Zoe Heller - Notes on a Scandal

[Michelle]

The 'blurb' on the back of my book explains this book better than any synopsis I can find, so I'll do without. (The book has gone back to the library.)

The book is described as being about Sheeba, a teacher, and the affair she had with one of her students. However, the more interesting story is Barbara.. the older teacher who befriends Sheeba, and writes an account of the affair and all the issues around it.

The author gives us an interesting insight into Barbara, looking at loneliness and obsession. Barbara's thoughts and words give so much away about her character.. and you're never quite sure whether to dislike her, or feel sorry for her.

I have today discovered that this has been made into a film.. released very soon. With Dame Judi Dench as Barbara, it could be really good.. but it could also be possible that this suits a book better than a film.. so go read it before the film is out! :)

[Gyre]

Sounds really good, thanks for sharing.

I read 'Everything you know' which is also by Zoe Heller...

Here is some info..

Willy Muller has survived imprisonment for murdering his wife, years of hate mail from the public, and, most recently, the suicide of his daughter, Sadie. While recuperating from a heart attack, he finds himself drawn into the lonely world of his late daughter's dairies.

:readingtwo:

[Michelle]

I was looking at that one on Amazon.. was it good?

[Kell]

I'll be reading Notes at some point this month for the Posh Club. I did start reading it a while back & couldn't get into it, so I got shot of it. I've just arranged a swap to get another copy back - LOL!

[Gyre]

I was looking at that one on Amazon.. was it good?

It as really good, I enjoyed it...

:readingtwo:

[Liz]

Ok, I'm tempted to get this. From the sounds of it, it could be quite good. Methinks I'll have to have a little look for it at the library.

[Sugar]

I'll be reading Notes at some point this month for the Posh Club. I did start reading it a while back & couldn't get into it, so I got shot of it. I've just arranged a swap to get another copy back - LOL!

We had this at our book club last month, and there were more people at the meeting than ever before! Even better we had all finished it! There was so much for discussion!

I can't say I liked any of the characters, but I did enjoy reading it.

[~V~]

i took this on holiday with me last year. it was th only book (of nine!) that i didn't read. still haven't

and oddly i was thinking of putting it on RISI today - maybe i'll give it a go instead :)

[Louiseog]

We had this at our book club last month, and there were more people at the meeting than ever before! Even better we had all finished it! There was so much for discussion!

I can't say I liked any of the characters, but I did enjoy reading it.
Exactly what I thought!

[Kell]

Well, I shall be starting it next, I think, as I finished The Secret Purposes this evening...

[Kell]

Thought I'd add my own review too:

Notes on a Scandal
Author: Zoë Heller
ISBN # 0670914061
Publisher: Viking
First Published: 2003
244 pages
Rating: 5/10

The Blurb:
When the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...

The Review:
According to the note on the front cover, Notes on a Scandal was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2003, however, I really can’t see why.

When the basis of the plot is an older female teacher becoming embroiled in a relationship with one of the 15-year-old boys in her class, you expect something a bit risqué, perhaps a little tantalising, somehow sensationalist in its approach; but this is nothing of the kind. In fact, the one word I could really use to describe it all is “dull”.

There were no remotely likeable characters to be seen – Sheba was naïve, selfish and incredibly stupid; Barbara was just plain odious – a creepy, immature, stalker-type hanger-on who insinuates herself into the lives of those she chooses as her “friends” to the exclusion of all others in order to make herself feel important. This could have been in interesting foray into obsession, but it was just too boring – in fact, I barely made it to the end. It had so much promise but utterly failed to deliver.

To be perfectly honest, this was my second attempt at this book and I wouldn’t have bothered revisiting it at all if it hadn’t been chosen as this month’s reading circle for discussion. I found it pretty pointless and a real chore to plough through. There is no way I will ever read any of Heller’s other work, even if it gets picked for a reading circle – I’ll just pass thanks.

[Michelle]

Shows we all like different things then! ;)

[Purple Poppy]

I have to admit that I am really struggling with this one. It is dull. As Kell said, all the characters are unlikable. There were times when I disliked Barbara so much that I wanted to leave the book unfinished, but it is our book club read this month. Actually, I don't know if it is apparent further on in the book, as I am only halfway through, but I keep expecting to find that Barbara is a closet lesbian and is after Sheba for herself. Or is it just the obsession of a lonely older woman? I don't know yet, but thats what comes across to me.
Not enjoying this at all.


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[Michelle]

Thank goodness Sugar and Louise also enjoyed reading it!

[Purple Poppy]

Michelle said;

Thank goodness Sugar and Louise also enjoyed reading it!


It would be a boring world if we all liked the same stuff, and there wouldn't be a need for a forum like this, would there? LOL

How are you feeling now, Michelle? I hope you are better than when you got up this morning?

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[Michelle]

How are you feeling now, Michelle? I hope you are better than when you got up this morning?

Nah, still yucky and miserable! :(

[Kell]

I've just seen the trailer to the film of Notes ona Scandal & it looks so much more interesting than I found the book! TRAILER (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/trailers-screenplay-E30055-10-2)

[pontalba]

Wow, just watched the trailer....what a change for Judi Dench! Looks like a good movie, and the book is in my TBR stack thanks to the original review in this thread. :)
Thanks for posting the link Kell.

[Purple Poppy]

Ditto. Wow! You wouldn't think it was the same book.

The characters are really well cast...Judy Dench is exactly how I imagined Barbara, and as soon as Richard opened the door I knew it was him. It looks like its going to be one of those rare cases of the film being better than the book. (Sorry Zoe , if you happen to read this), but I am now motivated to get on and finish the book. I am about 3/4 of the way through.

BTW what did the posh club think of it Kell?

Thanks for the trailer Kell. Well worth a watch I would say!

PP

[Sarahrob]

I've just seen the trailer to the film of Notes ona Scandal & it looks so much more interesting than I found the book! TRAILER (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/trailers-screenplay-E30055-10-2)

Wow - trailer looks amazing! Thanks for the link.

[Liz]

Hey, this trailer looks pretty good. I really like Judi Dench and Bill Nighy, so this looks like it could be a good film.

[Sugar]

Thank goodness Sugar and Louise also enjoyed reading it!
Without wanting to spoil it, I'm not quite sure enjoy would be the word that I would use! I also didn't like the characters - but I thought that was Heller's point! I'm glad I read it, and there is a lot to mull over after you have finished it. It's another one that I won't forget for a while!

The film look interesting - one to look out for, I think!