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The Uncommon Reader

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 9,815 ratings · 2,350 reviews

From one of England's most celebrated writers, the author of the award-winning The History Boys, a funny and superbly observed novella about the Queen of England and the subversive power of reading

When 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

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Hardcover, 124 pages

Published 2007 by Faber and Faber

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Jan 27, 2012 Gavin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literary

What would happen if the Queen started to notice the little things in life? You know, the type of things that seem to only matter to the lower stations. Futhermore, what if she was only noticing these things because she started reading books? That is the premise to this very fast-paced novella from Alan Bennett.

Overall, this story has some wonderful insight in to the magic of reading, exploring new worlds and meeting new characters through the written word. Additionally, this slim story is also...more

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Dec 21, 2007 The Book Maven rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: humorousfiction, books_about_books

Oh wow. If I could give this book six stars, or heck, even ten, I would. It is so great--there's a lot of subtlety in here that Readers' Advisory librarians will definitely clue into, especially in how society views readers, reading, and books.

A lot of us read, sure. A lot of us really enjoy books. But because we are average joes, commoners, small potatoes, this is nothing groundbreaking. It likely will not become upsetting if we take up reading as a hobby. But what if someone important takes up...more Oh wow. If I could give this book six stars, or heck, even ten, I would. It is so great--there's a lot of subtlety in here that Readers' Advisory librarians will definitely clue into, especially in how society views readers, reading, and books.

A lot of us read, sure. A lot of us really enjoy books. But because we are average joes, commoners, small potatoes, this is nothing groundbreaking. It likely will not become upsetting if we take up reading as a hobby. But what if someone important takes up reading, at a late stage in life? What if that somebody is more than important--what if that person is a figurehead, an influential presence of tradition, or otherwise very powerful, in oblique ways? What if that person happened to be the Queen of England?

That's the premise of this romping little read that has a surprising amount of substance. Queen Elizabeth stumbles across a bookmobile by the palace, feels compelled by good manners to check out a book, struggles through it, returns it, and again feels compelled to take out another. This one she finds delightful, and so the die is cast. This is so completely out of character for the Queen--she allows herself few hobbies and interests that would indicate a preference for anything, and now here she is, preferring books, developing a love for them, and as she reads more and more, developing some pretty heavy ideas that influence the person she is and how she reigns and interacts with her subjects.

But not everyone likes this new habit, hobby, tendency, addiction, whatever. RA librarians will recognize some of the arguments that the Queen's politicians and such make: Reading is selfish. Reading isolates you. Reading will alienate others from you. It's one thing to read this in an RA textbook; it hits home a lot harder when you read it being discussed in a fiction book.

The book is mainly dialogue-driven, with a fair amount of character development being devoted to the Queen. It all gets resolved in a tidy, unexpected, funny, and completely ludicrous manner at the end, and the ending is suitably off-beat, just like the rest of the book.

READ IT!
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Dec 15, 2011 Petra X rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Utterly charming book about the Queen stumbling across a mobile library that visits Buckingham Palace regularly and being helped to choose reading matter by the helpful Norman. It's unusual because it shows how limited the Queen is by her very proper job which might not look like one, christening ships, knighting people, opening hospitals, hosting dinner parties and being nice to foreign politicians, but it certainly would feel like one. She escapes not from reality with a book, but into it, int...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Salma rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013

من خلال مكتبة متنقلة تقف قرب قصرها، قررت الملكة استعارة كتاب... لينفتح أمام ملكة بريطانية المسنة عالم جديد... عالم القراءة... الباب الذي إذا انفتح فلا مغلق له... فالكتاب صار شغلها الشاغل و تحولت إلى قارئة نهمة... و لكن هذا الشغف الجديد بدأ يؤثر على حياتها و مهامها، و يثير حفيظة كل من حولها و امتعاضهم، مثل كل قراء العالم! شخصية الملكة و بفعل القراءة بدأت تتطور، إذ أخذت تنتبه لأشياء لم تكن لتنتبه لها سابقا، و صارت تضفي العمق على ملاحظاتها و تصرفاتها و تغفل الكثير من الشكليات... مما زاد في قلق من ح...more من خلال مكتبة متنقلة تقف قرب قصرها، قررت الملكة استعارة كتاب... لينفتح أمام ملكة بريطانية المسنة عالم جديد... عالم القراءة... الباب الذي إذا انفتح فلا مغلق له... فالكتاب صار شغلها الشاغل و تحولت إلى قارئة نهمة... و لكن هذا الشغف الجديد بدأ يؤثر على حياتها و مهامها، و يثير حفيظة كل من حولها و امتعاضهم، مثل كل قراء العالم! شخصية الملكة و بفعل القراءة بدأت تتطور، إذ أخذت تنتبه لأشياء لم تكن لتنتبه لها سابقا، و صارت تضفي العمق على ملاحظاتها و تصرفاتها و تغفل الكثير من الشكليات... مما زاد في قلق من حولها، أوليس محور حياتها الشكليات و المظاهر؟ حتى خشي أن يكون ما ألم بها بداية الخرف! الملكة بدأت تشعر بأن الكلمات أخذت تملؤها فصارت تدون بعض ملاحظاتها، و الملاحظات أخذت تتطور داخلها... إلى أن صارت فكرة تأليف كتاب عن حياتها تلح عليها... لكن هل كانت لتكتب كتابا _و هي التي باتت تتأمل كثيرا في واقعها_ عن سيرة حياتها بطريقة استعراضية كالدور الذي ألبسوه لها طوال حياتها؟ لا، لم يكن ليكون أي سيرة ذاتية ملكية عادية! 0
و في عيد ميلادها الثمانين جمعت كل مستشاريها و رؤساء الحكومات المتعاقبة عبر خمسين سنة من الحكم... لتشكرهم عن كل نصائحهم و... نفاقهم و تعلن زهدها في منصبها... هذه الخاتمة أضفت المعنى على كل الرواية... الملكة البسيطة الغافلة أصبحت ترى...0
هذه النهاية جعلتني أتساءل، هل بات من المستحيل في عصرنا لنزيه ذي بصيرة أن يقتحم العمل السياسي؟ هل لم يعد يحتمل البقاء بين أروقة الساسة و مكائدهم إلا عمي الأبصار، فالمرء بمجرد أن تزال الغشاوة عن عينيه، يزهد بها و ينفر؟
لا أنكر أن الرواية فيها الكثير من الذكاء، و هناك الكثير من العبارات اللماحة و لكنها باردة جدا و طريقة السرد بليدة، بحيث أني لم أفسد عليكم ذكري للنهاية، فهي على أية حال سواء _عرفت النهاية أم لا_ رواية تثير السأم في النفس، و شخصية الملكة بدت ساذجة و مملة و بطيئة حد التثاؤب، بحيث لا يوجد صعود و لا هبوط و لا تشويق من أي نوع في ثنايا الكتاب، و كل ما قلبت صفحة أقول ربما يبدأ الحدث الآن، أصبت بخيبة أمل، حتى أيقنت ألا حدث! فضلا عن ميل واضح في بداياتها نحو الشواذ مما جعلني أقرف منها بزيادة. و لذلك مضت أشهر و أنا أراوح بين صفحاتها القليلة مجبرة نفسي على القراءة، و مرات و مرات حدثت نفسي بتركها، لولا التصبر، فضلا عن رغبة داخلية بقراءة شيء ممل خال من أي حركة و حدث ليخفف من جرعة الأدرينالين الزائدة التي سمم بها الواقع بأحداثه المتوحشة دمي... و لكن بعد قراءتي لخاتمتها الذكية، أشعر بأني قد أحسنت بالاستمرار بها حتى نهاية الطريق...0
على كل لا أحبذ عادة أن أقرأ بالانكليزية إلا ما يحمل تشويقا، لأن قراءتي بها أبطأ بكثير من العربية و بالتالي فإني بالكاد أملك الصبر الكافي لقراءة كتاب ممتلئ بالتشويق، فما بالك بكتاب خال منه! كما أن لغة الكتابة لم تخل من عسارة فهي تحمل سمات الثقافة الشعبية البريطانية المعاصرة و كثير من مصطلحات الكلام العامي، مما جعل الكثير من التلميحات في الجمل _و التي يفترض بها أن تكون طريفة_ غير مفهومة بالنسبة لي، لأني لست مطلعة على الجو العام هناك...0
بأية حال الرواية و إن كانت مملة إلا أن الفكرة بشكل عام لا بأس بها... 0
تقول الملكة ملخصة سنوات حكمها الخمسين أمام الملأ الذين جمعتهم، متحدثة عن نفسها بهذه الصيغة الرسمية: 0
"لقد أعطى المرء يده بقفازها الأبيض لتمسكها أياد منقوعة بالدم، و تحدث بأدب مع رجال قد ذبحوا الأطفال بأنفسهم، و لطالما خاض عبر البراز و الدماء المتخثرة. و كثيرا ما اعتقدت أنه لكي تكون ملكة فإن أهم أداة تتجهز بها هي جزمة يصل طولها للفخذين. 0"(less)

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Nov 20, 2011 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating: 4.125* of five

Witty, irreverent, and completely charming, Bennett's novella is one I would sincerely hope that Her Majesty read and laughed at when it was published.

There are many reviews of this effervescent entertainment, so I will confine myself to noting that the book carries with it a none-too-subtle punch line which I can't imagine would have made Mr. Bennett more likely to be in line for a life peerage, but which I can imagine made him a popular figure around Highgrove.

A delightfu...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Anastasia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: presi-in-prestito, contemporanei, uk

Io non vorrei offendere Sua Maestà, ma secondo me lei in questa copertina sembra tanto..un babbuino.

Se la posso attendere un secondo, mentre lei va a prendere la sua mazza regale? Oh, certo, ci mancherebbe altro, non si disturbi neanche a chiedere.

Mentre lei va a chiedere alle "risorse umane" dove diavolo si tenga una mazza a palazzo, io stendo un commento su un libro che, poffarbacco, ha come protagonista proprio lei. Si chiama La sovrana lettrice, è di Alan Bennett.
Non so se ha idea di chi si...more

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Oct 08, 2007 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, humor, novella

This new novella from the pen of Alan Bennett (author of the The History Boys) is without a doubt the funniest book I have read in recent memory. I started it while riding home on the bus and had a hard time keeping my seat as my laughter was almost nonstop. What a wonderful premise! Imagine the Queen of England patronizing a lending library van, and then imagine her actually reading books. The incongruity of the situation leads to hilarious consequences for the Queen, her family, her household...more

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Dec 03, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who liked The Bookshop

Shelves: 2008, books-about-books, in-by-of-england, reviewed

Are people really uncomfortable with those who read extensively?

Look at who I'm asking.

This is a fantastic book. It's funny. It's clever. It's all the things you would expect from Alan Bennett and it's about books! It's about being a reader and discovering the joy of reading as an adult. I remember when I switched from someone who read some times to an avid reader. I was a lot younger than the Elizabeth in this book but Bennett captured the feeling perfectly. And looking at the transformation...more

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May 09, 2008 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A book in which one learns the joys of reading is destined to have some charm for me--even better that the budding bibliophile resides in England--and in Windsor Castle, no less! Yes, it was quite fun to read about present-day Queen Elizabeth and her awakening to the wonderful world of literature--and, indeed, the way in which opening one's eyes to literature helps one see the real world more clearly.

I liked Bennett'scharacterizations and wit, though sometimes the prose got a bit sparse for my t...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Kinga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What’s better for a book lover than a book about books? It’s like when Xzbit in Pimp My Ride puts a car inside of your car because he knows you love cars.
And Alan Bennett puts books in your book. He also puts the Queen there, so you know you are in for a treat.

Imagine that the Queen, old as she is, suddenly discovers the joy of reading. She engages a certain Nelson to help her acquire books and guide her through the world of literature. That does sound like a dream job, doesn’t it? To become so...more What’s better for a book lover than a book about books? It’s like when Xzbit in Pimp My Ride puts a car inside of your car because he knows you love cars.
And Alan Bennett puts books in your book. He also puts the Queen there, so you know you are in for a treat.

Imagine that the Queen, old as she is, suddenly discovers the joy of reading. She engages a certain Nelson to help her acquire books and guide her through the world of literature. That does sound like a dream job, doesn’t it? To become someone’s personal literary adviser. The Queen is a perfect student, too. Her thirst for books in unquenchable. She doesn’t want to talk about anything else but books and tortures her subjects constantly asking their opinions on this author or another. Don’t I know what it’s like! My friends often shout desperately: ’can we talk about something other than books!?’ To which I say: ‘Sure, fine. What did you have for breakfast then?’. It's only here, on goodreads, that I feel I am understood.

Bennett beautifully describes the progress we make as readers, how every book sets a bar higher and we are able to take on more complex and ambitious books. That, of course, will never happen if you just read paranormal romance for the rest of your days.

Bennett also proposes a thesis that reading must eventually lead to writing. He believes in supremacy of writing over reading, believes it to be somewhat nobler than reading. I am not sure I agree with this. It takes a whole lot of self-control, modesty (and obviously being a better person than I am) to be satisfied with reading only and not have that grandiose need to write.

It was also quite brave of Bennett to take on the Queen as his heroine. And to make her into a human being as well! I applaud you, sir.

To be honest with you, if there was a good thing about growing up in a communist country it was that absolute certainty that people are equal. And then I came to UK. I find this whole business of Royal Family and aristocracy extremely funny/sad. In my work I deal with quite a lot of Lords and Ladies and such and was trained in addressing them correctly. I thought it was very cute and funny until I realized that my employers are actually for real. Until I saw the CEO assuming a very submissive tone when speaking to the Earl of ThisorThat. It made me want to scream – it is 21st century! These people are not ACTUALLY better than us! Their blood is really red, not blue! Are you all crazy? (less)

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Mar 14, 2011 Janet Berkman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

I saw Bennett's play The Habit of Art a few months ago and have been picking up his writing ever since. I found this audiobook at my local library and listened to it on a road trip this weekend.

Bennett himself reads the story and it's wonderful. A novella that comes in at under 2.5 hours listening time, this hilarious tale depicts what might happen were the Queen to pick up reading as a habit. After chasing her dogs around back of the Palace, the Queen wanders into the local library's bookmobile...more

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May 26, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This novella is like a small, tart, confection, and I have absolutely no idea why I put on my to read list a year ago, but I'm glad I did. Although the premise -- that the queen becomes an avid bibliophile and intellectual -- is rather absurd, Bennett handles it deftly and there are many moments of insight into the reading life, its rewards and limitations, and some nice acerbic touches of humor. I was also amused in a way that the author did not intend; throughout I was forcibly reminded of the...more

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Feb 07, 2008 Bonnie Gayle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-books, reviewed

The Queen of England follows her Corgis into a Bookmobile one day, and to be polite to the driver, checks out a book. Her cabinet has always disuaded her from reading, since it is seen, by them, as a solitary, selfish, and snobby pursuit(!) Despite their opinions, she soon discovers that she loves to read, and, from then on, is seldom seen without a book in hand.

Reading slowly but surely changes her, as she loses her interest in her procession of public duties, begins to see the world through d...more

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May 30, 2008 Mona rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-about-books, 21st-century-lit, britain

In just under 120 pages, Bennett explores the journey the Queen of England might take if she suddenly developed an obsession with reading. One day, after following her dogs out into the yard near Buckingham Palace, the Queen of Bennett's imagination happens upon the City of Westminster's mobile library. She decides leaving without a book would give off a negative impression, so she checks out a volume by Ivy Compton-Burnett. So begins the Queen's associations with the library mobile, and althoug...more In just under 120 pages, Bennett explores the journey the Queen of England might take if she suddenly developed an obsession with reading. One day, after following her dogs out into the yard near Buckingham Palace, the Queen of Bennett's imagination happens upon the City of Westminster's mobile library. She decides leaving without a book would give off a negative impression, so she checks out a volume by Ivy Compton-Burnett. So begins the Queen's associations with the library mobile, and although her affinity for reading is not instantaneous (it takes Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love to get her really reading), she is soon checking out piles of books rather than one or two.

Some bookworms will likely be able to identify with the Queen's development as a reader. At first, her reading is unfocused and meandering - she relies on the recommendations of others and authors mentioned in the books she has read to find other books. She begins to carry at least one book with her at all times, and works in ways to surreptitiously read while still carrying on with her duties. She neglects to convey the same awareness to her ceremonial responsibilities that others had normally perceived in her and she stops paying attention to her personal appearance. At the same time, as monarch, the Queen's bookishness causes certain unique problems, and her personal secretary is soon dismayed at the Queen's preoccupation. He and others begin taking steps to curb her passion.

I especially enjoyed Bennett's characterization of the Queen. She tends to speak formally about herself and from the third-person perspective. As someone who is constantly thinking about fulfilling her duties to the people, she initially finds reading a selfish act and tries to justify it to herself by suggesting that the duty of reading is "to find out what people are like". It is only through her increased reading that she begins to understand issues like differences in class and gender, issues that very reasonably would seem confusing to the person who sits atop the entire system.

Bennett's writing is humorous yet thoughtful. I'd like to give this book five stars, but the ending to me seemed not quite right. I understood it and it was not exactly abrupt, but something seemed off about it and it did not fit in with the rest of the book. That minor point aside, this was a great read.(less)

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Aug 16, 2008 Alana rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really didn't like this book at all. I picked it up because so many people seem to like it and I thought it would be probable that I would like it too. However, I found it to be extremely boring. This author is supposed to be a great wit and I just didn't "get" his humor in writing style or otherwise. This book seems to be an endless author and book review which I didn't like. The book moved along so slowly that I was surprised to find that I was halfway through the book still waiting for the...more

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May 23, 2008 minnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This little book is a witty and enjoyable read. Its about what happens when the Queen takes up reading and books become the most important thing in life. Everyone is against the idea', even the Corgis, so instead of the usual small talk like,'Did you have far to come?' the Queen now asks ’What are you reading ?’This book has a lot to say about the nature of reading, how one book leads to another, how books can be so consuming you don’t want to do anything else.(Anyone who ever stayed up all nigh...more

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Nov 01, 2008 David rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, books-about-books

In this short hilarious novella, Bennett imagines a scenario where, following some errant Corgis, the Queen discovers the mobile library parked in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and feels obliged to borrow a book, out of courtesy. One book leads to another (as books will tend to do), and before long, Elizabeth has developed a serious reading habit. The consequences are far-reaching, and very funny.

Within this framework, Bennett provides an incisive (and entertaining) exploration of the power o...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Krista the Krazy Kataloguer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-adult-fiction

Alan Bennett has written a quick, humorous tale of what would happen if the Queen became a voracious reader. It's really about two things: how reading can change a person, and the nature of the monarchy in Britain. I enjoyed the insights into the monarchy, some of which are obvious but which had never occurred to me before, being American and unused to royal customs. The only fault I had to find with the book was that, given the Queen's sudden interest in reading, the author didn't adequately po...more

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Nov 26, 2008 Trin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: booksaboutbooks, fiction, ficbutnot, english-lit

Kind of adorably awesome RPF in which the Queen discovers reading, and thus discovers herself. This is a delightful little cupcake of a book. I guess I can see how some people could find it twee, but I think Bennett make the humor just sharp enough to keep things sweet but not saccharine. And I can’t help be enchanted by the idea that books and reading really might be this transformative.

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Feb 07, 2012 Silletta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, narrativa-inglese

La sovrana lettrice è uno di quei tipici libri scritti per gonfiare l'ego del lettore accanito, per farlo sentire un gran pezzo di figone intellettuale in quanto osteggiato dal brutto mondo cattivo e barbaro che lo guarda con sguardo torvo di compatimento. È un libro senza tante pretese, ma veramente delizioso e simpatico, in grado di regalare qualche ora piacevolmente rilassante.

(ché poi, va bene, alla fine ci tocca ammetterlo: che siamo dei gran fighi è proprio vero, ma non ce la tiriamo nemm...more

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Nov 19, 2008 DL rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anglophilia, 2008, bibliophilia, humor

The Queen of England as a late-in-life book lover, annoying her staff and confusing the public as she undergoes the personal change that only reading and writing can effect.

I received this book in the mail today, and immediately sat down with it, finishing in a couple of hours. This never happens: I usually let new books sit for quite a while before the bug really strikes, but it's a credit to this book in every way that I was unable to put it down before I was finished.

Not only is the regal a...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Karoliina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Karoliina by: Mrs. J. Arkieson

Books, they are awesome. They make you think.

I read The Uncommon Reader in one sitting one Sunday last summer when I was staying in Edinburgh. My host borrowed it to me and I went to Braidburn Valley Park to read it because it was too sunny and warm to stay inside. It really doesn't take much longer than one day to finish, and you probably are in the best possible mood to read this on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's a brief but pleasant experience, a bit like taking a leisurely stroll inside a str...more

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Nov 15, 2009 Lilian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, Queen Eliabeth I chances on a mobile library and, to be polite, takes out a couple of books, thereby starting herself on a literary road that takes unexpected turns, some humorous, some serious. To make such a prominent person (who is still alive and, given the longevitiy of the family, likely to be for another 20 years!) the main character of a work of fiction, takes guts.

Alan Bennett writes with wit, intelligence, and a talent for surprise. I’ve experie...more In The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, Queen Eliabeth I chances on a mobile library and, to be polite, takes out a couple of books, thereby starting herself on a literary road that takes unexpected turns, some humorous, some serious. To make such a prominent person (who is still alive and, given the longevitiy of the family, likely to be for another 20 years!) the main character of a work of fiction, takes guts.

Alan Bennett writes with wit, intelligence, and a talent for surprise. I’ve experienced this with his other novellas, an unexpected turn not only in plot, but in mood and atmosphere, and just when you think you know where he’s headed, there’s another twist. It’s delightful.

Queen Elizabeth’s literary taste and critical powers develop through the novella and this is something that I can relate to. Every time I go through a period when I can’t read because life, inner or outer, interferes with concentration and energy, I begin with short works and quick reads that get my reading muscles going again, leading to a craving for something more substantial (I did write meatier, but I’m a vegetarian you know).

I was thinking about this while warming up after ice skating today (indoor rink), and something occurred to me. Commercial fiction tends to be undemanding, pleasantly romantic, pleasantly scary or suspenceful without challenging most readers’ underlying assumptions and stereotypes. And that’s why it’s so successful. It’s fast food for the brain. Tasty but not extremely nutritious.

But this is what I wonder: is this taste encouraged because it doesn’t lead to questioning? At the end of The Uncommon Reader, the queen takes an unexpected and, to her elites, shocking step that has grown out of her intellectual and critical development through reading. I don’t mean that there is some secret conspiracy, but rather societies preserve their status quo through institutions and values that support things as they are.

If our educational system and media taught and encouraged critical thinking, who knows what could happen and how power might shift. No, it’s safer to feed pap to the masses, whether in books or food, keep them calm and fat. Bread and circuses, folks. Bread and circuses.

So keep blogging about books and don’t stop. Keep reading and broadening your horizons. For we are the quiet revolutionaries, the ones that think, listen, speak when our thoughts have germinated. Even when it seems least likely, even when publishers are determined to put out only repeats of books that are gobbled up like big Macs, we are the still, small voice that whispers, change is possible. Read and make up your own mind.
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Jun 22, 2008 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Playwright Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader is a quaint novella about the transformative power of literature. When the Queen of England accidentally happens upon the local library's bookmobile parked outside the kitchen of Windsor palace, decorum demands that she check out a book, lest she give the impression that the bookmobile is somehow sub-standard. Though she does not particularly enjoy the book, she finds herself checking out another when she returns the first. Much to her surprise, Her...more

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Sep 01, 2008 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008

I love to read about other people's reading.

In this book, Queen Elizabeth II is the reader, half-heartedly picking up a book from a traveling library parked in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace. As so often happens, the book marks a change in her life.

She become dissatisfied with the routine of her life and becomes more and more engrossed in reading. Having never had the opportunity to live a "normal" life, she now begins to live in the pages of books.

Her advisors and staff are not so pleased...more

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Apr 09, 2008 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reading with the Queen

I’m a huge fan of books about books. You know, books where reading, or books, or bookstores, or book clubs, or even librarians, play an important role. There are books that range from the deeply moving (Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi) to the really funny (The Librarian by Larry Beinhart). Yes, I have a list of them for you, and I’m sure you’ll find something fabulous to read. There are some on the list I haven’t read, and really, I would like to stop typing and sta...more

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Mar 09, 2008 Jenne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was really unexpectedly charming.

I like that it doesn't treat "reading" and "books" as objects, like an "I HEART BOOKS" bumper sticker or those rather bossy "READ" posters. (Me, I don't really HEART books just as books, any more than I HEART cats or babies or librarians. I take them on a case-by-case basis--some have merit, others do not.)

Rather, it shows that reading can expand your life in ways you hadn't thought about before, and also that reading takes practice--something you hated read...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Sketchbook rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cosmic dream : Alan Bennett uses bogus profile to join GRs
for a new project that spoofs reviews, comments, to-reads.
Narrator flags members w 2,000 frens, for a terrorist network
may be embedded. Those w 500 frens are investigated. "Fate is
something to which we are all subject," says Her Majesty.

Coded messages are found as in Buchan's The 39 Steps. "Let's
not get carried away," allows Madame. Please, no sulking
behaviour. That review of Anita Brookner may have caused an
explosion, so study the lament...more

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Apr 18, 2009 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Karen by: Anna

Shelves: fiction

One quite enjoys this tale of the Queen's discovery of the pleasures of reading. Indeed, one feels, along with the Queen, a renewed delight in books; and one wishes to read more. This charming novella blends whimsy with more substantial insights into reading, books, and authors.

Here are two passages one particularly enjoys:

"'I read, I think,' she said to Norman, 'because one has a duty to find out what people are like.'" (page 30)

"Authors, she soon decided, were probably best met with in the pag...more

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Nov 20, 2007 Xarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Such a short tale, but so interesting. It is the story about the Queen of England who comes upon the joy of reading. As times goes on, she reads more and more, tries to have dicussions regarding what she has read and tries to incorporate her reading so that the people of England would see. However, her ministers/secretaries/etc. strive to stop the Queen from reading. The Queen cannot understand why her reading is such a problem, or why it affects those people around her in such a negative way -...more

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About Alan Bennett

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Alan Bennett is an English author and Tony Award-winning playwright. Bennett's first stage play, Forty Years On, was produced in 1968. Many television, stage and radio plays followed, along with screenplays, short stories, novellas, a large body of non-fictional prose and broadcasting, and many appearances as...more

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“What she was finding also was how one book led to another, doors kept opening wherever she turned and the days weren't long enough for the reading she wanted to do.” — 2,699 people liked it

“A book is a device to ignite the imagination.” — 105 people liked it

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