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  • We Need to Talk About Kevin

  • By: Lionel Shriver
  • Narrated by: Lorelei King
  • Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (305 ratings)

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We Need to Talk About Kevin

By: Lionel Shriver
Narrated by: Lorelei King
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, 2005.

Kevin Khatchadourian killed several of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a teacher, shortly before his 16th birthday. He is visited in prison by his mother, Eva, who narrates in a series of letters to her estranged husband, Franklin, the story of Kevin's upbringing. A successsful career woman, Eva is reluctant to forgo her independence and the life she shares with Franklin to become a mother. Once Kevin is born, she experiences extreme alienation and dislike of Kevin as he grows up to become a spiteful and cruel child. When Kevin commits his murderous act, Eva fears that her own shortcomings may have shaped what her son has become. But how much is she to blame?

©2003 Lionel Shriver (P)2006 Orion Publishing Group Ltd

What listeners say about We Need to Talk About Kevin

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Excellent

What did you like most about We Need to Talk About Kevin?

I loved this book. I was intrigued by how Shriver captured the nuanced personality of the mother Eva, and I think she captured the personality of Kevin really well. King's reading was excellent, with subtle undertones of sorrow that made the complexity of the characters so vivid. My only criticism is that I found the marriage between Eva and Franklin a bit implausible - it was hard to identify any of his redeeming qualities.

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4 people found this helpful

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I never usually do this but...

I never write reviews on here for audiobooks but this book has changed that! I watched the movie for this book a couple years back but the book is SO much better

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1 person found this helpful

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Loved it!

What a writer! Beautiful prose, disturbing events and it built to a heart stopping climax. Add to this the excellent narrator and it becomes a 5 star audiobook.

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A difficult but intriguing listen

This book is as bleak as it gets. However, it is also insightful, compelling and well worth the heartbreak.

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Loved this book

Absolutely loved this book. Would highly recommend anyone to read it. The story was thrilling, sad, ironic in parts and haunting with many twists and turns.

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Recommended

Excellent narration. She superbly characterised the direct characters in distinct manner. I had read the book before and found it hard reading. This was an enjoyable second foray into the story.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Life is ugly. People are condescending.

A great story if not a little too highbrow. I didn't appreciate the different voices Lorelei King uses as part of her narration. The story was short enough that it was easy enough to get through in just a few days which forgave its shortcomings.

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Great listen, really enjoyable

Great book, I greatly enjoyed it. I actually thought it was based on real events till I googled the main character. A well told story.

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so good

after finishing it I started it again. I have never left a review until now. really enjoyed this book..

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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent Book

Have tried reading this book, but thanks to audible made it easier. Paperback on table.

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3 people found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.