Blah, blah, blah... way behind in book posts, you know the drill....
But the good thing here is that even nearly 5-6 weeks later is that I still fondly recall The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. I am not sure if is my increasing age or my decreasing attention span (or something combination), but I have started to really enjoy novellas. This is my second one of the year and comes in at a slim-ish 120 pages. I have admitted to not being a huge fan of the short story format, so the novella gives me a bit more to chomp on. Also, I think the Kindle is leading me to more novellas... since the lower digital price seems to justify the shorter length. I know I am a bit contradictory since my book budget is non-existent, but I still like to get a bang for my buck... and when I finish a book quickly I often feel like it wasn't money well spent (though not really, especially if it was a good book... and if I red it that quickly it usually was!)
Another good thing about a novella is that there is little to say about it, though I am never a big fan of just regurgitating plot-lines here... even if it's not spoiler-ific. The premise of the book asks one to immediately suspend belief... as it involves Queen Elizabeth (yes, that one!) stumbling onto a traveling bookmobile that visits Buckingham Palace (for the employees)... and quickly becoming obsessed with reading to the point where she'd rather be doing that than anything else. As you can imagine, the Queen really can't get away with putting off that annual speech to Parliament.
I have to say I have really become a fan of the Queen and the British Monarchy in general. Sure, I realize it's all a bit silly in a figurehead, purely symbolic way but I love all the pomp of it. Sure I thought they were evil-incarnate during the Diana days and in the aftermath of her death, but I think they have made quite the PR comeback. My royal obsession has led us to watch many documentaries/PBS stuff on the Queen and the Royals and I have really a new found appreciate, respect and even affection for Elizabeth II. And while this book is at time outrageously fictional, I really do think it captures that spirit of Queen that we I have grown to love over the last few years.
Warm, funny, witty.... this was a very enjoyable little gem... one that any avid reader can relate to with a smile. And what an ending! Would love to know what others think of it. I'm guessing it's one of those love it or hate it things.
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