The Uncommon Reader
Books | Fiction / Literary
4
Alan Bennett
From one of England's most celebrated writers, a funny and superbly observed novella about the Queen of England and the subversive power of readingWhen her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near Buckingham Palace, the Queen feels duty-bound to borrow a book. Discovering the joy of reading widely (from J. R. Ackerley, Jean Genet, and Ivy Compton-Burnett to the classics) and intelligently, she finds that her view of the world changes dramatically. Abetted in her newfound obsession by Norman, a young man from the royal kitchens, the Queen comes to question the prescribed order of the world and loses patience with the routines of her role as monarch. Her new passion for reading initially alarms the palace staff and soon leads to surprising and very funny consequences for the country at large. With the poignant and mischievous wit of The History Boys, England's best loved author Alan Bennett revels in the power of literature to change even the most uncommon reader's life.
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More Details:
Author
Alan Bennett
Pages
128
Publisher
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published Date
2007-09-18
ISBN
1429934530 9781429934534
Ratings
Google: 3.5
Community ReviewsSee all
"This short story was very up-lifting and kept my attention. It follows the Queen of England in her quest of developing her love of reading. Obviously, as the Queen, she has read many books and tutored in various subjects, but was never raised that reading could be enjoyable or for pleasure. After finding that the palace has a traveling library that arrives every Wednesday. Here is where we meet Norman, her soon to be accomplice in her growing addiction.<br/><br/>Over time the Queen finds that her love for reading expands beyond the normal interest and becomes an obsession. She is disregarding duties, hiding books in cars, and often finding a way to gain more time to read. This creates an issue with the Prime Minister and other members of the court, who find that her time is not being dedicated appropriately. The plot has a slight twist, with deceitful act by her court and an unpredictable Queen's reaction, leaving you wonder how her passion results in her place in the monarchy. <br/><br/>I rate this 4 stars. The writing style is easy to comprehend and written with a modern twist. There is humor threaded throughout the story and the Queen is as entertaining as in real life. I would suggest this for 16 and up, because of some sexual innuendos hidden throughout the story."
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Kass W
"Beautiful book that moves at the perfect pace. Tells the story of finding love and loss in literature and its effects on a person over years of reading. An amazing short read! Highly recommend it!!"
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Hailey Grillo
"Empowering women of all ages to cherish your knowledge and the power of reading an amazing story"
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Lexi waddington
"It held my attention and made me think of my journey as a reader."
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Andrea Larson
"Ending too abrupt...."
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Liz Thurman