"You don't put your life into your books. You find it there."
This quirky little novella provides much more insist into the mind of a read than is expected from only 120 pages. The Uncommon Reader tells the tale of an uncommon woman learning the wonder of books meant for common people.
When her unruly corgis find their way onto a traveling library by the castle kitchens Queen Elizabeth II feels obligated to borrow a book from Mr. Hutchings. Out of the same obligation she reads the book and returns it to him the next week. The young Norman, a kitchen boy, recommends the next book for the queen. After a few books she decides she likes this reading thing. Norman becomes her amanuensis.
The more books Norman finds for her, the more the Queen disregards her normal duties. While leaving behind what filled her time to read books, she finds one's life between their pages.
Alan Bennett's Queen has such a sense of finding herself in literature that relating was very easy and the 120 pages flew by. Books open the reader to a whole new world. Places inaccessible and people who are long gone are just a page away for anyone willing to read. The world is such a broad place for one person to experience everything is impossible. Even the Queen of England in this novel felt as though she had not experienced enough. One evening she writes in her journal "I think of literature as a vast county to far borders of which I am journeying but will never reach". Books can open up a whole new vast country with unreachable far off borders. So much knowledge and information can be learned from the books at the local library.
Not only do books open up knowledge of human kind with its triumphs, downfalls, wars, and times of peace they also open up the mind. They allow reflection onto one own's life. For the Queen her literature induced epiphany was that her interesting, wonderful, and extremely uncommon life would be left only in peoples memories. This acknowledgement of her current state drove the Queen to seek out ways of leaving her life as more than just a distant memory. The search is not for redemption but conformation Through reflection and analysis she plans on confirming what she knows about her uncommon life. With the new found knowledge she means to write her story.
Few things can compare to reading. It is an involuntary reaction for most. We read the milk carton at breakfast, the ads on the subway, the billboards on the side of the road, and the multiple text message, twitter and facebook updates, and email on our phones. Finding one's self through words is not much harder. Picking up a book is the first step to self discovery. Through literature passions can be found, interests can be cultivated, feelings can be understood, history can be relived, lessons can be learned, mistakes can be prevented. If that is not enough motivation to pick up a book the best advice would be to go see a doctor.
Lindsey
Postscript
Not only is this book a wonderful read, a road to self discovery, and an understanding of literature the writing is peppered with fantastic humor. It is one of those books that will leave you smiling. The wit is outstanding. For a taste here is my favorite passage.
These are lines exchanged between the secretary of the Queen and the secretary of the Prime Minister.
"'Yes. Lending him books to read. That's out of order.'
'Her Majesty likes reading.'
'I like having my dick sucked. I don't make the prime minister do it. Any thoughts, Kevin?'"
Go Out And READ!!
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