Two years ago, Eva Khatchadourian’s then 15-year-old son Kevin murdered seven students, a cafeteria worker and teacher at
his high school in a middle-class suburb in upstate New York. With Kevin now incarcerated in a juvenile detention centre Eva explores her feelings about motherhood and Kevin’s awful crime in letters to her ex-husband Franklin. A successful career woman, Eva’s
relationship with Kevin was ambivalent even before his birth. While Eva is ever
critical of Kevin’s childhood behaviour, believing him to be wilful, calculating and difficult, Franklin only ever sees the good in his son. As Eva and Franklin’s relationship slowly deteriorates, Eva blames Kevin for driving a wedge between them. Despite her resentment for Kevin, Eva diligently visits him every week, questioning him, searching for answers. Was Eva’s antipathy towards Kevin responsible for his terrible anger? We Need to Talk About Kevin examines the controversial theme of nature versus nurture. The self critical Eva is an articulate and empathetic (if not sympathetic) narrator and Schriver’s prose deftly portrays her huge sense of loss, isolation and despair. This is a pacy, disturbing and at times intensely poignant read, and it builds to an inevitable, yet shocking conclusion that will stay with you forever.