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We Need to Talk About Kevin
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I just reserved it. I'll try to get it done this month so I can post(for a change). I've got two book clubs books going right now, plus this one. And my own reading too. But I have to spend a few days in bed so I'll try to do some reading for breaks between the sleeping. And my niece saw some of what I knitted and now she wants one. I'm a sucker for the nieces and nephews. I'll try to get that done by her birthday on the 10th. Are you guys bored with my blog yet? :) Like I'm the only one who's got stuff to do.
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I am in three book clubs counting this one, so I read at least three books + a month. Yeah, I have no life. lol
Dang it...I totally meant to stop at B&N on the way home today but kinda forgot. I was on the other side of the street because I've been on a Wii hunt and didn't realize I was past the corner until it was too late. -.-;Guess I'll have to stop at the bookstore tomorrow with it's evil evil books and evil evil coffee drinks and my empty empty bag and tummy. :P
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JK wrote: "I'm planning a trip to B&N on Saturday so I'm going to check the price of the book in store... I don't like reading physical books, but they want $13.50 for the eBook. THIRTEEN DOLLARS. That's ridi..."There were two different softcovers for this one and they both were the same price - $14.99. Considering the e-price, go for the physical. At least that way, you can physically feel just how much you spent on it. Honestly, if the e-book costs more than a clipboard, I'd feel gyped.
And yes, I got books. But I only left with two books and one of those was the BotM so I was 'good' .
And a coffee too. <.< >.> The day isn't officially a day until I end up too jittery to write legibly for about an hour or so. :D I'm blaming the chocolate-covered coffee beans I had for lunch.
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... it might be akin to pulling teeth trying to read more of this. The author had no idea what (s)he was doing. That "letter" is the most bullshit thing I've read in a while. It's in no way, shape, or form believable. The wife mentions close to the beginning of the letter that the husband only liked her short, random stories and if her lengthier stories were told anything like how the "letter" was written, I can see why.
We've got an entire month, I'll see if I can read more at some point.
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My copy hasn't arrived yet.
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I admit it does seem to remain wordy.
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I just got my copy as well. After reading what you guys said I skimmed the first couple pages. My god, I do see what JK was talking about, thesaurus indeed. But when I have time(next week?) I'll give it more attention and see what I really think. I hate to give up on a book without reading at least a few chapters. Though this one tempts me.
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but I do believe the mom is one hell of a snob and it shows.
Well if it's a part of her character and therefore deliberate on the author's part then I can get used to it. Somehow it makes a difference to me if it's characterization instead of author showoffery. (Yes I know that's not a real word. :) )
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Wow, I just want to tell that stupid whining woman to stfu. It's like this story goes nowhere. Eva is such a snob beyond comparison and so shallow it's like a caricature of snobbery. 88 pages into it so far. Not sure how much longer I'll last with this one. Sorry folks, I had heard such good things about it and am sadly disappointed so far.
Since it's unanimous I may just send it back. I'm swamped with books. I'm willing to take you guys word for it. I didn't like what little I read either. Ah well, we have to have a loser once in a while, it makes us appreciate the good ones.
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Mary, send it back if you can, it's not worth keeping!!
:DMan....the second I finish the book I'm on, I NEED to at least start this one. Sounds like this one might be another 'Tristam Shandy' - 'everyone' thinks it's awesome when in fact it sucks so much you find yourself surprised that a black hole hasn't opened up. :D
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this how I feel about this book. lol
I saw Tilda Swinton recently on The Daily Show promoting the movie of this book. Maybe the movie is better. But I doubt it. I have no point to this statement except Katt mentioning Tristam Shandy made me think of the sucky movie that was made of that book. Going by my previous experience of bad books made into movies, I think I'll skip Tilda playing Eva.
Ok, started reading it and I've blitzed over 50 pages so far. It's not a 'Tristam Shandy' for me just yet. I'll probably have to reassess things at 100 pages or so. It's so-so to me and, no offense to those fans out there, I'm making better time on this one than on that Dean Koontz BotM we had last year that I still have on the currently reading pile. :D Maybe it's because I've done the overly pretentious wordy thing myself especially when really stressed and / or depressed so it's easier for me to get through her snobbish ramblings.
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I have finished the book [disclaimer - the amount of time it took to officially finish this book in no way reflects on the book itself, it reflects on how I mainly read this book while waiting at work for the managers to show up and at lunch breaks when I remembered]. And I feel enough to comment on this one although not to rate it because I'm still not 'into' the rating thing. I have a feeling that people who shelved it in frustration might want to try to re-tackle this one at some later date. It's not a 'drop your crap now and READ THIS' type thing but one in which I think people might get an investment of some kind if they can just get through the slow slice-of-'normal'-life at the beginning, maybe to the newborn Kevin screaming non-stop in the crib all day while the husband refuses to believe that his wife is actually getting legitimately sick. I think things semi-picked up for me at that point, once the kid was officially entered in the letters as the 'main' character and you start getting a chance to think about whether the mother is overblowing things / seeing the not-there or if the kid truely is evil incarnate.
As for the prose of the letters, I was able to get through the verbeous because I've kinda done that too. Get too wordy when frustrated. Like everything needs to get down even if it's repeated in order to attempt to somehow project the mental, personal chaos of that moment to others who aren't there. It really does irritate lawyers and case workers, I can tell you that. :D I would have more Luuv-lengthed posts on the boards if it wasn't for the delete key. :D
The ending of the story was telegraphed on the back of the book. I wasn't surprised by any of that. But some of the details are missing. Like that Kevin has a sister. I think I can get away with that much of a 'spoiler' by calling it a teaser instead. She plays a part in things too but you won't find that out from a dustjacket.
All in all, a more decent book than the first 100+ pages would lead you to believe. I won't be seeing the movie though. If John C. Reilly is in it, it has the taint of T&E no matter the distance and I don't need to feel my spincter clenching in rebellion during a movie.
We Need to Talk About Kevin
The gripping international bestseller about motherhood gone awry
Eva never really wanted to be a mother - and certainly not the mother of the unlovable boy who murdered seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a much-adored teacher who tried to befriend him, all two days before his sixteenth birthday. Now, two years later, it is time for her to come to terms with marriage, career, family, parenthood, and Kevin's horrific rampage in a series of startlingly direct correspondences with her estranged husband, Franklin. Uneasy with the sacrifices and social demotion of motherhood from the start, Eva fears that her alarming dislike for her own son may be responsible for driving him so nihilistically off the rails.