I agree that the book is more about Barbara than about SHeba's affair with Connolly. I felt sorry for Barbara, but also quite 'creeped out' by her. I wondered at one point how far she would go in the grip of obsession (I had an idea that she might end up killing or trying to kill Sheba if Sheba started to detach herself from Barbara).

The style of the writing was quite claustrophobic and creepy, but that's not to say that I didn't enjoy it.

There were several remarks made by Barbara that highlighted her obsession with Sheba and how empty her life would be without their friendship. For example, Barbara gets angry when she feels that Sheba has neglected to telephone her, or when she is first told about the affair - because it makes her realise that she might not be such a high priority in Sheba's life as Sheba is in hers. Barbara is so obviously desperately lonely that friendships and social events become magnified in her mind and end up taking over her whole thoughts and feelings.

Sheba struck me as being a very weak character, constantly seeking validation from people. She was controlled by her mother, then by Richard (to an extent), then by Barbara and even by Connolly. She seemed to be crazy about Connolly, but I think it was less about who he was, than what the relationship gave her. At home, she had a difficult daughter and a son who required most of her time. When she was with Steven, she perhaps felt that she could shed all of her responsibilities and be her true self again(?) At the end of the book she appears to have totally surrendered herself to Barbara.

Richard was an interesting character. His reaction and anger to the affair was entirely understandable, but I found him to be a not particularly likeable character. Although anybody in his position would be outraged at Sheba and Connolly's relationship, he himself had married a student of his, and someone who was much younger than himself, and (I think) cheated on his first wife with that student (Sheba). Obviously that situation is different because Connolly is a minor - and I am not downplaying ths seriousness of Sheba's actions - and Sheba was an adult when her relationship with Richard began. However, he didn't seem to see any correlation between what he had done and what Sheba had done.

I could understand the juxtaposition of a strong female in Barbara and carefree one in Sheba, but does this sort of relationship happen in the real world? Interested in others' comments.

Also agree that it was never explicitly stated that Barbara was a lesbian, but I started to wonder about the speed (and bitterness on Barbara's part) at which her previous friend had left. And as Barbara relates the tale, you couldn't really expect a balanced view.

Well done for picking up on the fact that we learn more about Barbara than anyone else. I wasn't conscious of that when I read the book, but it's very true.

I gave it 4 stars. I wanted to keep reading and find out what would happen. I do think that Barbara told Bangs because, deep down, she resented anyone else having a relationship with Sheba, although she did not think about the ramifications of her actions, or did she? I certianly didn't see Barbara losing her job - nice twist.

I do think that such relationships as that between Barbara and Sheba are quite commonplace probably between men as well where you have the domineering, decision making one and the more laidback, you organise my life for me, type. I don't think people like Barbara would seek out someone equally controlling as they need that power over someone else to justify their existence and there are plenty of people like Sheba who go with the flow.

I agree that this book is more about Barbara than Sheba, but contrary to most other people I do feel rather sorry for her. She is a very lonely person but can’t see that it is due to her own behavior. She has very high standards – in teaching, cleaning and morals - and is utterly sure that her way of doing things is the right way and her views are the right ones, which makes it very difficult for most people to get on with her once they realize this. Barbara seemed to have had an unsatisfactory working class upbringing (in her view) which she resented and by being Sheba’s friend she hoped to be seen as ‘middleclass’ herself.

I don’t think she is an Lesbian, there was no hint of anything sexual in her relationship with Sheba. In fact I don’t think she would be in favour of any kind of sexual activity – too messy. Some middle aged are unmarried because they have never found the right man or don’t want the ‘bother of the sex bit’ not becasue they are Lesbain. I did wonder if she wasn’t so much looking for a friend as a substitute daughter. But in any friendships she had had she acted like a Cuckoo in a nest, ousting any other fledgling friendships until she was the only one left.

Sheba seems to be at a point in her life when she has asked herself – is this all there is? She had married young to a much older man who she may not have quite trusted. After all he was working with young women all the time and he had fallen for one of his students before (herself). After she was charged he was soon able to get one of his female students to ‘help’ around the house and with Ben. She had a difficult relationship with her young, beautiful but rebellious daughter. Every time she looked at her she saw her self getting older. She had always been a disappointment to her own parents and she had a young disabled son who was delightful but would be depended on her one way or another all his life. She took up teaching in the hope she would get some satisfaction from teaching bright young people you where just dying to learn about pottery. Of course she was soon disillusioned and in the end give up trying to teach them anything and let them do as the liked. The headmaster was a bit pathetic and she didn’t really fit in with the most of the teaching staff and took a while to make any friends.

So when Connolly showed interest in her and art – well the rest was almost inevitable given the fact that Sheba was a weak person and easily swayed. How the affair really started and what went on we don’t really know as we only have Barbara’s version and Sheba did lie to her on occasion. Although the photos did prove it happened Still I can't see the atttaction myself. I haven't had a crush on a schoolboy since I was 15.

I don’t think Barbara meant to tell on Sheba, I think she was hurt because she felt used by Bangs after all it was Sheba he wanted and hope to get to her through Barbara. But as a result of telling him she did end up getting a lot out of it. She took early retirement, no doubt on a reasonable state pension and even though her life had been teaching she now had Sheba full time, a constant companion in her life, someone who relied on her for everything and give her life a meaning. I doubt Sheba would ever be able to leave and would withdraw more and more into herself.

As to the ending, I had a look on the internet for articles on teacher/pupil relationships and found in 2 fairly recent cases, two female teaches who had inappropriate relations with a male student both received suspended sentences and where placed on the sex offenders register which of course means they wouldn’t ever be able to teach young people again. So in reality I doubt Sheba would have gone to prison despite Connolly’s mother screaming her precious sons innocence. (Mothers can be very blind to the life their children really lead). Connolly himself had also moved on, getting over the stage when older women seem desirable. He seem to relalise this when Sheba was in France for a month and girls his own age became more attractive but he didn’t seem to have the courage to end the affair with Sheba. I have know doubt that he basked in the admiration of his friends when the affair became public and it would have done is street cred no end of good. Sheba’s husband would divorce her and marry another student, but it did't last long, too big an age gap. Her daughter would end up in rehab after getting into drugs to escape the pain of her mothers behaviour. So Barabra and Connolly who both latched on to Sheba and caused her downfall where the only winners in this story.

I remember being struck by how obssessed with class Barbara seemed in the novel. I don't know if she wanted others to think of her as middle class though. She kept on that Sheba was upper class didn't she? Sheba seemed to have not given class and class differences much thought. It made me smile when Barbara tells us about Sheba seeing a three piece suite for the first time at Connolly's house.

you are right SB, Barbara did think of Sheba as been upper class, I got that wrong. I liked the bit about the 3 piece suit, no self respecting upper class person would have on in the house. Barbara was obsessed by class and I felt that she somewhat resented her more working class background. I believe that you 'class status' is judged on your fathers occupation so what ever you do in life would change your 'class'. You would think that nowadays class was less important than in the Edwardian and Victorian times but it is still important in some circles. But I would be getting rid of my suite (two pieces, large sofa and chair).

What was Connolly's motive for starting the affair? Did he really fancy Sheba? was it a bet?

I didn't think I would like this book but I did, but I think that I could identify some of the characters.

My Mum is a bit like Barbara. She thinks that her views are the right ones and won't be told different and she has a quite a narrow out look on life. My ex husband was an older man who liked younger women. When I got into my 40's he trading me in for someone 20 years younger than himself ( she is only a couple of years older than his daughter). But I have never fancied a school boy and can't for the life of me see the attractraction.(although Mr BF is 9 years younger than me, so maybe I'm not that much different)

I think that nowadays class boundaries are blurred. I watched a programme about it recently and it was really interesting. Isn't someone's class defined by what job they do as opposed to what their father did/does? Maybe in the Victorian era. It's not something that should be important, imo.

I agree it shouldn't be important and maybe blurred, but I know it exists and is important to some people and the fact that Barbara mentioned it a few times would suggest it was important to her. Its not a subject I have found in modern novels before. It tends to be more of a pre ocupation of the classics which is why I think it stuck in my mind.

I would agree with the rest of you that the book is far more about Barbara's character, than it is of Sheba's. I did feel a little sympathy towards Barbara as she was clearly a very lonely soul, but her unhealthy obsession with getting close to Sheba was very creepy to say the least.
The pure reason for Barbara telling Bangs that there was something going on between Sheba and Connolly, was in my mind so that Sheba would spiral even more out of control and she would be solely dependant on Barbara.

I don't believe that Connolly's relationship with Sheba was for a bet as the other children would have soon blabbed about it. He had a crush on her and the thrill of being with an older/married/teacher excited him. I don't believe for one second that the relationship harmed him in any way, it of course should never have happened.

What we'll never know is whether or not Barbara's account of the events are truly accurate, but that Barbara ending up getting what she most wanted in the world, a companion.