The Uncommon Reader

This is an excellent audio adaptation of a 2007 novella by English playwright, screenwriter and author Alan Bennett. It is read by Bennett himself and he does a wonderful job, subtly switching his voice to fit the different characters including the principal player: Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The story is set a year or two behind the present and imagines the Queen suddenly obsessed with reading literature. Although she has met many of the greatest names in modern English Literature (T. S. Eliot, Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes and the like), she has not up to been much of a reader. A chance encounter with a mobile library changes this and as a consequence changes her outlook on life and her role in the world. The blend of fact and fiction is seamless and there is a good sprinkling of jokes about the political landscape of Britain and the literary world in general. The humor is not overstated and Bennett avoids some of the more obvious comic possibilities. There are twists and turns in the story and I remained captivated right up to the closing words. With this download my iPod has trouble remembering where it was paused but the writing is so good that it doesn't hurt to listen to passages more than once.

Queen Elizabeth was sorry she did not read more! So many years of possible wonders and discovery, learning and witnessing life of others are lost! But there still is the chance! There is time that can be used for reading, for example, when driving to the Buckingham Palace! And... and...

Oh, I feel like I wanna read-read-read after I have listened to this superb edition of the book, read by the author himself! And it is indeed way deeper than it sounds from the description: though how could it be any different when the author is Alan Bennett himself? Oh, what an amazing voice, what a gorgeous English accent!!!

The book also left me with a nostalgic aura: I want to be in London again, in a park, reading a good book.... I am happy I had it and can always go back to my memories: London, tea with milk and cookies and hours of uninterrupted reading: little can be more pristine and sweet than this :)


Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya

Alan Bennett reading his lovely little novel - who could ask for more?

I say don't miss anything written and narrated by this man. He is less material than a beam of light that will touch your soul. I am writing this to describe my reaction to "Uncommon Reader" but it goes for almost everything I have read by him. DO NOT PASS THIS OR HIS OTHER BOOKS BY.

This was a nice break between two heavier classics I listened to. The characters were entirely believable--well, the Queen is obviously fictionalized, but believable nonetheless. Her innocence in the face of self-education through random book selection speaks for a return to an era when we all were a little more innocent, and simultaneously, involved.

There is something old-fashioned and nostalgic about the way this story is told. The pace is not frenetic. The humor is mature, dry at times, and clever. And by the story's end I was left with the feeling that I had just enjoyed a warm afternoon in the company of an dignified older female relative.

I think book lovers would find this an enjoyable listen. Amusing, and centered on reading.
A. Bennet gives a perfect narration to his own writing.
Made me think of all the books i might be missing.
(now waiting for "My Dog Tulip" to be released as an audiobook).

Slow starting but entertaining picture of the confines of political celebrity. Many funny instants, and no one should give away the ending!

The reader did a good job.