Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller.

Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller.
Penguin (2004)

Review by Laura Parish.

From the first day that the beguiling Sheba Hart joins the staff of St George’s, history teacher Barbara Covett is convinced that she’s found a kindred spirit.
Barbara’s loyalty to her new friend is passionate and unstinting and when Sheba is discovered to be having an illicit affair with one of her young pupils, Barbara quickly elects herself as Sheba’s chief defender. But all is not as it first seems in this dark story and, as Sheba will soon discover, a friend can be as treacherous as any lover.

Heller’s book tackles a very controversial subject interestingly.
I saw the film (which I loved) before I read the book and maybe that ruined it slightly in terms of the plot.
However, in both the film and the book, it was the character of Barbara that intrigued me the most. Reading it, I felt the loneliness Barbara feels and the resentment over Sheba’s life and her feelings for her. I almost, but not quite, felt sorry for Barbara, despite her not doing the best thing morally. Throughout, I questioned whether Barbara liked Sheba or the idea of her. Was she so alone that she was clinging onto anything? A question I’m still mulling over long after the last page.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.