The Uncommon Reader

Review  The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

A Novella

After reading a few delightful posts recommending this and seeing it on the list as a possibility for the Novella Challenge, I ordered this from the library.

At only 120 pages, and with above average size font, I was easily able to devour this in a few hours. 

The story is how the Queen of England accidently discovers a traveling library van on the grounds of the palace and so she decides on a whim to check out a book.   This activity, her new hobby, snowballs and takes over her life as anyone who loves to read can appreciate.   Once engrossed in a book, she finds every interruption, every duty,  any time not spent reading to be quite annoying!

Her staff becomes concerned and attempts to thwart her new ‘preoccupation.’  Her family is actually glad because they find she no longer pays much nitpicky attention to them.   And eventually, alas, she realizes that she is a ‘doer’ and reading is not doing.    I won’t spoil the ending…

I enjoyed the premise, the lightness, the absurdity.     I chuckled frequently and sympathised (sympathy may not be the right word…   anyone?, anyone?)  with the position of the Queen and how she is supposed to act.  

However, I am not familiar with enough of the authors referred to, I don’t have any understanding of French words (my biggest issue with ‘heavy’ literature), and I don’t get many terms I assume are everyday stuff of British culture.   So, I stumbled a lot and often skipped over these or became disillusioned with my own world knowledge.

Otherwise, despite or because of my lowbrow and American perspective, it was a cute story.

THREE STARS.

Latin American Lit

I found myself checking out Dew’s blog – The Hidden Side of a Leaf - and then I clicked on the Bookworm Carnival page which transported me over to the Louvre! where I found out that I have time, if so inclined (and I must be thus this post) to yap a little bit about my thoughts on Latin American Literature. This will be short; I don’t have many thoughts/experience with this topic. So to find out more: Check it out here!

I don’t think I have any reviews so far in my blog that covers any books in this category. But I can share what comes top of mind.

Bel Canto? and I’m ashamed to say that I can’t spark the neurons in my brain to pull up the author’s name, so please excuse me while I run off to Google…
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OK, AHA! I was right! I got the Ann correct, but couldn’t conjure Patchett. Well, darn, she’s American. But the book was set in a Latin American country, wasn’t it? Does that count?

Let’s try again…
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Over at wikipedia, searching on Latin America –> Literature, I find two authors names mentioned right off the bat: “Contemporary literature in the region is vibrant and varied, ranging from the best-selling Paulo Coelho and Isabel Allende…”

I am proud to say that I have read words from these two. Whew! The Alchemist (Coelho) and Daughter of Fortune (Allende). The only other name I KNOW I recognize is Gabriel García Márquez. I suppose Borges should be a name I recognize but nothing happens in my brain to stir up any thoughts – except that I vaguely think I SHOULD know his name.

Bel Canto was a book club read many many years ago. I enjoyed it but it seemed to be one of those love it or hate kind of books.

The Alchemist fits very nicely in my love for ‘follow your dreams’ self help stuff and it reminded me of Og Mandino’s work.

I barely remember Daughter of Fortune, except for the setting of the Chilean coast (well, before the plot moved us to California.) Must have been only OK for me.

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I never used to pay any attention where an author was from… I sure pay attention to a lot of new things now that I book blog! How about you? Hope to see you at the Carnival!