Machete Hatchet

Saturday, 23 August 2008 21:50 Last Updated on Saturday, 23 August 2008 21:50 Written by Hoboken 0 Comments

Man accused of murdering mother also threatened to kill his father, records show
By Andy Boyle, Times Staff Writer Thursday, July 29, 2010 PINELLAS PARK – Less than three weeks before a man murdered his mother, authorities say, he threatened to kill his father. Corey Hicks, 24, was shot to death in Mobile, Ala., Monday morning after a SWAT team tried to arrest him. Pinellas County sheriff's deputies said Hicks killed his 51-year-old mother, Debbie Neace. Deputies said they ...

This controversial novel would make a great book club selection - if only to create a lively debate. Shriver's writing is intricate, well researched and intelligent. This bold, if somewhat dark story about a mother's journey with a 'trying' child and the tragedy this child causes brings the nature versus nurture question to the forefront of any mother's mind and will inspire lively discussion.

The one apprehension I have about recommending this book is for the black and white methods Shriver used in creating the characters and the events that shape the story. Can a child be bad and difficult in every action from the literal moment he is born? I'm not sure. Can another child be perfect? From reading the discussion portion at the back of the book, I understand that Shriver's intent with the story was to bring about dialog concerning the nature versus nurture debate. Knowing this, I understand the polarizing methods she employs, but it is still a little stifling and repressive to read. The feeling is similar to that of Jodi Picoult's novels - where the characters are flat and the emotions tend toward the excessive and cliche.

Although the feelings and events of the story seem very one-sided towards the negative and extreme, the author accomplishes the goal of forcing the reader to explore their own feelings towards a child's nature. Who is responsible for a child's actions once he is grown? Are children blank slates, waiting for our complete guidance and love to show them how to behave and live? And if they choose differently from what they are taught, is that a parent's fault - or was the child predetermined to act a particular way? Are their personalities so ingrained that no matter how much love and attention they are showered with, their fate (and ours) are left to chance?

As the mother of a difficult child myself, I really appreciated the dialog the book opens up about guilt, attachment and the nature vs. nurture argument. It was nice to see that other mothers might have less than perfect feelings towards their child and that children tend to act less than perfect no matter what devices a mother employs.

Have you read We Need to Talk About Kevin? What did you think?

Rachelle Rogers Knight
Bibliobabe
Twitter: bibliobabeblog
http://www.bibliobabe.com

Rachelle is the author of two reading journals, Read, Remember, Recommend: A Reading Journal for Book Lovers and Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens: A Reading Journal for Young Adult Book Lovers, published by Sourcebooks, Inc. Each journal offers over 2,000 cross-referenced award-winning and notable reading suggestions. Knight's website, Bibliobabe, offers award and notable list spotlights, book reviews, and a myriad of information for lovers of fiction and YA literature.

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