October and November 2015 Non Fiction Group Read - 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

[Jenny]

Come here to discuss our October/November non-fiction group read: 84, Charing Cross Road

[Leslie]

I have read this years ago but maybe it is time to reread it... especially as I will now hopefully have more familiarity with the books being discussed!

[Diane]

I'm new to the group, but I'll start participating with this one. I read it many years ago and have always had a fond place in my heart for it, so it will be a joy to re-read.

[Leslie]

Diane wrote: "I'm new to the group, but I'll start participating with this one. I read it many years ago and have always had a fond place in my heart for it, so it will be a joy to re-read."

Have you read the sequel also? I was thinking that perhaps if I reread this, it would be a good time to read the sequel when it was fresh in my mind...

And welcome to the group Diane! :)

[Shirley]

I'm looking forward to reading this, I've had it on my bookshelf for at least a couple of years, can't wait!

[LauraT]

Love this book! I think I'll take the excuse of thi group read to pick il up again!

[Diane]

I did read the sequel, and from what I remember it lacked the emotional intensity of the first, because of the loss of one of the original correspondents. But still worth a read.

[Diane S ☔]

How nice to see you here, Diane. Read this and loved it not too long ago. Didn't know there was a sequel.

[Diane]

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street.
Nice to be here, because of course I don't need any more books to read, and I'm sure I wob't find any ideas here, LOL!

[LauraT]

I do agree with your comment Diane. Nice read but notso moving as the first

[Pink]

I agree that The Duchess of Bloomsbury is a nice addition to 84 Charing Cross Road. The edition I read had both books and I thought it completed Helene Hanff's story, I also found her more endearing in the follow up as she recounts her long awaited trip to London.

[dely]

I will join. My library has it and it's a long time it's in my wishlist.

[Shirley]

Just started reading this today.

[Summerdale]

This book struck an emotional chord with me in a few ways. Her love of books, her spicy personality, she mentions Tristram Shandy which I'm in the middle of and her desire to go to the U.K. while getting to know its people through letters (I've been trying to find a U.K. penpal for 3 years now with no luck). Needless to say, I loved this book and was a little weepy at the finish. I have to know what happened next so I'll be acquiring the sequel soon I hope.

[Susannah]

I love this book. I don't currently have a copy of it, but I'll try to find one and read it this month. I love how unaffected it is compared to other books about reading. For me, it's the best book about books there is. :)

[Alannah]

I have to read a non-fiction for my bingo challenge so might use this.

[Shirley]

Have now finished this. My copy had both books. I found it very charming to read. I had forgotten that rationing had continued quite so long after the war ended. What a different world we live in now.

[LauraT]

Shirley wrote: "Have now finished this. My copy had both books. I found it very charming to read. I had forgotten that rationing had continued quite so long after the war ended. What a different world we live in now."

You're right. It is history of no more than 60/70 years ago, but it seems like two worlds apart

[Deborah]

I re-read it and was as charmed as before. I did notice glaringly, however, how very many historical howlers Hanff espoused - I was a bit surprised that such an Anglophile and a reader of Classics was often so ill-informed. But I am probably visiting my current expectations on the past unfairly!

[[deleted user]]

I read this years ago in Cairns, Queensland. It speaks of a time long past but it is still charming.

[Evelyn]

This has been on my to read list for years, I was drawn to it by the title. My last trip to London included a saunter down Charing Cross Road, and several dips in and out of book shops. As I read this, I was remembering that trip. I also was surprised by the length of time rationing lasted.

[Leslie]

Shirley wrote: "Have now finished this. My copy had both books. I found it very charming to read. I had forgotten that rationing had continued quite so long after the war ended. What a different world we live in now."

That was something that surprised me when I first read this.

I am still waiting for my library hold on both this & the sequel to come in...

[dely]

I borrowed it from the library and have read it today in a couple of hours.
It's a nice read, moving and I think that a lot of booklovers would like to buy in such a bookshop.

Someone has seen the movie?

[Leslie]

I saw the film with Ann Bancroft years ago (but after I had read the book) -- it was good but not as good as the book I felt.

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "I saw the film with Ann Bancroft years ago (but after I had read the book) -- it was good but not as good as the book I felt."

As usual, almost always like this!

[Ruth]

I read this a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I must read the sequel. I love London anyway so it is always interesting to read about it.

[Leslie]

I got my copy of this & the sequel at the library today. Can't wait to reread this -- I'll start it tonight :)

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

I ordered this book, but did not receive it yet. I have so many lined up for October reading that I will probably not get to this one until November. Glad this discussion lasts until December.

[Leslie]

What a gem! Once I started, I read right through -- it is a short book :)

It is a bit surprising to me how emotionally invested I get with the people in so few pages & with such sparse detail.

[LauraT]

You're right leslie, a little jewel!

[Diane]

I am in the middle of reading a much heavier, more serious book (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), and decided to take a break with this one. I read it many years ago, and it was just as wonderful this time around. Now to the library for the movie!

[Diane]

Forgot to add, I was amused at Helene sending real money through the mail, instead of the money orders requested. It seemed so antiquated in this time of everything electronic. And the prices of the books really dates this one also.

[Leslie]

Diane wrote: "Forgot to add, I was amused at Helene sending real money through the mail, instead of the money orders requested. It seemed so antiquated in this time of everything electronic. And the prices of th..."

The prices of everything! Just shows how much inflation has occurred since this time.

[Leslie]

I was a bit surprised to find that the sequel, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, was in the form of diary entries rather than letters. It makes sense but gives a slightly different feel to the book.

[Diane S ☔]

Wished she would have gone to England before it was too late.

[Diane]

Me too, but it does add some poignancy to Charing Cross knowing that she never got to meet Frank.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Susannah wrote: "I love this book. I don't currently have a copy of it, but I'll try to find one and read it this month. I love how unaffected it is compared to other books about reading. For me, it's the best book..."

What a Lit Lover's book - I just started reading it today and I don't know how it escaped my notice for so long! I believe there was even a Broadway production of this a few years ago.
And to think, it is a real story, how poignant!

[Leslie]

Terry wrote: "Susannah wrote: "I love this book. I don't currently have a copy of it, but I'll try to find one and read it this month. I love how unaffected it is compared to other books about reading. For me, i..."

"a Lit Lover's book" -- what a great description! Glad you are enjoying it :)

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

I think I am enjoying this book more now than I would have if I read it years ago. The bookmark I am using for this book was sent to me from England by a Goodreads friend, which makes reading Helene Hanf's correspondence with her English friends at the book shop more meaningful to me. It's almost like our communication on Goodreads is the same thing, but on a larger scale. Instead of a letter once or twice a month, we can enjoy the same thing instantaneously to and from all parts of the world!

[Leslie]

Terry wrote: "I think I am enjoying this book more now than I would have if I read it years ago. The bookmark I am using for this book was sent to me from England by a Goodreads friend, which makes reading Helen..."

That is so nice (the bookmark, I mean)! I can definitely imagine Hanff being a GR member :)

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Just finished - I have to find the movie now. I just loved that little book and want to spend another hour or two with the characters before I let them go.

[Shirley]

Terry wrote: "Just finished - I have to find the movie now. I just loved that little book and want to spend another hour or two with the characters before I let them go."

Yes, I'd like to see the movie too.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

The movie was really good and Anne Bancroft personified her very well!

[Diane]

Watching the movie tonite. 2nd viewing, but the first time was several years ago.

[Rhonda]

I love this book and after seeing the movie I visualize Anne Bancroft typing away and Anthony Hopkins on the other end. It is a bittersweet ending. I plan on reading it again soon. I also have a copy of Duchess of Bloomsbury Street which I have never read

[Leslie]

Rhonda wrote: "I love this book and after seeing the movie I visualize Anne Bancroft typing away and Anthony Hopkins on the other end. It is a bittersweet ending. I plan on reading it again soon. I also have a co..."

I found reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street soon after rereading 84 Charing Cross worked very well. The style is a bit different but in a way that is good as it matches the different content.

[Pink]

That's exactly what I thought Leslie.

[Leslie]

Pink wrote: "That's exactly what I thought Leslie."

You had both in one book, didn't you? I looked for that combo in my library catalogue but couldn't find it (which strikes me as odd).

[Pink]

Yes, both in one book. I didn't know until I picked it up from the library. I think it worked very well this way.

[Paul]

I am a bit late to the party. Finished 84, Charing Cross Road over the weekend, and have only just had a chance to write a review, here. It is a really lovely book of correspondence between the author and the manager of an antiquarian book shop, strangely enough at 84 Charing Cross Road. Great stuff. Only just been told there is a film too. May have to watch that.