Best days of our lives…

When Sheba Hart joins the staff of St George’s school, history teacher Barbara Covett finds herself fascinated by the younger woman – a fascination that borders on obsession. Sheba, we soon discover, is no stranger to obsession herself, only her obsession is more dangerous. She has developed a sexual passion for one of her pupils, 15-year-old Steven Connolly. Barbara tells us the story – her version of it, at least – so we learn right from the beginning that Sheba’s affair has been discovered…

This is an intensely readable book, short and taut, and with a wonderful narrator in Barbara who is really the star of the show even though it’s Sheba’s story she’s ostensibly telling. In the early stages she tells us about the life of an inner-city school in a not particularly salubrious area of London, and the picture she paints is insightful and feels authentic, and is full of humour. It’s a kind of battle-ground – teachers vs. pupils, and also teachers vs. management. Barbara is nearing the end of her career and any idealism she may once have had is long gone – by her own account she is competent, but cynical, with low expectations of what any teacher can hope to achieve beyond maintaining discipline and getting through the day.

Sheba is the opposite. Although approaching middle-age this is her first job as a pottery teacher and she still believes she will be able to mould young minds to share her passion for art. She receives a rude awakening when her teenage pupils scent the weakness that comes with inexperience and set out to torment her. This provides an opening for Barbara to insert herself into Sheba’s life as a kind of wise mentor. But it also leaves Sheba vulnerable to the one pupil who shows a mild interest in art, and a much stronger interest in Sheba herself – Steven Connolly. As Sheba becomes ever more embroiled in this inappropriate relationship, Barbara becomes her only confidante.

I enjoyed Barbara’s twisted character very much. A single woman living alone with her cat, she is lonely and we gradually learn that she seems to have great talent for alienating friends who then become enemies. Is she a closeted lesbian? Perhaps. But if she is, it’s not clear whether she’s aware of it. Her obsession with Sheba borders on the sexual, and she certainly seems jealous of both Sheba’s husband and her youthful lover. But her own account is that she is simply looking for a friend. Barbara’s idea of friendship is extreme, however – she resents all other claims on Sheba’s time, and we see her attempt to manipulate herself into a position where she is the one person Sheba depends on. If Barbara wasn’t such an awful person, it would be easy to feel sorry for her. But I didn’t!

I have to admit I didn’t find the rest of the characters quite as believable. The main problem was that I simply couldn’t see what would possibly have attracted attractive Sheba to this rather uncouth teenager. He doesn’t sound like a physical hunk, and he’s certainly not a smooth-talking flatterer. Is it simply that he shows his interest in her? But if Sheba is as attractive as Barbara leads us to believe she must be used to male flattery, and if she wanted an affair she could surely have found someone with more going for him than poor Steven! (Yes, I know these things happen in real life, but this one didn’t convince me.) Putting my disbelief to one side, however, it’s a wonderful depiction of self-delusion as Sheba convinces herself and tries to convince Barbara that this is more than sex – it’s love. Barbara’s cynicism on that point is equal to my own!

Sheba’s family are rather stock characters – the unsuspecting husband with a not-unchequered past of his own; the surly teenage daughter going off the rails; the son with Downs Syndrome who needs a lot of love and attention; the disapproving mother who feels her daughter has under-achieved in life. They exist, mostly, simply for the reader to feel that Sheba is betraying them – somehow her sin wouldn’t have seemed quite so sinful had she been free of family ties.

And on the subject of sin, that’s the book’s other deliciously twisted strength. I wonder if anyone would have the courage now to write a book suggesting that the boy was as manipulative as the woman? Of course we only see Steven through Barbara’s unreliable eyes, but it does seem as if he merely wants a bit of sexual experience with a “hot” teacher – there’s little of the victim about him. He’s a disgusting little oik, to be honest – or is he? Do I think that because Barbara thinks it? Is he really a male Lolita, preyed on by a paedophile? The law would certainly say so. Heller uses Barbara cleverly to show us only one side of the story – Barbara’s. This makes it an ambiguous read. Why really did Sheba become obsessed? What impact did it all have on Steven? By not telling us, Heller avoids preachiness and leaves each reader to make her own moral judgements.

A rather lighter read than the subject matter suggests, I’m not sure there’s really much profundity here or much depth of insight into what brings these situations about. However, the wonderful characterisation of Barbara carries it, and while perhaps not quite as thought-provoking as it might have been, I certainly enjoyed listening to it, especially since the audiobook narrator, Jilly Bond, did an excellent job of bringing Barbara’s voice to life.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Incredible Character Narration

Such wonderful writing. The depth of the characters still feels so fresh, years after publication. The style is effortless, and the emotions and insights feel so well explored - often humorous, sometimes sad, always moving.

Also the most impressive narration I’ve ever heard, a monologue of such light and shade, I felt as though Barbara was in the room with me.

A fantastic book and audio!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Best narrator I've heard in years.

An absolute joy to listen to. Totally bonkers, Barbara lives her life vicariously through her dear friend Sheba. Unfortunately, Sheba, who has the ideal life, throws caution to the wind when she starts an illicit affair with one of her secondary school pupils. The bitching and backing stabbing in the staff room are written perfectly. Barbara might well be lonely, but she's also rather creepy. The characters are brought to life beautifully by Heller, an extraordinary author. Not my usual genre but a thoroughly good book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Superb narration

Probably the best audio book narration I’ve ever heard. Barbara Covett is completely brought to life, and the narrator captures every nuance of her character. An absolute joy to listen to.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

One of the best books written...

In the past 20 years? Complex characters and chilling plot kept me hooked from the beginning. Bravo.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Completely mesmerising

A masterpiece of storytelling brought to life by this perfect rendition. I've read the book at least three times but having been brought low with a broken ankle this was my first choice of a good read. The second choice was Bonfire of the Vanities but sadly it's not available on Audible.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Superb

An engrossing novel, performed by a superb narrator who has the ability to bring every character to life, I’ll be looking for more writing narrated by Jilly Bond. I couldn’t stop listening, so gripping is both storyline and storyteller. One of my favourite purchases. I only wish Heller would write more.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

I sat in my car listening to this!

Brilliantly narrated, exciting story that told you just enough but left you thinking & wanting for more.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

One of the best audiobooks I listened to

Extraordinary performance by the narrator. The book is so beautifully written, all the characters comes alive. A masterpiece really.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Superb

Excellent book. Got goosebumps at the end, actually rewind to check my feeling. Got it again. The narrater is first class.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!