Scan barcode
A review by aaronj21
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
5.0
This charming, endearing, and witty period piece / epistolary novel is an absolute delight from cover to cover and is easily the best book I've read in 2019 (so far). I can't believe this solid gold classic has flown under my radar for such a long time, a special thanks to my wonderful co-workers or I might have gone on completely benighted for who knows how long.
84 Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters between Helene Hanff and the proprietor of the eponymous bookshop in London. What begins as a simple request for a book order deepens into a decades long correspondence betwixt the fiery, hyperbolic, and sarcastic Hanff and the stoic, proper, but endearing store manager Frank Doel. The two exchange gifts, ideas, and opinions about books as the years pass and the world moves on around them, from the post war years in Great Britain all the way to the Beatles mania in the 60's.
This book is by turns hilarious, fascinating, uplifting and deeply touching and the format makes for an immensely quick read with each letter proving a joy to read so really there's no excuse to not experience it for yourself!
84 Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters between Helene Hanff and the proprietor of the eponymous bookshop in London. What begins as a simple request for a book order deepens into a decades long correspondence betwixt the fiery, hyperbolic, and sarcastic Hanff and the stoic, proper, but endearing store manager Frank Doel. The two exchange gifts, ideas, and opinions about books as the years pass and the world moves on around them, from the post war years in Great Britain all the way to the Beatles mania in the 60's.
This book is by turns hilarious, fascinating, uplifting and deeply touching and the format makes for an immensely quick read with each letter proving a joy to read so really there's no excuse to not experience it for yourself!