Book Review: The Uncommon Reader

http://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Reader-Novella-Alan-Bennett/dp/0312427646/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262038994&sr=8-1

I have never used the word “charming” in a book review before, but this one totally qualifies. Alan Benet’s The Uncommon Reader is a quick (only 128 pages) captivating read for anybody who enjoys books and the discussion around them.

The basic premise is that the Queen of England takes up reading books from a local bookmobile, with the help of a poor, but knowledgeable, servant. While the Queen’s tastes interests take her into new genre’s and authors her advisers become scared and suspicious of effects the books are causing in the Queen’s outlook on their sensible English world and political tomfoolery ensues.

It’s a great read for anyone who enjoys books, reading and the discussions that surround all of the above. This short and easy treatise serves as a reminder of the power of ideas, books and why we read.

I gave this book 3 out of 5. Also, in the spirit of full disclosure, please note that I received a copy of this book via LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program.

Birmingham’s Local Author Expo This Weekend

The annual Local Author Expo has been in full swing since 11 a.m. today and ends at 3 p.m. for the day. If you didn’t make it out today, you can go by the Birmingham Library tomorrow (Sat., Dec. 5th) and mingle with some of Birmingham’s literary minds.

Over 140 local authors are attending this year to sell, sign books and meet readers. I haven’t been by today, but I did go last year and posted some photos of the author tables winding around the corridors of the library’s first level.

One thing you are guaranteed, if you you make it by the Author Expo… lots of interesting people talking about interesting local topics.

Great Book Art video

This is one of the few “book videos” I really enjoy. I still haven’t found video promos or book trailers to be that appealing. But this one produced by the New Zealand Book Council is phenomenal! It is a book video worth watching, all the way to the last page, where the letters walk off of the page. Fantastic!
The video is taken from Maurice Gee’s Going West.

Books, Publishing and Birmingham