5.23.2011

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff


"If you happen to pass 84, Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me? I owe it so much."

I can't remember where I first heard about this book, but it seems to be making the rounds. It's a delightful little read that consists of a collection of letters between Helene Hanff and and Mark Doel, a book buyer for Marks & Co. in London. The letters span 20 years starting in 1949 and offer a glimpse into post-war England and a timeless love for books.
I love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages some one long gone has called my attention to.
84, Charing Cross Road speaks to the love of books and the connections readers make with one other as a result. It's an account of bibliophilia at its finest. If you enjoy books about books, I highly recommended this charming little number. The fact that it's non-fiction and this correspondence actually took place makes it all the more worth while.

Publisher: Avon, 1970

13 comments:

  1. Loved this book! Such a great read! I've yet to see the film version, but I hear that its pretty great, too.

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  2. Oh, I'm so glad you liked it. I didn't want it to end, and I cried when it did.

    The head of the printed books at our rare book library at my uni kind of reminds me of Doel. I once told him I wished I could write letters like that to him. LOL. He wasn't quite sure how to take that ;)

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  3. Nadia, I haven't seen the film either but I want to!

    Birdie, I didn't want it to end either. It was really a lovely read.

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  4. I've wanted to read this one for a long time.

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  5. Brenna,

    I had honestly NEVER heard of this title until I saw that you were reading it. Now I'm seeing it everywhere! It seems like a delightful little for a summer read. I know you didn't really enjoy The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, but I loved the fact that it was a novel comprised completely of little letters about the past and present. A book of REAL letters sounds even more wonderful! Thanks for bringing it to my attention; I can't wait to hunt down a copy!

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  6. I loved this book. I saw the film years ago and loved it too. I really should watch it again. Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, plus an appearance by Judi Dench -- how great is that?

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  7. Diane, Highly recommended!

    Beth, I hadn't heard about it until a couple of months back, but since it was published in 1970 it's seriously making the rounds this year. I hope you get a chance to read it!

    Karen, I really want to see the film!

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  8. Love it, so glad you did. Anthony Hopkins was perfect in the movie, very British stiff upper lip.

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  9. This one is on my wishlist, as I love the idea of it and the format. It sounds like a good relaxing summer read :)

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  10. I got this one for Christmas last year and apparently promptly forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder -- it looks wonderful!

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  11. I am delighted to hear this is still being read and enjoyed, I read it in 1976 and certainly recommend it to all book lovers!

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  12. I loved the book too, read it in one sitting in the bath, but was a bit disappointed it was so short; it seemed to skip such large periods of time and that gave it a bit of a censured feel. Although I heard the sequel isn't the greatest and that Q is better, I still want to read it!

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  13. Oh I loved this book so much. I actually saw the movie first and liked it but the book was all sorts of lovely.

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