‘The Uncommon Reader’ by Alan Bennett (2007)
Nov 27th, 2007 by abi
There are some things that can only be properly exaplained in fiction. On so many occasions I have found myself trying to explain to people who aren’t readers what exactly it is that is so engrossing and life changing about reading. I always fail. Nothing I can say on the subject really explains it. It just comes out sounding pompous and inadequate. It doesn’t matter anymore, however, as next time someone asks me I shall simply pass them this book.
This is the best account I have ever come across of the joys of reading. In true Bennett style he takes a real person (‘The Queen’) and imposes a slightly surreal, very funny, and yet somehow convincing scenario onto her life -she becomes an avid reader.
He observes how the reading ‘muscle’ develops, how those things she couldn’t at first understand and appreciate come alive for her later in her reading career, how she is free to ramble through different kinds of books at will with no sense of obligation, how one book may lead her onto another, how literature doesn’t discriminate, it just invites you in whoever you are. He describes how she becomes aware of the inner lives of others and how they may be feeling. There’s one bit I really like where she notices that “previously she wouldn’t have cared what the maid thought or that she might have hurt her feelings, only now she did and coming back to the chair she wondered why (pg.51)”.
She also begins to make observations and notice things about peoples’ physical appearance. She even says things that those around her do not understand and they’re frightened by the unpredictability of it all. She starts jotting down thoughts in a notebook now that she has thoughts worth writing down. She begins to grow tired of the ordinary, predictable and controlled and starts to veer away from approved routes and topics. I loved seeing reading take over her life and her priorities. For some of us it’s just more important to read the next few chapters than pay attention to the condition of our wardrobe!
Other than his wonderfully acute observations about reading there are some equally precise and clever depictions of Monarchy and its role, which those who have seen ‘The Madness of King George’ will recognise. Those around her become rather alarmed, mainly because she’s ‘indulging’ in something they don’t understand but also because she is seeing more, feeling more, knowing more and somehow wanting more too. She’s not this benign, easily controlled person anymore. Seeing the ruthlessness and conniving they go to to rid her of her new found habit also causes some entertaining moments -the Anita Brookner security alert particularly springs to mind. The ending too is unexpected, clever, and suits the Queen’s transformation perfectly. The Queen is ruthless too, Bennett is reminding us, and she will always have her way in the end.
On a personal level this book ticked all the boxes. It mentioned my University (UEA), my former place of work The London Library*, Anita Brookner, Ivy Compton Burnett, Nancy Mitford, mobile libraries and Strictly Come Dancing! It was also very, very funny. I might have mentioned that.
Do go and read this, I urge you. It’s one of those ‘if you only read one book this year make it this one’ books. It will take you no time at all and you will be richly rewarded.
* Where I now realise I was once in the same room as Bennett as I did some shelving but couldn’t for the life of me remember who he was at the time–oh shame!
