I go back and enjoy these tiny fragments of New York life every now and then, when country life gets too slow and too dull. Normally this works the other way around (when the city dweller longs for clean air and birdsong), but some times I want petrol fumes and the sound of sirens, and Helene Hanff provides them with gentle humour and an affection that warms. (She would have probably felt the same way about the countryside too.) Each entry deals with a small events or detail about Manhatten living - recorded in the late 1970's for the BBC's 'Womans' Hour', and it is just what the countrywoman needs when the peace gets too peaceful!

Sheer bliss. This book is comprised of a selection of Hanff's scripts for her monthly 'Woman's Hour' contribution. The insights into Hanff's daily life in New York, particularly her relationships with her neighbours, are delightful. I wish I could hear the original 'Woman's Hour' recordings. ( )

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