The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Book review by Maeve McElligott

One of my favourite books is ‘The Uncommon Reader’ by Alan Bennett. The queen, herding unruly corgis, discovers a mobile library parked by the palace kitchens and wanders in to discover a world of plots and intriguing characters. Guided by her autodidact kitchen porter, Norman, the Queen discovers an interest in the written word that her courters fear will distract from duties and lead to uncommonly queenly behavior!!! What results from this innocent start is a witty and subversive take on the nature of the monarchy in the 21^st century and the power of reading.  As a reader I love how Alan Bennett describes the Queen’s conversations and musing on literature with her porter, while also subverting what we expect as queenly behavior.

“I’ve served three queens … and I got on with them all. The only queen I could never get on with was Field Marshal Montgomery” Sir Claude

The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett, Faber & Faber / Profile Books pub. 2008

Available in DLR Libraries and to order online from our catalogue
http://libcat.dlrcoco.ie/