Rating: 
Summary: Pepys, tongue, tins of dried eggs, and abiding friendship
Review: ...The book is comprised of letters exchanged by a New York-based American television script writer and various personnel at a small London bookshop where she prefers to buy all her books. The bookseller tolerates her insistance on paying in US currency and stoically endures her teasing and scolding when they send her a book that doesn't quite come up to her expectations. What comes across in this twenty year exchange of letters is the ease with which making and keeping friends is possible--if one only makes the effort. In the years immediately following World War II, Hanff saw that rationed food stuffs were sent to the shop so that they could be shared among the staff. The letters of thanks sent to Hanff and the enthusiasm with which the booksellers greeted friends of the author who happened to visit the shop when taking their vacations in England shows that their affection for their American friend was sincere and deep.Don't read this collection with the expectation that you will get an in-depth view of the characters' lives. Read it as a way of discovering how simple it is for human beings to drop their defenses and treat one another with respect, civility, humor, and openness. Read it when your hope for humanity is at its lowest. "84, Charing Cross Road" reminded me of Jan Struther's "Mrs. Miniver." I believe "Mrs. Miniver" was originally published as a series of newspaper articles. When collected into a book, it was rightly or wrongly perceived as a novel. Readers who see it as a novel usually have complaints about it's structure and seeming lack of plot (if this is what you desire, you can always rent the movie). Read as a collection of finely crafted observations of daily life in England during World War II, it's a moving tribute to the strength and durability of the human spirit. "Miniver" and "84, Charing Cross Road" make great back-to-back reads.
Rating: 
Summary: More
Review: This wonderful book on the love of books and the love of selling books is heartwarming and absolutely charming. Easily read (the format is a series of letters) and absolutely enjoyable. I could actually imagine Helen`s apt as well as the bookstore in England. My only complaint is that they could have inserted more letters. The gaps between them was quite large at times.
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Summary: Writer To Writer "84 Charing Cross Road"
Review: I woke up early on Saturday January 13th. 2002, just in time to miss the first twenty minutes of 84 Charing Cross Road, on A&E T.V. in Calgary Alberta. I do not usually watch a movie at 5 A.M., but I just checked for the weather and then I flicked a few channels, and happened upon the movie " 84 Charing Cross Road". I am a writer, and the first scene that I saw was the one of Ann Bancroft at the typewriter writing a letter to Mark & Co., Booksellers. This kept me on the hook for the rest of the movie. Usually, in the past, I have turned off movies that have the English look to them, but not this time. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I could not find record of another presentation on television, so, I surfed the Internet for the book. I paid my money and I am now waiting for the arrival of the hard copy. I thought that the story was so down to earth that it brought the past into view for me. I saw people who cared for people in sincere fashion. I saw people who formed a relationship of love: Long Distance. People who never saw each other, loved as though they met on some focused romantic adventure. A physical connection existed as though it were a match made in heaven. I liked the part where a friend of Helene Hanff's went to London to explore the Marks & Co., Booksellers store to give Helene a mind picture she could relate to. She saw Frank's office and all the neat things about the antiquated shop. On another occasion, Helene's friend stopped in and left some nylons on a desk in MARKS & CO. They were for Frank's family. This left the people in the bookstore in a quandary. They could not figure out how this happened. This gesture was just another one of those expressions of love that this book is about. Frank observed another visit by Helene's friend; he watched her as if thinking that if may be Helene herself. The anticipation seen in his demeanor was worth the thousand words a picture is supposed to represent. I thought that he was going to go over and introduce himself, and give her an English hug. The bookstore family of MARKS & CO., Booksellers was unable to secure some of the luxuries of life in the fifties. I loved it when Helene and her friends in New York sent these items through a parcel by post system. There was so much true love portrayed in this movie, which I expect the book will revisit for me when it arrives by post. Helene had a dream to one day cross over to England and visit the people she had such a great relationship with. She never got there as long as the book sore was still alive. Frank, her key connection in the whole story also died as did some of the others. She never met Frank. It was as if fate kept them apart. If she had met him, the story might have taken on a sordid twist. There seemed to be such a relationship of love that had developed through their correspondence by letter, that if they had met, it might have destroyed the good marriage relationship that Frank had with his wife. Frank's wife realized that there was something of a love affair, which had developed because of simple requests for books by letter. The love of books both Frank and Helene shared was so strong that it bonded them together for life. I was nearly moved to tears when news of Franks death was brought to Helene. She was as broken up as one is when they lose the closet thing on earth. It was as if she lost a piece of herself, when Frank died. Circumstance had kept Helene from visiting earlier in the twenty year relationship, but she finally put everything aside and went to see Marks & Co., Booksellers, on 84 Charing Cross Road, London England for herself. It was empty now, but she saw Frank's office, and she smiled. This was another picture worth a thousand words. Well, there is much more. You will have to get the book, and see: " The Rest of The Story". Wonderful Story!
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Summary: special!
Review: Do you like books that are dull, predictable and ponderous? Well, by all means, go grab a phone book and enjoy yourself, but Do NOT expect satisfaction from this magnificent little piece of wonder! This is the sort of book that will remain as fresh and genuinely touching long after we're gone. Give it a try!
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Summary: A small wonderful book
Review: I first found this book ten years ago and I have
been in love with it ever since. Comprised only
of letters, I often call this book a ray of
sunshine. Last year I gave it to my on-line
friends as I think that it is the kind of book
that on-line friends can identify with all too
well. It will make you smile, make you laugh,
and in the end make you cry. Please trust me and
get this book..the movie isn't half bad either.
Rating:
Summary: A Treasure
Review: Before eMail, before chat rooms, and before "Instant Messages" there were letters. In this beautiful, true story, an outspoken New York writer and a rather more restrained London bookseller carry on an increasingly touching correspondence, via letters, for a period of 20 years. Most likely you will read this book in one sitting and use a few Kleenex on the way. You may get to the end, and read it again. In the collection's penultimate entry, Helene Hanff (the author) urges a tourist friend, "If you happen to pass by 84, Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me. I owe it so much.
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Summary: Relationships Formed Out of the Written Word Alone
Review: This little collection of numerous letters back and forth across an ocean at a time when 'globalization' was just beginning to find its definition shows at the very best how words alone, when chosen carefully, can give birth to a relationship that will soon be treasured. If e-mail messages have begun to grate, here is a book that will remind you how sweet letterwriting can be and how wonderful a thing it can accomplish...if one only takes the time. 84, Charing Cross, I've concluded, is also the perfect gift for friends with sensitive souls who already seem to have everything. It is also a fine thing to read before turning off the light next to your bed.
Rating:
Summary: A joyful book
Review: I got an immense amount of pleasure reading this little book of correspondence between a woman in New York City and a used bookseller in London. The letters span the years 1949 to 1969 and revolve primarily around Helene Hanff's search for English literature classics that she had difficulty acquiring in New York. Could a book sound any blander??? Well, I'll tell you it's not! It's a wonderful read. I'd rather not go into any details lest I diminish the pleasure of this book to anyone unfamiliar with it and considering reading it. It is not a love story, nor is it maudlin or overly sentimental, it's just wonderfully entertaining. The only thing that might have made this book even better might have been some annotations or background information on some of the characters or the bookstore itself. Though I hesitate in mentioning this because such additional material might actually take away from the charm of the book. A couple of her subsequent books do answer some questions, but the books themselves are not quite the same as this unique volume. Also, the book was made into a movie of the same name which was pretty good - but read the book first!
Rating:
Summary: Real Humanity
Review: 84, Charing Cross Road should be the most boring book in English literature. All it is is a small collection of short, simply written letters between a small group of ordinary people. Furthermore, most of the letters are just book orders or thank you notes. Everything seems to be insignificant. But nothing here is. 84, Charing Cross Road captures real life and real people. The letters are filled with all types of emotions. There is humor (both droll and outrageous). The people all show an intense love of literature. Primarily in the book, the people of 84, Charing Cross Road emit compassion for other people. 84, Charing Cross Road is all about how a small group of people (primarily Helen Hanff and Frank Doel) built strong friendships and really enriched each others lives. 84, Charing Cross Road is a total joy to read, and I am sure I will revisit the pages many more times. And yes, I will (if I ever go to England) visit the bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road and make a fool of myself by kissing it.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, touching, and charming
Review: This slim little volume is simply wonderful. Ms. Hanff is wity, generous, and has a "peculiar taste in books." Her insights on some of the books she reads are off-beat and delightful. A must read for any book lover.
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