that note,

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Comments

Akansha Agrawal said…
Hmm... sounds like something people would connect with... esp with the scenario we are seeing right now!

I would probably not want to read it though...
Legal Alien said…
I saw this at angus & robertson and was thinking about buying it. Seems really good...

Popular posts from this blog

STANDARD CONTENTS IN A GUEST ROOM

IN A 5 – STAR HOTEL GUEST ROOM:- 1. BED:- 1. Mattress (1) 2. Maters protector (1) 3. Bed sheet (2) 4. Night spread (1) 5. Blanket (1) 6. Pillows (2) 7. Bed cover (1) (Boisters) 2. ENTRANCE DOORS:- 1. Lire exit plan 2. DND card on the door know 3. Collect my laundry card 4. Please clean my room card 3. WARDROBE:- 1. Coat hangers 2. Skirt trouser hangers 3. Laundry bags 4. Pot 5. Extra blanket and pillows 6. Bed slippers 4. LOUNGE :- 1. Sofa,
चाहने वाला हूँ तेरा, देख ले दर्द ज़रा; तू जो वेइखे एक नज़र कारा लखान दा शुक्र सोहनीये! देख तू कह के मूझे , जान भी दे दूंगा तुझे; तेरा ऐसा हूँ दीवाना, तुने अब तक ये ना जाना हीरीए !!! --------------------------------------------- आ सोनी तेनू चाँद की मैं चूड़ी पहरावा, मैनू कर दे इशारा ते मैं डोली ले आंवा !!!

Does India Need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed