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The Uncommon Reader | 
| Author: Alan Bennett
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £3.86
You Save: £3.13 (45%)
New (31) Used (11) from £2.30
Avg. Customer Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 65
Media: Paperback
Pages: 128
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.4
ISBN: 1846681332
EAN: 9781846681332
ASIN: 1846681332
Publication Date: July 3, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 38 more reviews...
 By the uncommon writer December 1, 2008
Alan Bennett has discovered a latent royalist tendency with this little gem, Her Majesty being portrayed as, in this one respect at least - a reader, nay devourer of books, whatever next - just like us. It won't do, can't be allowed actually. I chuckled and chortled and laughed out loud and was cheering every successful subterfuge. It's a book that makes you feel good.
Very funny and entertaining November 20, 2008
A very humorous and entertaining story about the Queen and one of her servants revolving around the Queen's growing addiction to English literature.
Although the situation is preposterous, Bennett has a way of drawing one into the story and it starts to seem plausible.
Alan Bennett made some of the works of literature sound so interesting that I ended up ordering some books that I hadn't previously read.
Lovely November 12, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A delicious little book; a lovely satire with a satisfying twist - I don't want to give too much away, but this is an absolute delight.
 Another macaroon, anyone? November 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Clocking in at 120 pages of large type (less than 60 minutes' reading, not the two hours or more that others have suggested), `The Uncommon Reader' can scarcely be described as a novella, let alone a novel. Yet its simple theme is too thin for even a short story: Her Madge picks up a book and finds One enjoys reading.
Perhaps it might summon a wry smile when read on Radio 4 in Alan Bennett's dry monotone, but on the page his unadorned prose falls flat. Bennett is known for his social observations, his deft characterisation and his sharp ear for dialogue, but all are surprisingly thin on the ground here.
It's odd that a book which claims that reading can change your life, should itself be so unnecessary. Unlike Proust's memorable madeleine cake, which Bennet himself unwisely evokes, `The Uncommon Reader' is more of a puffed-up meringue: inoffensive and insubstantial. Within hours you'll scarcely remember eating it.
Simply wonderful. November 10, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Reading this little book was a wonderful way to spend an evening. It's a joy to read and one would love to imagine her majesty reading it herself and laughing out loud.
Everyone should read this tiny book, as once read; the story will never be forgotten.
Thank you Alan Bennett, you really cheered me up.
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