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lelia_t's review against another edition
4.0
A thoroughly engaging book lover's tour of England with a lively-minded, funny, honest guide. Helene Hanff is as lovable a companion for the reader as she is to the folks in London who treat her like royalty. I particularly enjoyed her description of learning to write by reading the lectures of Arthur Quiller Couch, but first having to run off to get more books and learn Greek and Latin in order to understand the lectures of Arthur Quiller Couch.
Helene’s humor and honesty shine throughout the book. The trip isn’t perfect - she’s disappointed sometimes, and sometimes tired and once throws a tantrum. But her humor always saves the day and makes this book a welcome follow-up to 84 Charing Cross Road.
Helene’s humor and honesty shine throughout the book. The trip isn’t perfect - she’s disappointed sometimes, and sometimes tired and once throws a tantrum. But her humor always saves the day and makes this book a welcome follow-up to 84 Charing Cross Road.
100reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
Charming.
papertraildiary's review against another edition
3.0
So great to read Helene again. I really want to read her book on NYC now. This diary of her trip was a little hard to follow due to all the characters (and it's been a few months since I read 84) but her charm shone through all the same. I so wish her and Frank could have met.
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
I re-read 84 Charing Cross Road yesterday because of a review by a goodreads friend, and once I started it, I had to finish it (realizing it had been a while since I had last read it). This is the third Helene Hanff book I have read in the past two days (they are all less then 180 pages). The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is really a sequel to 84 Charing Cross Road. It's about her time in England, where she helps promote 84 Charing Cross Road and meets many of the people with whom she corresponded.
While Hanff is in England she writes nightly in a diary of her experiences, and Bloomsbury is the result.
Some of the information in this book is also in Q's Legacy, but I am so glad I have read all three, one right after the other.
What makes this book great is the people she meets in England, and how wonderfully they treat her, like a Duchess. Hanff has a really good sense of humor. I kept thinking she is someone I would have liked to have met.
While Hanff is in England she writes nightly in a diary of her experiences, and Bloomsbury is the result.
Some of the information in this book is also in Q's Legacy, but I am so glad I have read all three, one right after the other.
What makes this book great is the people she meets in England, and how wonderfully they treat her, like a Duchess. Hanff has a really good sense of humor. I kept thinking she is someone I would have liked to have met.
lamom77's review
5.0
Another wonderful book from Helene Hanff. This was Helene's diary of her visit to London following the publishing of 84, Charing Cross Road. Loved seeing 1973's London through her eyes.
meme_too2's review against another edition
5.0
84, Charing Cross Road is one of my favorite books. I love Helene Hanff's off-handed joy-de-vivre. When her book was published in England, she was invited to come to visit the country she had dreamed of visiting all her life. She was traveling alone for the first time and had no money, but she was going to stay for as long as she could afford.
She was invited to dinner by several different people who treated her like royalty. She made friends of strangers and she was continually amazed at the reaction people had with her book.
It was so much fun to travel with her as she enjoyed seeing parts of England she had always dreamed of seeing. It was easy to enjoy it right along with her.
She was invited to dinner by several different people who treated her like royalty. She made friends of strangers and she was continually amazed at the reaction people had with her book.
It was so much fun to travel with her as she enjoyed seeing parts of England she had always dreamed of seeing. It was easy to enjoy it right along with her.
flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
5.0
Ms Helene Hanff is quite the writer! I laughed and smiled my way through this little gem. SO much want to go visit literary London myself now! (But only if I could do it with Helene herself. It’d be quite the adventure I imagine!