We Need To Talk About Kevin – Lionel Shriver

This book caused quite a furore when it was published back in 2003, both due to its fiery subject matter (a Columbine style high school shooting) and the critique of motherhood. It took me an age to get into, and I think the first half of the book could do with losing at least 100 pages, but it pays off in the end despite a completely obvious plot event that appears to be intended as a twist.

It is written as a series of letters from Kevin’s mother to her absent husband, and the best effects come when we start to doubt her version of events and are forced to interpret the story for ourselves.