The Uncommon Reader
5 journalers for this copy...
An entertaining, thought-provoking, and at times irritating novella. It's essentially an elaboration of Prunella Scales' brilliant cameo as HM Queen Elizabeth II in Bennett's splendid 1991 TV drama, A Question of Attribution. There the Queen was portrayed as kindly and highly intelligent, with a devilish dry humour. I suspect this is an accurate assessment of Her Maj.
The twist in The Uncommon Reader is that, approaching 80, the Queen suddenly develops a serious passion for reading, if not Bookcrossing. This disturbs the equanimity of the equerries and other members of the royal household. To say any more would be a spoiler.
I enjoyed the humour of this book enormously, but at times paused to consider whether Bennett really ought to be using a real live person as a literary character? It seems a touch ill-mannered, like talking about a person in their presence. But I gave Bennett the benefit of the doubt; the Queen is sufficiently remote from most of us and no doubt quite used to being talked about in the media. This book is different in striving to portray the Queen as a private person using a fictional treatment. For all I know, the Queen's passion for reading is mere fantasy. But it's a sympathetic portrait.
The twist in The Uncommon Reader is that, approaching 80, the Queen suddenly develops a serious passion for reading, if not Bookcrossing. This disturbs the equanimity of the equerries and other members of the royal household. To say any more would be a spoiler.
I enjoyed the humour of this book enormously, but at times paused to consider whether Bennett really ought to be using a real live person as a literary character? It seems a touch ill-mannered, like talking about a person in their presence. But I gave Bennett the benefit of the doubt; the Queen is sufficiently remote from most of us and no doubt quite used to being talked about in the media. This book is different in striving to portray the Queen as a private person using a fictional treatment. For all I know, the Queen's passion for reading is mere fantasy. But it's a sympathetic portrait.
This fetched up in today's mail-- what a welcome surprise! Thanks miketroll! (Hey! That's the first time I got to write your new screen name!)
If I can't have you and Olive here in October, at least I can have a book from you two here. Any chance you'll make it back over?
Thank you again. Will report back when finished reading. I hope to get to it relatively soon.
If I can't have you and Olive here in October, at least I can have a book from you two here. Any chance you'll make it back over?
Thank you again. Will report back when finished reading. I hope to get to it relatively soon.
A clever little book, as much about the joy and discovery of falling in love with reading and books as it is about the quirks of politics and hangers-on about the throne. (I suppose there's a term for all those folks, but in the relief of having my mother come through surgery with flying colors, my brain is mush.)
There were several times that I thought the Queen spot on in her observations about books. I wonder how closely the character of Elizabeth II in this book runs with the real gal. Behind closed doors she may be passionate about her books and a closet BookCrosser!
There were several times that I thought the Queen spot on in her observations about books. I wonder how closely the character of Elizabeth II in this book runs with the real gal. Behind closed doors she may be passionate about her books and a closet BookCrosser!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Given to my sister-in-law to read (which she did, though she didn't journal) and then passed on to bumma to read.
Given to my sister-in-law to read (which she did, though she didn't journal) and then passed on to bumma to read.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I read this while visiting bookczuk and bumma, Enjoyable book and premise, but I somehow never got my thoughts collected to journal on it. Am passing it along to bumma now.
I read this while visiting bookczuk and bumma, Enjoyable book and premise, but I somehow never got my thoughts collected to journal on it. Am passing it along to bumma now.
this if the best read I have had in a long time. Too bad it was so short. Ditto to all of the posts.
Journal Entry 7 by 
bookczuk
at Muddy Waters Coffee Bar 1739 Maybank Hwy At Folly in Charleston, South Carolina USA on Saturday, February 7, 2009
bookczuk at Muddy Waters Coffee Bar 1739 Maybank Hwy At Folly in Charleston, South Carolina USA on Saturday, February 7, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/8/2009 UTC) at Muddy Waters Coffee Bar 1739 Maybank Hwy At Folly in Charleston, South Carolina USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Bringing to the monthly meetup.
To the finder of this book:
Welcome to BookCrossing, a unique community of book lovers, sharing their libraries with the world. This book is now yours to read, enjoy, keep or pass on to another reader. The BookCrossing ID, which you entered in the "Enter a BCID" box on the website, is unique to this copy of this book. If you make a journal entry (either anonymously, or as a BookCrossing member) all previous readers of this actual book will be notified by email, and can follow the book as it travels. BookCrossing is free to join, completely confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address) and a heck of a lot of fun.
This book is a part of the BookCrossing "The Reader" Challenge: to find and release books that somehow relate to the award winning book “The Reader” by Bernhard Schlink. The movie based on the book opens January, 2009 (in the U.S.). Be sure to check local theaters for listings.
As an added bonus, if you have found this book before February 22 and join BookCrossing, you can enter our The Reader movie contest. Simply attend a screening of "The Reader" and save your ticket stub. Print your screen name on the back of the stub and send it to BookCrossing: The Reader Contest at 323 Pine Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864. We will hold a drawing shortly after February 22, 2009 to determine the winners and you will be notified by email if you have won. One more reason to sign up for BookCrossing today! (Full details available online at www.bookcrossing.com. )
PS And if you find yourself liking BookCrossing, Charleston has an active group of BookCrossers who meet monthly (second Sunday of the month) at various spots in the Tri-county area. Come join us! For more information, see our yahoo group here! Be on the lookout for other books left in the "Wild"!
Bringing to the monthly meetup.
To the finder of this book:
Welcome to BookCrossing, a unique community of book lovers, sharing their libraries with the world. This book is now yours to read, enjoy, keep or pass on to another reader. The BookCrossing ID, which you entered in the "Enter a BCID" box on the website, is unique to this copy of this book. If you make a journal entry (either anonymously, or as a BookCrossing member) all previous readers of this actual book will be notified by email, and can follow the book as it travels. BookCrossing is free to join, completely confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address) and a heck of a lot of fun.
This book is a part of the BookCrossing "The Reader" Challenge: to find and release books that somehow relate to the award winning book “The Reader” by Bernhard Schlink. The movie based on the book opens January, 2009 (in the U.S.). Be sure to check local theaters for listings.
As an added bonus, if you have found this book before February 22 and join BookCrossing, you can enter our The Reader movie contest. Simply attend a screening of "The Reader" and save your ticket stub. Print your screen name on the back of the stub and send it to BookCrossing: The Reader Contest at 323 Pine Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864. We will hold a drawing shortly after February 22, 2009 to determine the winners and you will be notified by email if you have won. One more reason to sign up for BookCrossing today! (Full details available online at www.bookcrossing.com. )
PS And if you find yourself liking BookCrossing, Charleston has an active group of BookCrossers who meet monthly (second Sunday of the month) at various spots in the Tri-county area. Come join us! For more information, see our yahoo group here! Be on the lookout for other books left in the "Wild"!
I brought this home from our BookCrossing meeting today. Thanks, czukie!
