When I started writing this review, I could not have told you what made me put 84, Charing Cross Road onto my to-read list back in August 2015. So, then I did what I usually do in that scenario and checked the Cannonball Read archives to see if there was a review that launched it onto my list and sure enough, there were two in 2015 – one by scootsa1000 and another by yesknopemaybe that sealed the deal for me. While it took me 9 years to read the book, I am ecstatic that I finally have and already added another Hanff on my hold list at the library.
This slim little volume (under 100 pages) is a collection of letters between Helene Hanff in New York and a bookseller at Marks & Co., London named Fank Doel and assorted other persons that Helene becomes acquainted with from the bookshop. Starting in 1949 and lasting for nearly 20 years a friendship and companionship is formed as these two book-loving spirits find each other in the most unlikely way. It all starts with a rather formal request for specific books and quickly over the first few months turns into a much more friendly exchange. I was immediately pulled in by the tenor of the letters – Hanff’s brusque American missives compared to Doel’s more formal, professional, English replies – but the real heart of the story is the affection and care that each show the other. It’s bittersweet, Hanff is ever-planning on going to England to visit her friends at the bookshop and various life events keep that from happening. But it is also an honest look at what we can build even if we don’t have everything we might have hoped.
Bingo Square: Vintage. This book was first published in 1970 (how on point for this year’s bingo card) and the copy the library sent me is in fact a first printing. I think Hanff would enjoy that it is still bouncing around.
Bingo #10: Liberate, Vintage, Pride, Fanfic, Rings
