Really excellent stuff, which I shouldn't have sneered at ten years ago.

Nonetheless, after a while of seeing it everywhere, I'd bought a copy because I thought I ought to.

The narrative is theatrical in the best possible way. It is realist, yet this is obviously a story. I hardly ever even thought to nitpick. And it is a very well told, engrossing story too. The “twist” is entirely natural and plausible, unlike so many plot points given that name in plenty of other books.

For a long time I assumed Notes on a Scandal would be full of cheap tabloid moralising. However, the opinions of a few people on here persuaded me otherwise. Barbara and Sheba are pleasingly “unacceptable”. I always found them understandable, and therefore in a way likeable, perhaps more often than they were intended to be.

This book has truly exceeded my expectations. It has a unique charm that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and the story is full of unexpected turns and twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read. It is a literary masterpiece that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Before the movie was even completed, I had the opportunity to read this remarkable book. I actually read it during my skiing holiday, which made the experience even more unique. The author has truly done an excellent job with the writing. The story is so well-crafted that it immediately grabs your attention and keeps you engaged from start to finish. It's filled with mystery and intrigue, making it impossible to put down. Every page seems to unfold a new layer of the plot, leaving you eager to discover what comes next. Whether you're a fan of thrilling stories or just looking for a good read, this book is definitely worth checking out. It's one that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

This book presents a story that is both delicious and disturbing. It revolves around an illicit affair between Sheba, a bored, middle-aged teacher, and her male student. Before delving further into my thoughts, I freely admit that this book is excellent.

The narration is presented from the perspective of Barbara, an older teacher at the same school as Sheba. Barbara seems to have more than just friendly intentions towards Sheba. She is lonely and highly manipulative, and quite frankly, she is a complex character in herself. I found her sense of humor, despite the dark subject matter, quite enjoyable. Her obsession with Sheba is evident from the beginning, and as the story progresses, things quickly turn creepy.

The writing in this book exceeded my expectations. It is truly excellent. Perhaps I was anticipating something more sordid, but in reality, I was pleasantly surprised.

When considering the teacher/student relationship, it really makes one wonder what Sheba was thinking. Why do people engage in such actions?

This book is gripping, yet also rather grim and depressing. However, it makes for a great read that keeps you hooked until the very end.

Unsettling, dark, and gripping. These are the words that immediately come to mind when I think about this movie. The description alone has piqued my curiosity to an extreme level. I can't help but wonder what kind of story lies within those frames.

Will it be a psychological thriller that keeps me on the edge of my seat, or a horror movie that sends shivers down my spine? The anticipation is almost palpable.

I'm eager to see how the director has crafted this dark and mysterious world, and how the actors bring the characters to life. Every scene, every shot, has the potential to be a masterpiece.

I'm convinced that this movie will be an unforgettable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on me. I can't wait to press play and embark on this thrilling journey.

I thought this book was truly amazing. The movie, although different, managed to really get to the heart of what the book was about. This is no easy task considering the rich and complex nature of the read.

What I found really astonishing about this theme, both in the book and the movie, was the way it questioned our preconceived notions of perversion and how these notions are influenced by age and gender. Legally speaking, Sheba was the only criminal. Her affections were inappropriate, and she was the predator. Yet, Barbara's affections seem creepy and unnatural.

The relationship between Barbara and Sheba was between two consenting adults, each with their own agendas. However, Sheba, who committed statutory rape and adultery, somehow comes across as a victim. I'm not making any judgments on the legal ages of consent, nor am I trying to downplay the fact that Sheba's affair with her student didn't involve physical force or that her young partner, at least in his consciousness, felt it was consensual.

There was, nevertheless, a legally significant age difference and power dynamic at play, both of which I think Heller presented in a rather straightforward manner. In fact, it was in this sort of objective re-telling that we truly come to see the light shed on the way we negotiate "right" and "wrong." Was it because Sheba's student was male? Was it because, in the end, Sheba was the one cast off, making us feel comfortable that if her feelings were hurt, she wasn't the predator? Would we have felt the same way if the gender roles were reversed, with a male teacher and a female student? Was it the homosexual overtones in Barbara's jealousy, as if she were a scorned lover, that made us so uncomfortable? Or was it the fact that this part of the triangle was played out by two women, or because one of those women was of a "certain age"?

These are all thought-provoking questions that the book and movie raise, and they force us to examine our own beliefs and prejudices.

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

If you follow my reviews, you’ll know my memory failed me once more. Somehow, I added this selection to the library waiting list without making any bookmark to remind myself why. I have a faint recollection of a list about “characters you love to hate.” But, I can't seem to find it now. Why didn't I save that? Those are my favorite kinds of characters! The only thing I can think is that it must have been a short list and I'd already read the other choices. (Again, I sorta remember You being on it, but at this point, my brain is my worst enemy, so it probably just made that up.)

Anyway, to make a long story longer, I was notified that my turn had come for What Was She Thinking? (Notes On A Scandal) the day after being denied Alyssa Nutting’s latest book. Normally, I'm quick to brush off such denials, but this time, my reaction was more dramatic. It started like this... and escalated from there...

The timing of What Was She Thinking was actually quite amazing. I first fell in love with Nutting because of the trip she took me on to a town called Tampa. And when I discovered that the plot of this book seemed to be another teacher/student affair, I thought it might be the cure for my downward spiral of rejection.

However, what I didn't know was that the second half of this book's title was appropriate. We wouldn't be hearing things from Sheba the teacher's perspective, but rather from a fellow teacher named Barbara.

If you're reading this for the shock and awe of an illicit affair, you'll be disappointed. But, if you enjoy unreliable narrators, Barbara will delight you with her question... “Who else will help her, if I don’t.” Gold star indeed!

Still not convinced? Go check out the movie. Apparently, it was nominated for a bunch of Oscars a few years ago.

Spoilers everywhere.

This book takes you on a journey that starts where you expect but ends in a place you could never have imagined. It's a truly gripping ride from beginning to end.

The three main characters in this book are Barbara (a 60-year-old history teacher), Sheba (a 40-year-old pottery teacher), and Connolly (a 15-year-old student). The story is told through Barbara's diary, and the scandal mentioned in the title is the sexual relationship between Sheba and Connolly. You might start the book appalled by such an idea, but trust me, this is not your typical teacher-pervert story.

Barbara is truly evil. Not only is she a 60-year-old virgin with a vicious tongue, but she also manipulates Sheba in a subtle and insidious way, making her dependent on her. Throughout the book, there are hints of this, but by the end, it's like Barbara takes off her mask to reveal an even uglier face. She turns Sheba in out of spite and malice, all under the guise of being an old teacher. She is so lonely that she craves importance and becomes the sole carer of Sheba, until she becomes Sheba's only lifeline. She chooses Sheba not because they were meant to be together, but because Sheba is spineless.

Sheba is a malleable character who takes on the shape of whatever is given to her. She married her 20-years-older lecturer at 20 because she didn't think she could take care of herself. She has two children, Polly (a rebellious teenager) and Ben (a boy with Down syndrome). She secretly finds no happiness in her life, but accepts her role as a caring wife and mother. When Connolly compliments her looks, she falls for him, despite putting up a token fight. She has sex with him and falls madly in love.

Connolly is a typical teenager who wants to have sex with his hot teacher. We've all heard this story before. If a female teacher looks even remotely attractive, teenage boys will start to daydream. It's more about sexualizing power than the actual woman.

What was surprising and enjoyable to read was Barbara's slow ascent to power. She gains power over the situation and over Sheba. The character building in this book is excellent, and even though I found myself angry at Barbara, I can also appreciate the craftsmanship that went into creating her.

Read this book! It's a must-read for anyone who loves a good character-driven story.

4.5 Stars.

This is an absolutely amazing piece of work!!

The story is filled with a plethora of intense emotions such as passion, jealousy, loneliness, friendship, a forbidden relationship, and manipulation. It is told in a brilliant way that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

I had watched the film based on this book years ago, but the book is even better. It delves deeper into the characters and their motives, allowing the reader to truly understand their complex emotions.

The synopsis might give the impression that it's just a story about a forbidden love affair, but it's actually much more than that. It's about Barbara, a sixty-year-old history teacher who has never married and has no children. She develops an unhealthy fixation on a fellow teacher, Sheba.

Sheba, on the other hand, is seemingly happily married and has focused on raising her family. However, when she starts to feel desired again, she embarks on an affair with a 15-year-old pupil. Barbara watches and waits, becoming more and more infuriated as she believes Sheba is not valuing their friendship.

The question of whether Barbara's fixation is sexual is left somewhat ambiguous. While other reviews have hinted at her being a lesbian and the film may have gone in that direction slightly, the book doesn't really explore her sexuality. It's more of an obsession. She wants Sheba to rely only on her.

Overall, I loved this story. There's nothing quite like a forbidden relationship and its consequences, and this one is extremely well done. The only negative for me was that the end was ridiculously abrupt, leaving me wanting more. But despite that, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, complex story.

A taut, menacingly enticing book awaits the reader. This story follows Barbara, who has an unhealthy obsession with Sheba. Sheba is exposed for having an illicit affair with a teen student from her school.

From Barbara's point of view, a tightly crafted account of Sheba's scandalous affair unfolds. The plot, however, takes a sinister turn when Barbara's obsession with Sheba turns nasty.

I can't say more than that. You'll just have to read it yourself to discover the full extent of the drama and excitement. This book is truly compelling, exciting, and hard to put down. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, eager to find out what will happen next.

Whether you're a fan of psychological thrillers or just looking for a good read, this book is sure to satisfy. So don't hesitate, pick it up and start reading today!

Simultaneously horrible and fascinating, this book is so gripping that I literally read it in one sitting.

There are essentially three stories at play here. Firstly, there is Sheba's sexual obsession with a 15-year-old pupil, which is both disturbing and captivating. Secondly, Barbara's own (sexual?) obsession with Sheba is revealed through her narrative that we are reading. And thirdly, there is the story that Barbara doesn't tell us directly but which we catch glimpses of through the gaps in her account.

This book couldn't help but remind me of the story of Troilus and Criseyde, with Barbara taking on a twisted Pandarus-like role. While she doesn't actively facilitate Sheba's illicit relationship, she inserts herself into it, becoming the third point of the classic erotic triangle while also inverting the pattern. Like Pandarus, she is not just the observer she pretends to be but is actually a participant, scripting her own role at the center of the drama.

Another fascinating aspect is the theme of motherhood and maternity, which becomes distorted, tainted, and corrupt in various ways. Overall, this is a taut and tense read, with the narrative drive and pace of a thriller, yet it also has the subtle nuances that set it apart and make it something quite different.

I really enjoyed this piece, even though the characters within it were far from likable.

They spanned the spectrum from being completely unsympathetic to downright unpleasant.

One of them, in particular, the narrator, was full of character and bitterness.

She seemed almost classically nasty in a Dickensian sort of way.

Her waspish remarks and attitude were quite something.

Surprisingly, though, her sharpness did manage to make me chuckle at times.

It was an interesting juxtaposition of emotions.

However, there is also a question that lingers in the back of my mind.

Could there be elements of child abuse hinted at in the story?

It's something that I can't quite shake off as I reflect on what I've read.

Maybe it's just my imagination running wild, but there are certain details that make me wonder.

It adds an extra layer of complexity to an already engaging piece.

The fuck did I just read?!

I thought it was high time for me to finally read Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal. Years ago, I watched the unremarkable film adaptation (ew at the guy actor who played Connolly. I just want to smash his face in). Since I like to delve into controversial topics/themes, I thought this would be right up my street. To be fair, it was a quick read, and for that I'm grateful. Because if I had to wade through the middle class malaise any longer, I think I would have done to this novel exactly what bitter, middle-aged narrator Barbara Covett did to one of'saucy' pottery teacher Sheba's sculptures.

Summary: Attractive and dizzy Sheba Hart (LOL at the'symbolic' name. She'll be a heartbreaker and as well as 'covetous' Barbara's new pet) arrives at run-down inner-city north London comprehensive St George's and soon has an affair with council estate lad Steven Connolly. Her frenemy history teacher Barbara documents the scandalous events, much like the mentally disturbed spinster version of Nick Carraway. Repercussions ensue for this dumb triad.

The book did not follow a chronological format, so it flits from past to present events. This could have been confusingly rendered by Heller, but it was quite easy to follow. However, it took away most of the tension out of the story and the anticipation behind what the other secondary characters' reactions would be. As such, Heller could have strengthened the novel by following a traditional chronological order. It would have fit with Barbara's profession; much like a history textbook, it would have made sense for the narrator to tell us her perception of the 'facts' in a logical way. I know she was supposed to be an unreliable narrator, but it was just unnecessarily messy for the novel to be cut up in such an odd way, which didn't really provide a surprise twist or revelation.

The characters didn't feel properly fleshed out. Sheba's lecturer husband Richard seems like a cliche - pompous prick lecturer who has relationships with his students. I didn't see the relevance of her having a son who had down syndrome to the plot. Her stroppy, mouthy teenage daughter also came across like a 2D cut out. What I'm trying to say is, I don't think the author really provided much depth on each member of the family to make the reader understand why Sheba would risk her marriage and career for a fifteen year old boy she shared no substantial interests with, apart from a thinly sketched out appreciation of art. The only character who I was rooting for was Connolly's mother, who rightly laid into Sheba about her perverted, amoral ways.

Also, I understand that the book was trying to explore themes about the nature of trust in friendships, but I just couldn't see what ditzy Sheba saw in judgemental Barbara since their personalities were so different. As such, Barbara's subsequent betrayal of Sheba didn't really have much of an impact. There wasn't many descriptions of emotional intimacy between either of them for me to believe that Sheba would choose to confess about her affair to a bitter cat-lady so freely, within eight months of meeting. Sheba was represented as the posh outsider in the school. Fine, I get that, but surely she would have had some rapport with some of the art teachers. There was no mention of the school even having an art department.

The relationship between Sheba and Connolly was in no way scandalous - the book title is a misnomer. In fact, for a student/teacher relationship it was dull and boring despite their flaccid romps on Hampstead Heath - ooo, so romantic. Connolly is a right little teenaged Lothario. Be still my beating heart. It actually shows he's quite smart choosing such a large park. Hmm. Obviously did his research... As this is from repressed Barbara's pov, the author may have been trying to tone down on the sexual/romantic details; even so, if that was Heller's intention, it was pointless allowing the narrator to be Barbara. You would think there would be an opportunity for vicariousness voyeurism on Barbara's part, yet she's such a dull character. Throughout the novel, she is scared to try new things and drives everyone away with her critical comments. It seems like Heller was trying to combine two stories together by contrasting the experiences of a single woman and a married woman. However, as a result of the static caricatures, the story was poorly executed and I couldn't understand Sheba's motivations for the affair. According to Sheba, it just happened as she was drawn to Steven. Hmm. Such insightful commentary about the psychology behind illicit relationships - not!

And the less said about the whole Bangs plot line... where did that come from??? Huh. Why would you invite your crush's best friend on a date, take her round to your bachelor pad and confess your love for crush to the bf. Sooo unconvincing. Heller, please, take a writing class. Or just don't bother writing.

Overall, I was surprised to discover this poor quality novel was shortlisted for 2002's Man Booker. I think the panel/judges must have been loony that year, or lacking in creativity to choose such Daily Mail inspired tosh. Instead of What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal, it should have been called Bridget Jones's Diary: The Misadventures of a Cat Lady.