Earlier this month, I highlighted a few Cleveland bookstores written about in The Plain Dealer. I noted that one of the stores, Loganberry Books, started a book club for unsung books. Loganberry picked 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff as the first book. Whenever a bookstore appears on the blog, I forward the link to the store. Harriett of Loganberry and I started a mini-correspondence, she recommended that I read the Hanff book because it is a series of letters between Helene Hanff and Frank Doel, the buyer for Marks & Co, a used bookstore in London. I ordered the book from her.
I am so glad I did! 84, Charing Cross Road is twenty years of correspondence between Helene and primarily Frank, but also his family, neighbor and employees of the store. Although they never meet, they grow to care deeply for one another through an epistolary relationship that starts with a request for books. Helene earns the love of all of the employees by sending food packages at Christmas and Easter once she learns of rationing in London. In perfect English fashion, it takes Frank 2 1/2 years before he’ll address a letter to “Helene” rather than “Miss Hanff.” At the same time, the employees secretly start their own correspondence with “Helene dear” and give another view of life in a London used bookstore. Eventually, Sheila, Frank’s wife writes Helene also.
84, Charing Cross Road is an epistolary book (not a novel, these are the real letters) that gives a vivid, albeit narrow, view of Helene and Frank’s life. By it’s very nature though, the details are hazy. I enjoyed having enough facts to create my own vision of the store, the people, Helene’s apartment and life, Frank’s neighbor and even the tablecloth she embroidered for Helene. As Claire wrote earlier, real letters can be saved and cherished in a way that dashed off e-mails never will be. The very fact that these letters are a product of a bygone era adds to the already inherent charm of the book.
I enjoyed the most Helene’s love for the physical book:
The Newman arrived almost a week ago and I’m just beginning to recover. I keep it on the table with me all day, every now and then I stop typing and read over and touch it. Not because it’s a first edition; I just never saw a book so beautiful. I feel vaguely guilty about owning it. All that gleaming leather and gold stamping and beautiful type belongs in the pine-panelled library of an English country home; it wants to be read by the fire in a gentleman’s leather easy chair–not on a secondhand studio couch in a one-room hovel in a broken-down brownstone front.
Readers are bombarded with e-book announcements and predictions of doom for the paper book on a frequent basis (don’t believe it, the e-book is here to stay but not to dominate). This passage is a balm to those of us who see the beauty in a well constructed book. Of course, it isn’t just the physicality of the book that she admires, it’s the works of incredible writers (see a list of the books and writers she requests). More than once Helene tells Frank that she borrowed a book from the library, but can’t return it until he sends her a copy because she can’t live in a home without it.
I loved Helene’s smart mouthed, wise cracking style and will be searching for her essays and other books. In fact, I think I’ll follow Helene’s example and ask Harriet of Loganberry to search for the works and send them to me.
Tags: epistolary, London, New York
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You simply must read Helene’s other book, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street — I enjoyed it even more than 84 Charing Cross Road.
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This sounds wonderful! A smart-mouthed lover of books…right up my alley!
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Oh, wow, I read that book a million years ago. My sisters and I all passed it around. I haven’t thought of it in ages. Thanks for reminding me about an old gem.
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I just loved that book. A great review. And like Claire I hadn’t thought of it for a while and should go read it again.
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Apple of My Eye written by Helene Hanff and her friend Pat Gibbs has these two New Yorkers “discover” the city. It is a charming book.
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I’ve got a good feeling about this one. This feels the book of a kindred spirit. Definitely going on my wish list.
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“84, Charing Cross Road” has been a favorite book of mine for years. While it is not always the case that movies made from books translate well to the screen, the movie version of this book is wonderful. I highly recommend that you rent or purchase the movie on DVD – it stars Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft, and really brings the story to life. Thanks for suggesting the book to your readers.
A similar recent book which you may have posted about previously is “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society”, also in epistolary form. I loved it.
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My favorite bookseller correspondant, Harriet, also recommended these Helene Hanff books:
Here are some others you may also enjoy:
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. The sequel of sorts to 84 Charing Cross Road, in which Helene finally makes it to England!! There’s no Frank of course, and no letters — it’s diary format instead, but it’s all Helene, but it’s a good follow-up to the story and an even better characterization of Helene. HB, with dj, 1st ed. VG/VG, $18
Q’s Legacy. Here’s Helene talking about those old Brit Lit guys she loves so much, with Quiller-Couch as her guide. There’s also some Marks & Co. correspondence included. Paperback, G, $6
Apple of My Eye: A Personal Tour of New York. You know Helene is a fierce New Yorker, now come to see the city as she does. A quirky walking tour, with b&w photos. HB with dj, F/VF, $12
Cheers!,
Harriett -
I adored this book – and copied many passages to remember.
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Pingback from Bookstore People · Book Alley – Pasadena, CA on February 18, 2010 at 9:13 am
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Anthony Hopkins is one of the veteran actors in Hollywood that should be given a lifetime acheivement award.;”-
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sooner or later, anthony hopkins will have a lifetime achievement award. this guy is great:.`
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