Bibliofemme Reviews
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Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller 
(Published by Penguin Books)
Notes on a Scandal's rapid pace and fascinating characters is enough to keep a reader's fingers turning as Zoë Heller tackles the difficult subject of age of consent. She explores the subject through the relationship between two close friends; Sheba, a teacher that gets involved with one of her pupils, and Barbara, Sheba's colleague, who becomes her confidant and protector. Through Barbara's judgement and confusion, Heller seems to almost pontificate her own views on the controversial subject. Heller also provides a convincing background for Sheba's actions, without sympathy for her choices. I found all of the characters in this book to be highly developed and executed with amazing psychological insight.
In addition to the characters, another enjoyable aspect to this novel was its conclusion, in that there wasn't one. The reader was left to decide their own views on the matter, without the novel's content itself sitting on the fence. Fiction it was, but it felt almost as if the story were being reported or, indeed, somebody's notes. Despite the heavy issue explored, the novel was packed with humorous passages, making a thought provoking and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Recommended.
August 2004
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