Zoë Heller's first three novels come dressed in different packages and languages: Everything You Know (1999), Notes on a Scandal and its US variant, What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal: A Novel (2003), and The Believers (2008). The second novel was adapted into a financially successful 2006 movie starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.
I could extol Heller's "trenchant observations," "unflinching explorations of the human psyche" and "acerbic style," but will save it -- how many blurbs and reviews have to fall back on such prattle? In brief, these novels are fun to read. Not everyone will think so. No biggie. Vive la différence!
Next order of business. How do you start in on a writer (or anything, for that matter)? Where to dive in? Any which way, sort of like noughts and crosses, tic-tac-toe. I happened to read Notes on a Scandal first, shortly after it came out. The novel is a lot more interesting than the movie, which seemed intent on putting more of a particular spin on things. I don't automatically rate books over movies. In any case, this is the one I read first; next, The Believers, and finally, Everything You Know. I enjoyed all three of them -- you might, too. If you've already read one or all of these, what was your take?
What comes after The Believers? More shall be revealed, time will tell, nothing is at it seems.
Tagebuch einer Verführung.
Today's Rune: The Mystery Rune.
1 comment:
Haven't explored this writer yet. There are so many things I've never gotten around to in reading. I sometimes feel rather illiterate.
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