The Uncommon Reader Copyright First published in 2006 in the London Review of Books 28 Little Russell Street, London WC1A 2HN First published in hardback in 2007 by Faber and Faber Ltd Bloomsbury House74–77 Great Russell StreetLondon WC1B 3 DA and Profile Books Ltd 3A Exmouth House Pine Street, E...
SHE IS SITTING SLIGHTLY AWKWARDLY ON A LOW CHAIR AND RUBBING HER LEG. MORNING. It’s such a silly thing to have done. Pause. I should never have tried to dust. Zulema says to me every time she comes, ‘Doris. Do not attempt to dust. The dusting is my department. That’s what the council pay me for. ...
‘I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure. Might one know your name?’ Middle-aged and scrawny, he was bare-legged and underneath his shortie dressing gown Mrs Donaldson thought he might be bare altogether. ‘Donaldson.’ ‘Right. Mine’s Terry. I’ve been away.’ He put out his hand and as she shook it brie...