Synopses & Reviews
A lonely schoolteacher reveals more than she intends when she records the story of her best friends affair with a pupil in this sly, insightful novelSchoolteacher Barbara Covett has led a solitary existence; aside from her cat, Portia, she has few friends and no intimates. When Sheba Hart joins St. Georges as the new art teacher, Barbara senses the possibility of a new friendship. It begins with lunches and continues with regular invitations to meals with Shebas seemingly close-knit family. But as Barbara and Shebas relationship develops, another does as well: Sheba has begun a passionate affair with an underage male student. When it comes to light and Sheba falls prey to the inevitable media circus, Barbara decides to write an account in her freinds defense—an account that reveals not only Shebas secrets but her own.
What Was She Thinking? is a story of repression and passion, envy and complacence, friendship and loneliness. A complex psychological portrait framed as a wicked satire, it is by turns funny, poignant, and sinister. With it, Zoë Heller surpasses the promise of her critically acclaimed first novel, Everything You Know.
Review
"Sparkling....A stylish and spirited debut." The New York Times
Review
"A caustic and ultimately devastating novel." The New Yorker
Review
"The most gripping novel of the year. You leave this extraordinary book utterly shaken, with new knowledge of the human heart. Heller writes with a precision that stirs the blood and an uncommon insight into the darker sides of love." Nuala O'Faolain
Review
"The novel is gripping from start to finish; Heller brings vivid, nuanced characterizations to the racy story." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Her mixed motives for concocting such a voyeuristic tall tale are ultimately what give Heller's novel its queasy, heartbreaking kick. 'For most people,' Barbara says, 'honesty is such an unusual departure from their standard modus operandi — such an aberration in their workaday mendacity.' Her own mendacity is more refined, wonderfully entertaining, and deeply (which is to say tragically) unconscious." James Marcus, The Atlantic Monthly (read the entire Atlantic review)
Synopsis
A lonely schoolteacher reveals more than she intends when she records the story of her best friend's affair with a pupil in this sly, insightful novel Schoolteacher Barbara Covett has led a solitary existence; aside from her cat, Portia, she has few friends and no intimates. When Sheba Hart joins St. George's as the new art teacher, Barbara senses the possibility of a new friendship. It begins with lunches and continues with regular invitations to meals with Sheba's seemingly close-knit family. But as Barbara and Sheba's relationship develops, another does as well: Sheba has begun a passionate affair with an underage male student. When it comes to light and Sheba falls prey to the inevitable media circus, Barbara decides to write an account in her freind's defense-an account that reveals not only Sheba's secrets but her own. What Was She Thinking? is a story of repression and passion, envy and complacence, friendship and loneliness. A complex psychological portrait framed as a wicked satire, it is by turns funny, poignant, and sinister. With it, Zo Heller surpasses the promise of her critically acclaimed first novel, Everything You Know.
Synopsis
Praise for Everything You Know: "Sparkling ... A stylish and spirited debut." -- The New York Times "A caustic and ultimately devastating novel." -- The New Yorker
Synopsis
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize Now the Major Motion Picture Notes on a Scandal Schoolteacher Barbara Covett has led a solitary life until Sheba Hart, the new art teacher at St. George's, befriends her. But even as their relationship develops, so too does another: Sheba has begun an illicit affair with an underage male student. When the scandal turns into a media circus, Barbara decides to write an account in her friend's defense--and ends up revealing not only Sheba's secrets, but also her own.
About the Author
Zoë Heller was born in London. Her work as a feature writer, critic, and columnist has appeared in
The Independent on Sunday,
The London Sunday Times,
The New Yorker,
Vanity Fair,
The London Review of Books,
Esquire,
The New Republic, and
The Times Literary Supplement. She currently writes a weekly column for the
London Telegraph, for which she won the 2002 British Press Award for Columnist of the Year. She has lived in New York since 1993.