Being alone is not the most awful thing in the world. Barbara narrates the story of shebas affair while inadvertently revealing her own obsession and her pivotal role in the scandal. Ive been meaning to play it for about a year but, always put it off. However, her intentions with this new friend also go well beyond a platonic friendship. Based on the novel what was she thinking notes on a scandal by the british writer zoe heller, the film stars judi dench and cate blanchett as colleagues nearly undone. This is one of those disquieting novels that proffers its apparent theme then cunningly reveals itself to. With cate blanchett, judi dench, andrew simpson, tom georgeson. Across the united states, from miami to seattle, newspapers have slashed budgets and sacked critics, leaving the new york times. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Notes on a scandal quotes showing 127 of 27 being alone is not the most awful thing in the world. Shortlisted for the man booker prize in 2003, notes on a scandal by. Richard eyres notes on a scandal is a brilliant film based on a middling novel. Notes on scandals marber and eyre september 19, 2006 by emanuellevy in this age of loneliness, isolation and disconnect, we live in cities that house millions of people yet everyone at one time or another yearns for companionship, for someone to reach out. Prize, zoe hellers notes on a scandal is a darkly compelling novel that explores the taboo subject of pupilteacher relationships, obsession and betrayal.
It does hurt that notes on a scandal s plotadapted from a novel by zoe hellertrades in stereotypes of the vampire lesbian, the frigid spinster, and the bitter, battle axe school teacher, but denchs acting mitigates these images to an extent that makes the film worth seeing. Barbara covettjudi dench is a teacher and leads a quiet life until one day a younger teacher sheba hartcate blanchett starts teaching at the same school. I would have thought that notes on a scandal too would have stood the test of time. But her american publisher, henry holt, restyled it what was she thinking. The pillow book is undeniably sensual and visually ravishing, but the films narrative lacks the hypnotic pull of its imagery. Unfortunately, the point where comparison could be most instructive is the ending, which is radically different in the book from what you will see in the movie. Philip glasss oscarnominated score accentuates the growing menace. The novel is in the form of barbaras notes on the scandal once sheba has been. Notes on a scandal is about something deeply unlovely in human nature rarely explored by poets, or novelists, or filmmakers. Dench plays barbara covett, the longtime school teacher intrigued by the lithe and blithe new art teacher, sheba hart. Discussion of themes and motifs in zoe hellers notes on a scandal.
Notes on a scandal is a school drama film about an older womans obsession with a younger woman and the lengths the older woman will go to have the younger woman all to herself. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of notes on a scandal by zoe heller. Notes on a scandal is a clever tackling of an often taboo subject, but there was nothing in the novel that made me go wow. Ben whishaw has won the critics choice best supporting actor in a limited series or movie made for television award for a very english scandal. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. Shebas dowdy colleague and confidant barbara covett recounts the story from a deliciously twisted perspective steeped in obsession and jealousy. Barbara puts together a timeline of shebas year at st. The novel was shortlisted for the 2003 man booker prize. Her judas to her supposed friend and fellow teacher is an acting performance which will land ms. In donald judds wellknown article of 1965, specific objects, he postulated that the new uses of a third dimension afforded an alternative to the structural limits. In this story barbara is a first person narrator and she is recounting the scandal with her friend sheba has gotten herself into. The film stars judi dench and cate blanchett and centres on a lonely veteran teacher who uncovers a fellow teachers illicit affair with an underage. An unforgiving, coldeyed, wickedly beautiful little book.
I read it in one sitting, but i can blame that purely on the short length of the novel rather than the gripping narrative. The films director, richard eyre, ran the national theater in london, and the screenwriter, patrick. In her second novel, notes on a scandal, hellers central characters are, like willy muller, at some remove from what one would assume to be her immediate frame of reference. Zoe hellers novel notes on a scandal was published in 2003, and was shortlisted for the man booker prize that year. Notes on a scandal is therefore neither an essay in praise of older women, nor a. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to factbased news and analysis. Buy notes on a scandal by zoe heller from waterstones today. Honestly i thought it was going to be super jumpscarey. And that obsession will lead to scandal, an accident and death. The 2006 film adaptation of notes on a scandal, starring cate blanchett and judi dench, received four oscar nominations. Point of view in the novel notes on a scandal by zoe heller. She plans to mark each important event with a gold star.
One womans mistake is anothers opportunity in this stylish, suspenseful thriller that binds two women together by the secrets that they share. Featured author miles watson is the x10 awardwinning author of cage life, knuckle down, devils you know, nosferatu, and the numbers game. Shortlisted for the 2003 man booker prize, zo hellers notes on a scandal is a darkly compelling novel that explores the taboo subject of pupilteacher relationships, obsession and betrayal from the first day that the beguiling sheba hart joins the staff of st georges history teacher barbara covett is convinced she has found a kindred spirit. Hellers narrative, which seems to focus on a middleaged teachers scandalous affair with one of her high school students, actually turns out to be about another relationship altogether.
Based on the novel by zoe heller, this psychological thriller portrays two women caught up in a drama. The novel is narrated by barbara covett, the selfappointed. Notes of obsession is a great game that stands the test of time. Notes on a scandal is therefore neither an essay in praise of older women, nor a death in venicelike reverie on the exquisite properties of the young male. Notes on a scandal is a 2006 british psychological thrillerdrama film directed by richard eyre and produced by robert fox and scott rudin. So why are so many critics still banging on about the book. Notes on a scandal by zoe heller is a psychological thriller about obsessive desire and predatory relationships gone awry. It does hurt that notes on a scandals plotadapted from a novel by zoe hellertrades in stereotypes of the vampire lesbian, the frigid spinster, and the bitter, battle axe school teacher, but denchs acting mitigates these images to an extent that makes the film worth seeing. Though there is little in these characters to admire, one would think glaad would have something to say about the predatory turn barbaras character takes, notes on a scandal is a compelling tourdeforce for its gradea cast. Notes on a scandal c zoe heller, 2003 well, the title of the book is. With stunning performances from judi dench and cate blanchett, notes on a scandal is a taut drama that explores the devastating effects of desolation on the moral limits of two women.
A veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her fifteenyearold students. What was she thinking is a cleverly crafted, exceedingly wellwritten masterpiece of a novel that masquerades as focusing on one womans public sex scandal while simultaneously exposing the many hypocrisies and stubborn. Kusamas sexobsession and compulsion furniture series of 1962 to 1964 were recognized by critics at the time as representative of emerging postformalist trends. It was made into a stunning movie in 2006 starring cate blanchett. Notes on a scandal is a judi dench triumph of brilliant wit, pain and a satanic passion for a woman out of reach in cate blanchett. Painfully class conscious, embittered and obsessive, she trails a history of. The writing is easy to follow, and the characters realistic, but nothing really grasped me. Notes on a scandal summary what would possess the middleaged sheba hart to have an affair with her fifteenyearold high school student. Notes on a scandal, earned tremendous acclaim, including a spot on the short list for the prestigious man booker prize. Without critics to engage with the unknown, those worlds will be lost and the collective intelligence impoverished.
Notes on a scandal by zoe heller a little blog of books. Im glad that even if you get jumpscared and, caught you can still beat the game. You visit your museums and cultivate your interests and remind yourself how lucky you are not to be one of those spindly sudanese children with flies beading their mouths. The audio release coincided with the 2007 film adaptation, notes on a scandal, starring cate blanchett and judi dench. This was the story of a schoolteacher who had seduced and was having continuing sexual relations with one of her male pupils. The notes on a scandal community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character. Barbara is the narrator of the book and therefore the only character the reader gets to. Notes on a scandal is melodrama at its best a nasty, wickedly good, overthetop story with school teachers standing in where vampires usually prowl. In this sharp psychological thriller, judi dench and cate blanchett give fierce, memorable performances as two schoolteachers locked in a battle of wits.