10 books about being a teacher

[eurynome1967]

In roughly descending order of excellence (by which I mean getting across what it's really like to be a teacher), IMHO.

1. Evelyn Waugh - Decline and Fall
2. Joanne Harris - Gentlemen and Players
3. Zoe Heller - Notes on a Scandal
4. H.F. Ellis - The Papers of A.J.Wentworth, B.A
5. Carol Goodman - The Lake of Dead Languages

Comments

[dorsetgirl]

I've only read one of the books on your list - 'Notes on a Scandal' by Zoë Heller. I can see what you mean about the portrayal of life as a teacher, but I have to say it's not a book I shall ever read again. (I normally take it for granted I will re-read books on many occasions over the years, but this one I'm actually going to get rid of). I thought it was cleverly written, but I found the pov character creepy and quite disgusting in her determination to control the younger woman (can't remember the names), and the way she sees it as a good thing that the younger woman doesn't go out much nowadays. A very unpleasant character imo with a disturbing lack of insight into her own motivations.

[eurynome1967]

Yes, good point. I would rank them very differently if I went by which I liked (possibly 7, 1, 4, and not many of the others), and I completely agree with you about the narrator in NoaS, very creepy (I believe that came across in the film, though I didn't see it). Its portrayal of what a staffroom is like, is, however, spot on. But now you come to mention it, I wonder if I will ever want to read it again either!