Bookshelf 2009

This week's challenge on BlogThis is as follows:

Tell us about your most memorable or favourite book you've read this year so far. Why? Would you recommend it? Was there one that you just can't finish or even find? Or you can tell us about the book you've been wanting to read but haven't got around to it...Or is it magazine or newspaper you've discovered this year? Tell us about it!

This is one challenge that is going to be hard despite the fact that it interests me no end. And that's because I love books. Over the last couple of years in particular, I have been reading a lot more (having finished uni and all...)

In this past year, I've read a number of books --- The Time Traveller's Wife, The God of Small Things, A Suitable Boy, A Fraction of the whole, The White Tiger, Handle With Care among others. I enjoyed some while disliked others.

But one book stood out for me this year. Even though I read it sometime in February, I can still remember it.

The book is: We need to talk about Kevin

It is about a high-school massacre. Committed by Kevin, a 15 year old boy. I'm sure it sounds familiar. Except, it's not the same old story. The book is written in the form of letters from a wife (Eva) to her absent husband. Their son, Kevin, is in jail for killing 7 classmates, a teacher and a canteen worker. Eva is writing the letters as a form of catharsis...and to try and figure out what went wrong. It's her point of view right from the time of Kevin's birth till the shooting.  Kevin was never bullied at school unlike most high-school shooting stories. Nor was he jilted by a girl.

It makes you question a number of things:

Was it because Eva never wanted to have Kevin in the first place?

Or was he just born evil?

Or did he manage to learn how to be so evil?

Or was it all just to get Eva's attention?

Is every woman cut out to be a mother? Maybe some of us just don't have it in us...

It makes you question what is required of parents...

It makes you wonder whether Eva's point of view is in fact, the actual truth...

It makes you think about the nature v/s nurture debate...and question which one it could be

Kevin is a dark and unlikeable character for most parts. I was however, able to empathise with Eva despite not having children of my own. Maybe that's because I could understand what it could be like to be forced into having a child when you don't want one. And I still haven't been able to make up my mind on nature v/s nurture though personally I'm leaning towards the theory that he was born evil.

The book leaves you with an empty feeling. A void inside.

But it is well written and gripping. But, I would still caution others to be prepared for a somewhat depressing, yet enthralling read.

If you want to check out what's on other bloggers' bookshelves, you can find it here.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!