I was listening to this today and I just wanted to see if I'm not nuts.

[apocalypsos]

Okay, seriously. Is it just the way the woman in the audiobook is reading it or is Eva such a terrible mother and repugnant human being that you end up sympathizing with Kevin the creepy mass-murdering psychopath?

Look, seriously, I downloaded the audiobook for two reasons -- the subject matter, which is right up my alley, and the fact that Tilda Swinton is playing Eva in the movie, which now that I'm "reading" it makes PERFECT sense. (John C. Reilly, however, is playing Franklin. It's like they zeroed in on the exactly most wonderfully perfect person to play Eva and said, "... eh, fuck it, nobody's going to care about the rest of the cast." I mean, I love John C. Reilly, but ... Franklin? He's not ... he's just NOT.) I kinda wish Tilda Swinton was reading the audiobook, because ... well, okay, she'd still be a snide self-centered wretched excuse for a mother and person, but at least she'd be an interesting one. I'm spending far too much time figuring out how anybody else puts up with her, although I did skip ahead at one point to the section where the cops bring Kevin and his friend home from dropping bricks on cars and Franklin sort of handwaves it, and Eva is all, "What the fuck is WRONG with you?!" and it was the first time in the entire book I agreed with her.

I don't know. She's just not a character I'm enjoying disliking, although I have faith SWINTON will make me gleefully enjoy hating the fuck out of her. I'm still going to finish the book but UGH. Haaaate.

Comments

[denorios.livejournal.com]

It's been a while since I've read, but I do recall being quite put off Eva by the fact that she literally took against Kevin from birth, for no real reason, and made it quite clear to him as he grew up as well, quite apart from going completely the other way with her daughter and adoring her beyond reason. I think she really does bear a lot of the responsibility for what he does.

[sashimi-san.livejournal.com]

I had some sympathy for Eva when reading the book, especially after the ending (I won't spoil it). I do know what you mean, though. It seems that she didn't really try to love her son, and just assumed that he was the one with the problem. It makes you question whether Kevin was always a monster, or whether Eva created him.

[talksintheaters.livejournal.com]

She's not against Kevin, she can sense that something is not right, but has no way to communicate what is wrong with her child in a way that doesn't make her look crazy. In my opinion, Kevin is a sociopath or a psychopath and her instincts are telling her "Danger" but she has no proof. Until she has proof. I read the book, you say you are listening, I was sympathetic to Eva most of the time because her baby, toddler, and young child was creepy.

[supernaturalhel.livejournal.com]

I've read the book. As far as Eva is concerned, I think it's a fair portrayal- I did have some sympathies with her throughout, other times I didn't. She knew there was something wrong with Kevin and didn't know how to express it. I did have the feeling that some of it was postnatal depression- I'm not sure if that was ever truly revesled or just something in my mind.
I think it was good that she wasn't writtn as a perfect mother, she didn't do everything right.
I'll look forward to reading how you feel when you get to the end.