One is Rather Amused

Amused, that is, with the latest selection for one's Book Club discussion book. It is a short novella by Alan Bennett and is titled The Uncommon Reader.

The premise is that the Queen of England decides she would rather like to begin reading books when the "large removal-like van parked next to the bins outside the kitchen door" turns out to be the equivalent of a Bookmobile. The kitchen boy, Norman, and the driver of the van, Mr Hutchings, help Her Royal Highness to make the first selection...with more to come.

As the Queen progresses in her reading selections, she also changes her focus on the way she sees her own, controlled world. One would almost think she has gone batty. One would think she should try not to have her nose in a book so much. One would think she should pay more attention to the corgis.

The Queen learns new words such as amanuensis and opsimath. She begins asking the commononers, "What are you reading?" instead of making polite chitchat about the weather and travel times. She even takes to reading a book while doing the standard Queenly wave from the motor car!

One would feel a whole lot smarter for reading this clever little story...and who knows, maybe the real HRH has become a reader herself with this little novella.