Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
This new little work of fiction is all about reading. And the idea of the Queen, in the twilight of her life, becoming a Reader. I found it delightful. Don took it home from Barnes and Noble tonight because I was there to nudge him, not because the tie was broken in our last post--sorry, Danika. Oh, Danika, I think you would like this book, too--actually, anyone who loves to read and who can deal with reading an entire (little) book about the Queen would like it. Don might have trouble with the whole royalty thing. Might accuse me of more book snobbery. Don, do let us know what you think. One will be curious.
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Ooh, blast, I knew I should have found some more people to vote for The Golden Compass.
OK Christine, you'd better sit down for this.
Unfortunatly, I found "Uncommon Reader" almost a complete disappointment. I suppose Christine was smitten by his use of language and the fact that his Queen character constantly refers to herself as "One". (Something his becoming self-aware character would most certainly not do.) I just thought it showed he has access to a Thesaurus.
The book just seems to be his reaction to perceived slights. He clearly has no love for his contemporaries, painting them as pretentious gossips and saving any praise for authors long dead.
He also succumbs to the common habit of gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) writers of announcing every characters sexual affiliation (I'm looking at you, Sedaris) whether or not it's germane to the story.
Biggest problem with the book (aside from that it was too "fiction-y" but that's my issue and I'll comment on that in a minute) was his conceit that "Knowlegde = Goodness.
Every character who reads is good and every character who does not is bad. And the more they read, the better they are until finally, they just have to reach for the pinnacle... and become an author! Please. I LIKE to read and even I know the world don't work like that.
Finally, why couldn't this be a book about the actual Queen's actual reading habits? Now that I would enjoy. Oh well, on to "Golden Compass".
Really? You'd enjoy a book about someone else?
And too "fiction-y"? You found that too fiction-y, but you're moving on to The Golden Compass? I think you ought to read something to put you in a more fiction-friendly mood before you pick that up. Not that I want you to put it off, I just don't want you to be biased.
Don, sorry it was a bust! I really enjoyed it and thought it was a fun little jaunt. Thank you for your honest review. I should have known better than to suggest fiction. It was an uphill battle to begin with. Unless you're still just getting me back for not being gaga over Haven Kimmel's A Girl Named Zippy. . .
Good luck with Compass. But remember how resentful you got by the end of the Harry Potter books. Will Golden Compass cause a similar rant and snarl?
I'd love other reviews of Uncommon Reader if anyone wants to give it a go.
Well, if I was reading ANYTHING for myself right now maybe I'd consider the "Uncommon Reader". As it is I'm only finding time to read to the kids. We're reading "The Golden Compass" for a few reasons; I've heard great things about it (thanks Danika);Daniel says I should read it; I want to read it before seeing the movie and I want to find out what the heck all the fuss is about. According to some it's going to turn us all into evil devil-worshipers, so we'll see. So far we're finding it interesting but I have to admit it isn't a gripper to me. It's more like a "well we really should read tonight" kinda book. Maybe the end will grab us more.
Of the three in the series, I found The Golden Compass to be least riveting. I read The Subtle Knife first, and it was really because of what I knew of the characters in the future that TGC drew me the way it did. Don't get me wrong, I still love it.
And don't worry, only the third book will turn us all into evil devil-worshippers.
So Danika, what's your take on all the fuss that certain religious groups are making about the book/movie?
I think they've got the wrong target. There's really nothing in The Golden Compass to enrage anybody--yeah, Organized Religion isn't exactly painted rosily, but it's not that bad. If these religious groups had enough brains to be worthy of making judgments on anything, they'd have read his books, and would realize that they don't have to worry until they make The Amber Spyglass into a movie. But none of them have the intelligence to open up a book and even skim it.
I find it so frustrating that, as you say, most of these people having a rant haven't even read the books they're ranting about. They're just blind followers of other peoples' rhetoric.
Same thing happened with HP. I had someone hand me a list of reasons my kids would go to hell if the read HP. When I asked them if they'd read the book; "Oh no, of course not!" Duh!
The one thing I didn't care for in The Uncommon Reader was the way elderly people are portrayed. I didn't mind the reading = good sentiment but I thought old = bumbling and smelly was rude and not necessary.
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