Notes on a Scandal

One of my all-time favourite books is 'What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal' by Zoe Heller. If I could write like that I'd be a happy woman, and a rich woman too considering it's just been made in to a fabulous movie with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Zoe Heller is one of the best character-writers I have ever come across, her descriptions are succinct, razor-sharp, and often painfully funny. And damn it, I can't find the book, again, which is really chuffing annoying because it's the second copy I've bought. I'm going to have to half-remember a quote from her, which I'm sure is illegal, and will certainly not do her justice, but she described talking to this one awkward and loud bloke 'as if you were conversing with a school play'. Just perfect.

The movie is excellent, but really, if you're at all inclined you should read the book, it's bloody brilliant. So good in fact, that I set it for book club last year - which just goes to show what an utter genius I am, setting a book that a matter of months later becomes a Golden Globe awarded screenplay. I'm modest too. Honestly though, I didn't just set it because I thought it would be an interesting lead-in to see how many of my fellow book club attendees have been inappropriate with teenage boys (you'd be surprised).

Well, my friend C. called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to see Notes on a Scandal, and of course I was all over it, and did whatever it took to secure a few hours of Anna-less time from LK. The man drives a hard bargain. C. asked 'do you know anything about it?' which was a bit of a shocker considering she'd been at that particular book club meeting. What can I say - the wine flows freely, and we don't stick religiously to the topic on hand. But hey, this is coming from the woman who a few months ago asked me what the book of choice was and when I replied 'Modoc, The Greatest Elephant Who Ever Lived', asked 'What's it about?". Says it all really doesn't it?

Anyway, my recommendation, go and see the movie, and set this book for book club if you're in one. It's well worth it, and you might just find out a little bit more about your co-member's pasts than you'd wish to!!