Notes on a scandal by zoe heller, book review. available amazon based protagonist novel.
Most of the characters depicted in this story are not ones' I found particularly like-able, however that only seemed to add to the effectiveness of the story telling. Also despite no love loss between reader and the people contained within the novels pages, moments of empathy are not entirely lost.
As the history, situations and motivations of the characters are revealed you can see clearly how and why events unfold as they do, even if you would not ordinarily condone or understand their actions.
The premise of the running theme of the story is a relationship between a teacher and a student at the same school. I would stress that this is only one main thread of a much more engaging plot and is essentially the glue.
As you first delve into the book, the narrator is not the assumed protagonist which is important as it gives the feel of the story a much more realistic feel, the tone is honest and believable.
You get the sense your being let in on a secret and are gaining access to restricted information.
I would recommend this book.
This is the first book I have read by Zoe Heller but it will not be my last, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and was hooked by chapter one.
Zoe Heller uses her extensive vocabulary well. character descriptions are also very well executed.
The story runs from back to front starting with the consequences at the end of the affair and leaving a lot of scintillating questions unanswered, keeping you hungry to discover the truth.
A tough subject cleverly written, I found myself laughing guiltily in places and probably not feeling as shocked as I should have been in others.
Praise for notes on a scandal.
'Outstanding, brilliantly understated and darkly funny' Daily Telegraph
'I read it twice. Has the epic quality of Greek tradgedy and does what good fiction is supposed to do: remind us of what fools we are as we lumber through our lives. It would be sad if it wasn't funny, funny if it wasn't sad' Gaurdian
'The best new novel I have read this year is Zoe Hellers Notes on a scandal. It's sharp, funny, moving - and elegantly written' Miriam Gross
'Equally adroit at satire and at psycological suspence, Heller charts the course of a predatory friendship and demonstrates the lengths to which some people go for human company' New Yorker
