Plot Summary

Notes on a Scandal

Zoë Heller
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Notes on a Scandal

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003

Book Brief

Zoë Heller

Notes on a Scandal

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003
Book Details
Pages

112

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 2000s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller, published in 2003 and shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, revolves around Barbara Covett, a lonely, cynical history teacher who recounts the affair of her colleague, art teacher Sheba Hart, with a 15-year-old student. As the story progresses, it reveals Barbara's obsessive and manipulative nature, ultimately focusing on her unhealthy fixation on Sheba rather than the scandal itself. Descriptions of relationships involving significant age differences and power imbalances appear in the book.

Mysterious

Unnerving

Dark

Contemplative

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

3.9

25,949 ratings

64%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Zoë Heller’s Notes on a Scandal is widely praised for its sharp, incisive prose and nuanced character portrayals, offering a gripping psychological narrative. Critics appreciate Heller's exploration of obsession and morality. Some, however, find the darker themes unsettling and the characters unsympathetic. Overall, it’s a compelling, thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Notes on a Scandal?

Readers who enjoy psychological dramas and complex character studies like The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith will be captivated by Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller. They will appreciate its dark, introspective narrative and morally ambiguous characters.

3.9

25,949 ratings

64%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

112

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 2000s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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