The uncommon reader is a political and literary satire but its also a lovely lesson in the redemptive and subversive power of reading and how one book can lead to another and another and another but most of all the uncommon reader is a lot of fun to read bob minzesheimer usa today. The uncommon reader by alan bennett one of our most distinguished playwrights and screenwriters is a gently funny and wise fable and very short i can almost hear bennetts cultured northern tones and see a twinkle in his eyes behind his glasses a mischievous smile on his lips. From one of englands most celebrated writers a funny and superbly observed novella about the queen of england and the subversive power of reading when her corgis stray into a mobile library. The uncommon reader is a novella by alan bennett after appearing first in the london review of books vol 29 no 5 it was published later the same year in book form by faber faber and profile books an audiobook version read by the author was released on cd in 2007. For all its hilarity the uncommon reader has a heartfelt tone it offers a lament on old age some thoughts on reticence and a backward glance at a life wasted sunday times an exquisitely produced jewel of a book the times pure gold you would be hard put to find a defter satire on british philistinism the dialogue is priceless