84, Charing Cross Road (1970)

This is one of the many books that I first heard about on LT. Reading it was like eavesdropping on the private conversations between Helene Hanff, an outspoken New York writer, and Frank Doel, a reserved bookseller in London (84, Charing Cross Road). The letters between them reveal much about the conditions of the times, the nature of the writers, and the relationship that can form over a shared love of books. If you haven't read this one yet, you are in for a treat. If you were one of the many who recommended it, thank you! ( )

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4.5 stars

84, Charing Cross Road is a truly delightful true story of friendship retold through a series of letters that were written between 1949 and 1968. The friendship between Helene Hanff and Frank Doel developed after Helene had sent a request for a specific list of books to Marks & Co. in London. From there, the correspondence continued over the years between the two but also between the other employees of Mark & Co. and even with Frank’s family who were grateful to Helene for her kindness as she would send them food packs when they were dealing with rations in London. Their friendship was quite touching and I enjoyed watching as their letters developed more personal touches over the years.

”You see how it is, Frankie, you’re the only soul alive who understands me.”

Helene was always planning a trip to England to visit the people she had written to for a great many years; however, life forever got in the way and the trip simply never occurred. I loved Helene’s sense of humor; she was quite amusing and incredibly charming. Reading the last page of the book made me sigh with longing... contemplating a different ending; one where Helene would actually make it over to England.

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

I thought that this was an epistolary novel before I looked it up in the card catalog at my local library. When I saw that it was classed with essays in the 814s, I realized that it was nonfiction. It’s a correspondence between writer Helene Hanff and the staff of the British bookstore located on 84, Charing Cross Road. Hanff learned of the bookstore by reputation and, loathing expensive and shoddy copies at Barnes and Noble, determined that it would be cheaper to buy good quality second-hand books from across the Atlantic than to purchase the same books in new print four blocks from her house. Thus began a twenty-year correspondence with the staff at the bookshop.

The book was fun. Hanff chews out the staff at the bookshop if they send her something she loathes, but will always end the letter on a piece of witticism or a kind inquiry after their coworkers and families. It’s a bit of a peek into postwar Britain, where wives swapped rationed tinned powdered eggs with their neighbors for nylons and meat. And, of course, the entire thing is tied up with the books recommended, searched for, and purchased with the enclosed dollars (as Hanff never did understand the exchange rate). I read this book on the train and finished it during my lunch hour, saddened as I got to the end of the book because I knew that the correspondence had to end.

The book was made into a movie, and I’ve heard that it’s a love story. However, the book is not. I like the people involved all the better for being the best of friends and never seeming to consider otherwise. ( )

84 Charing Cross Road is a lovely book and I can see why the BBC did the special where they BookCrossed 84 copies of this book. For the last two years I've corresponded with many lovely BookCrossers in the UK (some of whom are booksellers) and Helene's letters with the various people at Marks & Co read like many of my emails back and forth. In one letter she notes that England seems far closer to her than her local bookstore because of her hectic life as a script writer. I often times feel the same way for similar reasons. The only thing I'd like to differently than Helene is to make it across the Atlantic while we're all young enough to meet. ( )

Read from November 17 to 18, 2011

** spoiler alert ** Snail mail died many years ago so it's quite lovely to read the letters of Helene with those she "met" at Marks & Co.

I would definitely recommend this to fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Ella Minnow Pea. I have to say...it's nice to read real letters. It makes me want to find out more about Britain after WWII!

Spoilers ahead:

I do have to say, the end really caught me off guard. To have a friend you've never met, but that you've always wanted to meet suddenly go away. So very sad. ( )