
Peggy L. (
paigu) wrote on 10/22/2008...
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
I found this book rather abrupt and, sorry to say, pointless. It is written like a memoir and the scandalous headline could very well come from the modern day tabloids. However, this book did too good a job reining in the emotions. There's many subjects implied but never elaborated (for example, the jealousy the narrator feels when Sheba befriends another female teacher) and what we get is the antiseptic story of a teacher having relations with a minor. There's not even a clear picture of why the narrator decides she is going to stick by Sheba, or even if she plans to continue to stick with her until the scandal dies down.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I thought this book was only okay. It was a best-seller and was made into a movie, so I thought it was going to be really good, but I was rather disappointed. Maybe I missed the nuances or it was over my head, but I thout it was neither "compelling" nor "brilliant" as some of the reviews put it. It wasn't terrible, just not as good as I was expecting. I think amusing is a better description, and it was well written, just not the "literary page turner" it was touted to be on the cover.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very interesting and wickedly funny narrative of a scandal involving a teacher/pupil relationship. Basis of the upcoming movie with Cate Blanchette. I really enjoyed it - finished it in one day.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
You really don't want to like Sheba, but her story as told by her blah teacher friend is one that captures your interest and in the end you may not like her still (and probably won't), but you'll understand her better. A slow read, but worth it. I wouldn't read it twice, but I'm glad I read it once!

Rhonda G. (
rhondag) wrote on 5/5/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Love this book. The characters are written with so much depth. It kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A book that captures you with its intrigue, suspense, and insight into human nature. You learn as much about the rather bland narrator as you do about the main character, Sheba, who is a schoolteacher in love with one of her own students. I'd say more, but am afraid of giving too much away. Suffice it to say, this was quite a page-turner.