So, who's read any of Zoe Heller's novels?

[thedolly]

I read The Believers and Notes on a Scandal back to back and loved them both. The Believer's is my book group read for the month.

[TheWheelsOnTheBusHaveFallenOff]

read Notes on a Scandal, started the Believers and then it got shelved for some reason, don't know why as I was enjoying it though thought it would take a bit of getting into. Does it? It seemed a bit slow so should I go back and start again? I don't usually abandon books.

NoaS I did enjoy, seemed to evolve in a very quiet and tense way, lowkey yet full of depth.

[daisyj]

I think she's fab - I used to love her Sunday Times magazine column from the 90s. Read both of the above - yes persist with The Believers - definitely worth it. And if you like her then try Curtis Sittenfeld. I think they are similar in that they both do brilliant page-turning social commentary (so frequently done in a worthy and pointed way that makes it anything but page-turning, imo).

[janeite]

I have read Notes On A Scandal. I thought it was absolute tosh, sorry.

[saltyseadog]

I have read Notes on a Scandal and The Believers - far preferred the latter but it did take quite a while to get into.

[squeaver]

She gets better with every book imo. Especially in terms of depicting utterly believable and interesting characters.

[thedolly]

Her characters are so easily evoked and there are plenty of them in The Believers. It was a bit slow to start with but definitely worth another try Wheels.

daisyj - I never read her column although I wish I had. What sort of things did she write about?

[TheWheelsOnTheBusHaveFallenOff]

oh yes I loved the columns and that's why I first bought Notes, had read it before it got Booker nominated I think. Her columns were about life in general but nicely observed, self deprecating and witty. Hannah Betts could learn a thing or two I reckon.

[daisyj]

Her column spawned a thousand pale imitations. She was like a pre-Bridget Jones, girl about town, but with far more intelligence and street smarts and without the whingeing. Don't know if it would hold up now, but I thought it was great when I was 20-something.

[daisyj]

x-post with Wheels - yes, better description than mine - to even invoke BJ was to do Zoe a disservice. They could all learn a thing or two. I still have a bit of a girl-crush on her!

[pointyhat]

I read Notes on a scandal. Not great.

[LadyG]

Liked The Believers-think it got unfairly slated. (Lots of the reviews said all the characters were unlikeable).

[thedolly]

LadyG - The mum was definitely unlikeable but I loved the daughters.

I see there has already been a movie of NoaS with Judy Dench in it (so it must be good).

[daisyj]

They were quite unlikeable, but compelling despite (or because of) that. Funny what is considered a criticism - maybe those reviewers prefer bland homogenous, 'nice' characters...

[janeite]

Can't stand Judy Dench either!

[tearinghairout]

I enjoyed Notes on a Scandal. It made me realise what a bitter old cow

[tearinghairout]

Oops end of post got cut off - What a bitter old cow one could turn into if one wasn't careful! Made me make a mental note to be nicer in general, which can't be a bad thing for a book to do.

[thedolly]

I had that thought many times when reading The Believers .

[tearinghairout]

I need a good book. Thanks chums, I'm off to the library tomorrow!