The Uncommon Reader

Read By: Travelling Gourmet Food and Book Club

Date Read: 2022-12

Published: 2008-09-30

A funny and superbly observed novella about the Queen of England. When her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near Buckingham Palace, the Queen feels duty-bound to borrow a book. Discovering the joy of reading widely, she finds that her view of the world changes dramatically. Encouraged in her newfound obsession by Norman, a young man from the royal kitchens, the Queen comes to question the prescribed order of the world and loses patience with the routines of her role as monarch. Her new passion for reading initially alarms the palace staff and soon leads to surprising and very funny consequences for the country at large.

4.3Overall Score

BOOK CLUB REVIEW 9 readers What a delightful book to end our book journey in 2022!! The group loved its brevity, light-heartedness, the character - Norman, the humour, the Queen's dialogue ...

Travelling Gourmet Food and Book Club Rating
4.1
Barb's Rating
4.5

BOOK CLUB REVIEW
9 readers
What a delightful book to end our book journey in 2022!! The group loved its brevity, light-heartedness, the character – Norman, the humour, the Queen’s dialogue (we could hear her voice speaking the lines), razor sharp wit and the ending! Appreciated the interesting premise of ‘uncommon’ reader – being the Queen! We wondered if the Queen had ever read it and if so, what was her response. 🙂

BARB’s REVIEW
Loved it! Light, easy, amusing novella by a great writer. Loved the Queen referring to herself as a ‘pensioner’, the way her reading transformed her life and Norman’s book selections. Was definitely my ‘cup of tea’. !!!