This a highly topical, dark, psychological novel published originally in 2003 which was recently turned into an acclaimed film directed by Lynne Ramsey in 2011.
The story is told exclusively from the viewpoint of a mother, Eva Khatchadorian, entirely via a series of letters. It explores the fractious relationship between a mother and her son, as she attempts to come to terms with her son's murderous actions in committing a school shooting.
Shriver consummately explores the intricacies of marital and parental relationships and also whether an individual's character is determined by nature or nurture.
This is a controversial book, which poses many questions about ourselves as people and as a society.
The Author
Lionel Shriver is an American author and journalist, who was originally born Margaret Ann Shriver in 1957 in North Carolina. She now lives in London and is married to a jazz drummer, Jeff Williams.
Shriver was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2005 for "We need to talk about Kevin" which she considered her 'make or break' novel.
Shriver's other novels include "Double Fault", which charts the relationship breakdown of two low level professional tennis players and "The Post Birthday World" which takes a 'Sliding Doors' type approach to imaging the life of one woman living two possible lives in parallel imagined stories.
More Information
Shriver's publishers are Harper Collins - http://www.harpercollins.com/author/microsite/About.aspx?authorid=27687
A trailer of the film version is available at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLRgAe2jLaw
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