'The scapegoating of Nancy Lanza' by Lionel Shriver, author of 'We Need To Talk About Kevin'

reply to post by redhorse


As you say, it's an interpretation of her article, just as yours and anyone else's is. I actually considered editing my first post after posting it to add that I have little time for Shriver anyway, which I'm sure is obvious and perhaps in hindsight I should have done - lesson learned I guess. I don't think I've skewed any facts, just offered my interpretation and criticism of the article.

I do believe that her article is as sloppy and sensationalised as the reporting she's criticising - 'demonise', for example, is imho too emotive a word to have a place in a reasoned discussion, and the diversion into the two paragraphs about Asperger's is sloppy to say the least, as the weight she gives the discussion in such a short article in my opinion serves the opposite purpose to that you suggest she intended (and I agree with you about her intention). But that's my opinion of her as a writer, and I know very many people don't share it.

To be clear: I absolutely do not think Nancy Lanza deserved to die and I believe that everyone deserves to be mourned, even Adam Lanza, and absolutely Nancy. I maybe shouldn't have asked my question about the law around gun keeping in the same post as I see how it might have given that impression, I just didn't want to double post tbh. Again, lesson learned.

Thanks for your comments and the discussion