84, Charing Cross Road

[sienamystic]

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, is an adorable bundle of awesomeness packed into 97 slim pages. It's a collection of letters between the author and an English bookstore, and the friendship that springs up between them and their families between the 1950s and the 1960s. I'm not sure why reading about a woman's taste in books and the wonderfulness of tinned tounge is so gripping, but it is.

Actually, I lie. The reason the book is so moving obviously has nothing to do with tinned toungue or preferred versions of Chaucer. It's moving because you get a real sense of these people, which is amazing because the letters are so very short. So much character crammed into so small a package is a wonder to behold.

Comments

That book is one reason why so many of my books are second-hand editions

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

A woman at book club the other night actually trotted out the tired old argument, "Well, if you buy it secondhand, the author doesn't get any royalties!" I looked at her and said, "I read about 15 books a week, and buy or trade at least 100 books per year. If I restricted myself to new books, I wouldn't be able to come to book club at all."

This, by the way, is a woman who rarely finishes the book scheduled for each meeting, and we do not meet every month.

Re: That book is one reason why so many of my books are second-hand editions

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Hee!

[gwyneira.livejournal.com]

And now you can read the next book, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street! I also like Hanff's book about trying to break in as a playwright in New York, Underfoot in Show Business.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I have one of the two you mentioned back home, waiting for me. Except, I can't remember which one!

[ladyjestyr.livejournal.com]

I just re-read that and the second book (The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street) over Christmas; both are such lovely, warm, funny books. I think the second is even better than the first, actually.

I have a copy of her guide to New York, Apple Of My Eye, sitting on my bedside table waiting to be read. After that is her book on Arther Quiller-Couch, Q's Legacy. :)

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I'll have to look for those!

[maeve-rigan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me of this book, long one of my favorites--I've read it several times. But I had not read any of Hanff other books, so now I'll look for those.

The movie, starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, is charming. Not as good as the book, of course!

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, there's a MOVIE?

*runs to Netflix*

[nigita.livejournal.com]

Ooh, shiny. I will acquire this book.

My husband, long ago, wooed me with the movie based on the book.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited about there being a movie! I'm off to look for it.