The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

I read this in August 2011
It is the October book for Waterstones Book Club, Arc Bury St Edmunds

I must first say that I'm not much of a Bennett fan, I'm sure he's witty and charming in real life but his work comes across for me as a bit of a trying too hard to be humourous, grumpy old mannish.
This is a long short story or a short novel, shall we call it a novella? I don't know, I found it well written, but frankly unbelievable (and love magical realism!) and unentertaining... sorry to all the Bennett fans out there.
I also borrowed the spoken word CD which ran for 2 3/4 hours, at one stage I left it playing and went upstairs for a shower, that's how interesting it was.
But, when I started Book Club I decided come Hell or Highwater I would read the books, and I have if only so that I can vote
4/10 for me on this one.
Have you read this book? what did you think of it?
Let me know,
Helen