March 2019 - Lois and I spent some time with our old friend Richard, over from England and in Melbourne for a week or so during January 2019. Discussions turned of course to books and Lois talked of a very quirky book she had read last year about the Royal Family living in council flats under a Labor Government. Richard pointed us to wonderful little book he had read, namely The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett.
Written in 2007, it tells what happens when Queen Elizabeth II becomes obsessed with books after a chance encounter with a mobile library. The story follows the consequences of this obsession for the Queen, her household and advisers, and her constitutional position. The blurb says it so well
A deliciously funny novella that celebrates the pleasure of reading. When the Queen in pursuit of her wandering corgis stumbles upon a mobile library she feels duty bound to borrow a book. Aided by Norman, a young man from the palace kitchen who frequents the library, the Queen is transformed as she discovers the liberating pleasures of the written word.
We immediately reserved a copy from the Moreland Library and were soon able to pick it up and read it. I must admit that I snaffled it first and read it in a single sitting.
I laughed out loud throughout the book. The ending in particular is superb. What is also very interesting is the many authors and books that are mentioned in the novella, the majority sadly unread by me.
This would have to be just about my favourite book for the year - 6 stars out of 5!
It has also been released in audio format by the BBC, with Alan Bennett doing the reading. This also gets rave reviews.
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