Did I expect to enjoy this as much as I did? Absolutely not. This is my first introduction to Alan Bennett (it will not be my last) and it was just the perfect book to read at the perfect time. It follows the Queen (sensibly, it does not mention a SPECIFIC Queen, though, if you think Queen of England, you likely of one late woman in particular) and doesn't mention any of the extended family by name, so it does not date itself.

This is the kind of book you want readers of all varieties to read - not necessarily because they'll enjoy it (I don't claim to know anyone's taste but my own) but because there are just beautiful snippets of writing on the art and pleasure of reading. It's a joy to watch someone fall in love with reading in the same way you do - if anything, it will remind you why you enjoy it so very much. It will also make you itch to go back to your library and take out a dozen books (good thing I took this one out from my local library).

What a brilliant little book - it brought such joy to a very tiring few days (I'll stop using parentheses now).