The Uncommon Reader: A Novella
Alan Bennett
Picador, 2008 (Paperback) (ISBN 0312427646 / 9780312427641)
Fiction, 128 pages
First sentence: At Windsor it was the evening of the state banquet and as the president of France took his place beside Her Majesty, the royal family formed up behind and the procession slowly moved off and through into the Waterloo Chamber.
Comments: If you should find yourself with a couple of hours to spare, you could do much worse than to spend them with a copy of The Uncommon Reader and the beverage of your choice. As a 120-page novella, it could be easily consumed in a single sitting – I wish I’d had the opportunity to read it that way. For me, it was in nibbles over the course of a week, but I don’t think that lessened my enjoyment of this book, which I would truly describe as “a joy.”
Although I can’t imagine what it would be like to reach one’s seventh decade without having known the delights of reading, this story of the Queen of England’s late-in-life discovery of them was something I could understand – and celebrate. Details like tucking a book into her handbag and getting off-schedule because she couldn’t pull herself away from her reading were very familiar.
The Queen’s staff are none too pleased with her new preoccupation, and not just because of the schedule disruptions; it’s made her much more unpredictable in general. I found her staff’s efforts to curtail her reading some of the most amusing parts of the story. When it’s suggested that the Queen’s attempts to engage people in discussions about books and reading might be seen as elitist…well, she’s the Queen. If anyone is permitted to be elitist, it’s the Queen, if you ask me. (And if reading is an elitist pursuit, then I am very pleased to be an elitist myself, thank you very much.)
One aspect of the book that greatly appealed to me was that, as her reading became more discriminating, the Queen began to develop a sense of compassion and insight into human nature that she didn’t think she’d had before. Since one of the reasons I particularly love fiction is that it gives me the chance to get inside characters’ heads and see how other people tick, I enjoyed seeing that it seemed to affect the Queen in a similar way.
While I seem to be focusing on heavier thematic elements here, I should make clear that The Uncommon Reader is, at the same time, a breezy, engaging, and at times very funny read. I truly enjoyed it, and my copy is going to be a keeper – although I think there’s a good chance I’ll be buying copies of it for other people.
Rating: 4.5/5
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Other bloggers’ reviews and thoughts:
Fizzy Thoughts
Melody’s Reading Corner
Savvy Verse & Wit
books i done read
Bermudaonion
Both Eyes Book Blog
A Striped Armchair
A Garden Carried in the Pocket
Citizen Reader
Booking Mama
Beth Kephart Books
ReadingAdventures
Linus’s Blanket
Books on the Brain
A Novel Menagerie
Book-a-rama
Tammy’s Book Nook
The Literate Housewife Review
If you have reviewed this book and don’t see your post listed, please leave your link in the comments or e-mail it to me at 3.rsblog AT Gmail DOT com, and I’ll edit this review to include it!
I really enjoyed this book. It is one of my favorites.
This sounds like such a peculiar book. The Queen…reading. I’ve read some great reviews of it, including yours now and the short length appeals to me. I really need to check it out.
Serena – I think your review was one of the ones that convinced me that I HAD to read this sooner rather than later.
Ti – It’s a little offbeat, perhaps, but I definitely found it enjoyable.
I loved this book too. I thought Bennett did a wonderful job of describing what it’s like to love reading. Great review!
I read and loved this book as well. Not only did it describe the reading experience but also what it does to the people around you, which of course I never though about befre. Probably because I was too busy reading.
This was a fun read. I think you have to suspend your sense of disbelief because it is all highly unlikely, but still a book that most book lovers and readers will enjoy!
My review is here
I’ve edited the review to add Nicole’s and Marg’s reviews – thanks for your comments, everyone! I’m glad I’ve finally caught up with this one.
I have a copy of this one in my TBR collection and am eager to read it. It sounds like it might be perfect to take along with me on my next ride into Los Angeles. Not tomorrow though. I have a few books I need to get through before the end of the month. Maybe next month on the way to Long Beach . . .
Wendy (Literary Feline) – It would be a perfect book for a long drive, actually. But I’m envious that you can read in the car :-). Unless it’s overcast out, I can’t do it for very long at all any more.
I liked it, too!
Sheri – It seems to be pretty well-liked among us common readers :-).