84 Charing Cross Road => International Bookray
16 journalers for this copy...
This is one of those books that I'd heard about *forever*, but never actually read. When I finally came across a copy second-hand, I grabbed it. I just loved it. Don't know if it's true of all editions, but this one has 84 Charing Cross Road, which is the actual correspondence, and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, which is Hanff's diary of her first ever trip to London, for the publication of 84 CCR.
The letters are hilarious, but sometimes touching as well. And for all I love Amazon, and Abebooks, not to mention BC (!), there was an enormous appeal in the picture of a woman writing off to a shop in another country, asking for and receiving books without having sent a penny. I wasn't AS taken with The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, but still enjoyed it.
The letters are hilarious, but sometimes touching as well. And for all I love Amazon, and Abebooks, not to mention BC (!), there was an enormous appeal in the picture of a woman writing off to a shop in another country, asking for and receiving books without having sent a penny. I wasn't AS taken with The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, but still enjoyed it.
******* Less than a month taken to update this after my exams were over, which could have been much worse. :) Ray will stay open as long as the book lasts, and when it falls apart, I have a feeling BC karma will kick in and I'll find another copy, just when it's needed! If you'd like to join, PM me with your location and shipping preferences. If you can't ship internationally, I'll try to work it out, but may have to bump you below people who join after you, but can. No system I've figured out yet is equally fair/accessible to everyone/sensible. But it's working ok, seeing how far this book has travelled already! This is a small paperback, so postage shouldn't be too much anyway. ******** Here's the order for the ray:
Starry-Starry (UK)
Robbiesmum (UK)
loopy1 (UK)
psychjo (UK)
Tintti (Finland)
tutmarie (Denmark)
myntti (Finland)
PalmersPal (USA - CA)
Zmrzlina (MA)
Krin511 (MD)
keeprdg (GA)
nkwriter (Canada)
Ardy (PA)
MaryZee (MD)
Seferim (MD)
Lukutoukka (Finland)
nyneph (Spain)
lucycat (UK)
Hawkette (Australia)
Sunny27 (Australia)
Caracas (Germany)
Mandana (Nova Scotia)
Chivers (Brazil)
Eucalia (US)
FiBe (UK)
Journal Entry 3 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Received this morning. Thanks very much Hero and for the postcard, I love getting postcards! I'll be starting this as soon as I have finished by current book.
Journal Entry 4 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, June 28, 2003
I adored this book so much I had to read it twice. The letters were funny and sometimes poignant, it is wonderful to read about a booklover who not only appreciates the contents of a book, but loves the binding and cover and even the font as well. It made me want to go and rummage through the stocks of an antiquarian bookshop for a 'slim, leather bound' Jane Austen. The diary of Helene's stay in London is also excellent, she made me see it through fresh eyes. I've never been much of a fan of our capital city, my lasting impression from my last two visits has been 'dirty and muggy'. But I have obviously been going with pre-conceived ideas of what to expect. If I had gone looking for the London of English literature as well, perhaps I too would have found it and been just as enchanted.
Incidentally this is a well-loved and well-read book which seems strangely appropriate to tell the tale of a second-hand book fanatic.
It will be travelling on to Robbiesmum today - I hope she enjoys it.
I only saw the parcel with this book as I went out at tea time as it had fallen below our plank that is our current porch floor. It was such a nice surprise, and I started skimming the letters. I think like starry-starry I shall read this quickly and more than once. It's such a well read well loved book. It has a lot of history, and does seem appropriate to the title.
To starry-starry Diolch yn Fawr! And also to Hero! I'm going for a Paned o Goffi now and then it's Nos da.
Thanks for the postcard!
To starry-starry Diolch yn Fawr! And also to Hero! I'm going for a Paned o Goffi now and then it's Nos da.
Thanks for the postcard!
I read this throughout yesterday, the pages just kept turning! This is such an enjoyable bok, and feels appropriate of its time. The characters also come alive through the letters and Helene's diary, and I did care about them. It's interesting reading through the letters to see how people come and go through your life as well. I loved reading how the letter writers became friends, and started to send parcels, and how Helene touched the lives of not only the booksellers, but their wives and families as well.
This is a well thumbed book which appropriately does open on certain pages. I now have this urge to trawl through leather embossed books and search for John Donne's sermons!
I'll post this to Loopy1 today.
This is a well thumbed book which appropriately does open on certain pages. I now have this urge to trawl through leather embossed books and search for John Donne's sermons!
I'll post this to Loopy1 today.
Posting on to Loopy1 this afternoon.
Well I found this book at home when I returned from work today, and since the kids had taken over the computer by then journalling waited a while - by which time I'm already half-way through. I love this book!
I heard part of it on the radio once, with different voices reading the letters, but this time I can read it properly. It is so appropriate to bookcrossing.
More when I've finished it :-)
18th July: oops! I think I was so desperate to get the book sent on between working sessions I forgot to update the journal! Thanks psychjo for pointing it out.
The letters were wonderful. A good demonstration of how friendships can be formed via short notes. I loved how Helen's enthusiasm for books came through, and her feeling for not just the words but the bindings they come in. An interesting idea, loving a few books so well you know them off by heart instead of reading as many books as possible.
The diary bit wasn't so interesting, but still a fascinating insight into a foreigner's view of England, and London in particular. Why don't Americans like our showers? :-)
I heard part of it on the radio once, with different voices reading the letters, but this time I can read it properly. It is so appropriate to bookcrossing.
More when I've finished it :-)
18th July: oops! I think I was so desperate to get the book sent on between working sessions I forgot to update the journal! Thanks psychjo for pointing it out.
The letters were wonderful. A good demonstration of how friendships can be formed via short notes. I loved how Helen's enthusiasm for books came through, and her feeling for not just the words but the bindings they come in. An interesting idea, loving a few books so well you know them off by heart instead of reading as many books as possible.
The diary bit wasn't so interesting, but still a fascinating insight into a foreigner's view of England, and London in particular. Why don't Americans like our showers? :-)
I've just received this from Loopy1 - thanks, and for the postcard, what a nice idea!
Will start on this as soon as I've finished my current book.
Jo
Will start on this as soon as I've finished my current book.
Jo
I thouroughly enjoyed this, though I'm obviously as not as 'literary' as I thought I was as some of the references passed me by... I also really enjoyed the 'Duchess of Bloomsbury Street' section, and it made me want to head up to London to look at in in a new light, and find the bits I haven't visited before.
I thought Ken Livingstone might find her reference to the ban on trucks being allowed into London interesting! (this was in 1971). [Re-read that entry and thought I ought to explain to those who might not get that - Ken is the current Mayor of London and has recently set up a congestion charge for vehicles going into the centre of London.]
My favourite bit was probably the part where she met up with someone she vaguely knew in New York, and this ladies reaction to her and how Helene was being treated by her English hosts.....won't give that away here.....
Sending on to Tintti tomorrow.....
I thought Ken Livingstone might find her reference to the ban on trucks being allowed into London interesting! (this was in 1971). [Re-read that entry and thought I ought to explain to those who might not get that - Ken is the current Mayor of London and has recently set up a congestion charge for vehicles going into the centre of London.]
My favourite bit was probably the part where she met up with someone she vaguely knew in New York, and this ladies reaction to her and how Helene was being treated by her English hosts.....won't give that away here.....
Sending on to Tintti tomorrow.....
I received this yesterday (thanks psychjo!) and will start reading it tonight.
I had heard so much good about this book that I had quite high expectations when I started reading it. I must say it wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped, but I liked it anyway, especially the first part of it (the letters). The diary was nice reading too, and I'd really like to go to London now! (I've been to England, but Gatwick airport is the closest to London I ever got...and by the way, I didn't like the English showers. They're impractical. ;) )
I think the same way with Helene about people buying all the new best-seller books, reading them once and then keeping them on their bookshelves forever - what's the point?? I only like to keep books that I know I'll read many times, others I give away. I think I'll buy a copy of 84 CCR for myself to keep. It is a good book for book-lovers.
Next stop: Denmark.
I think the same way with Helene about people buying all the new best-seller books, reading them once and then keeping them on their bookshelves forever - what's the point?? I only like to keep books that I know I'll read many times, others I give away. I think I'll buy a copy of 84 CCR for myself to keep. It is a good book for book-lovers.
Next stop: Denmark.
The book was in my mailbox when I returned from work. I have read the first few pages already and it looks promising. Will be back with more later.
The burning sun and the neighbouring tv production company being very noisy "forced" me to take a blanket and go lie in the shade under a huge tree in the nearby park. I brought 84 CCR and read the correspondence part in an hour and a half or so. Very enjoyable reading, I must say. In one of the first letters, Helen asks for Samuels Pepys' Diary, and I thought: I have that one, do you want me to BookCross it to you? Then, a few pages later I learn that she wouldn't have liked my edition because it's a Modern Library edition with only passages, and it doesn't have 12 January 1668 either. I haven't read it yet as I don't really know who Pepys was (embarassing!?). I like the way Helene is extremely straight-forward and direct and always writes her honest opinion about the books she gets. Look forward to a spiritual re-visit to London. Will be back later.
This book opens naturally on pages 108-109. On page 108 Helene reads her mail at the hotel and on page 109 she struggles with the shower. It's funny, because I've always had problems with the showers in Britain, too. First, I think it's rather annoying to shower in a bath tub, but the worst bit is that none of the showers seem to have a mixing fitting so that you avoid getting burnt by hot water or shocked by cold water... One time, I even burnt my fingers touching the hot water tap!Anyway, I have about 70 pages left and this is a quick read, so I'll bring it with me to Berlin (I'm going on a five-day trip, leaving tomorrow) and will mail in to myntti in Finland from there if I can get to a post office.
By the way, I loved the postcard you sent to me, Tintti! It's "Mann auf einer Leiter" by Quint Buchholz and is a drawing in an open, standing book of a man who's standing on a ladder looking at the landscape beyond. I've uploaded it to show it to the rest of you. The grey area to the left is not part of the postcard
Well, I should have known... Berlin is such an interesting city with regard to history and architecture that I didn't have time to read at all. So it came back with me to Denmark and I finished and mailed it yesterday.
I enjoyed the second part of book too, although it wasn't as fast a read as the first part. Funny comments from an American woman about London and its inhabitants. She's very much taken with the city, but she also wonders about some people's (in her opinion) peculiar behaviour. Quite amusing to read. Makes want to return to London even more than before....
I enjoyed the second part of book too, although it wasn't as fast a read as the first part. Funny comments from an American woman about London and its inhabitants. She's very much taken with the city, but she also wonders about some people's (in her opinion) peculiar behaviour. Quite amusing to read. Makes want to return to London even more than before....
The book arrived today. Thank you, tutmarie!
Journal Entry 18 by myntti from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Friday, September 12, 2003
First of all, my apologies for keeping the book this long. I finished reading it over a week ago. Ever since I saw the film on TV some years ago, I've wanted to read 84 Charing Cross Road.
I read the first part of the book on the same day it arrived. I was going to read just a few pages, but before I knew it, I had finished 84 CCR. It was funny, witty, touching, and a delight to read.
I enjoyed reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, too. It made me want to visit London once again.
About showers... [Yes, British showers are somewhat impractical ;-) ] There is a reason why Douglas Adams & John Lloyd have included this "word" in The Deeper Meaning of Liff:
Alltami (n.)
The ancient art of being able to balance the hot and cold shower taps.
===============
I'll mail 84 CCR to PalmersPal today.
I read the first part of the book on the same day it arrived. I was going to read just a few pages, but before I knew it, I had finished 84 CCR. It was funny, witty, touching, and a delight to read.
I enjoyed reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, too. It made me want to visit London once again.
About showers... [Yes, British showers are somewhat impractical ;-) ] There is a reason why Douglas Adams & John Lloyd have included this "word" in The Deeper Meaning of Liff:
Alltami (n.)
The ancient art of being able to balance the hot and cold shower taps.
===============
I'll mail 84 CCR to PalmersPal today.
I just received this book in the mail today from Finland. I've never gotten mail from Finland before. Thank you Elva for the postcard, and thanks Hero, for sharing this book. I have two bookring books ahead of it, one of which I'm almost finished with. I can't wait to read this one.
I absolutely loved this book! I'm so glad that I had a chance to read it. I'll have to look out for a hardback copy to keep.
My favorite part was the fact that all her friends sent her roses for her hotel room. I am about to go back to NYC next month and only wish that my hotel room would be filled with roses or flowers of any kind.
I will pass this book along this weekend. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
My favorite part was the fact that all her friends sent her roses for her hotel room. I am about to go back to NYC next month and only wish that my hotel room would be filled with roses or flowers of any kind.
I will pass this book along this weekend. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I finally got this into the mail on Tuesday. Hope you enjoy it, Zmrzlina! Sorry for the delay.
Wow, the journal for this book will make a book when it gets to the bottom of the current flight list! Makes me want to drop all the books I am reading at the moment and start on this one, but I need to put it aside until the weekend. I'll journal again before sending it off on its travels. Thank you Hero for starting this ray.
THIS IS THE BOOK I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Okay...settling down. But I've just spent some wonderful hours with this book and have decided it will be the second book to add to my Must Find Hardcover First Edition list (the first is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir).
In recent months I've been reading lots of books about books. I enjoyed The Haunted Bookshop (Christopher Morley) and the children's Ink Drinker series (Eric Sanvoisin) very much. Paul Collins' Sixpence House is another great read. I was not as taken with Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris or Tom Raabe's Biblioholism...both I thought were selfish about books. Michael Korda's Making the List is okay, but his ideas feel so forced in places, like he had to make them fit the theme. I've got a couple other books about books still to read, and I'm sure I'll find more, but, I can't imagine any will be as wonderful as 84 Charing Cross Road. And I am not even finished reading it (I am miserably slow reader when I am enjoying a book).
One quote before going back to finish this...I absolutely adore this line on page 19,
Anyway...I will post one more journal entry to let you know the book is on the move. Thank you Hero for bringing this delightful book into my heart.
In recent months I've been reading lots of books about books. I enjoyed The Haunted Bookshop (Christopher Morley) and the children's Ink Drinker series (Eric Sanvoisin) very much. Paul Collins' Sixpence House is another great read. I was not as taken with Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris or Tom Raabe's Biblioholism...both I thought were selfish about books. Michael Korda's Making the List is okay, but his ideas feel so forced in places, like he had to make them fit the theme. I've got a couple other books about books still to read, and I'm sure I'll find more, but, I can't imagine any will be as wonderful as 84 Charing Cross Road. And I am not even finished reading it (I am miserably slow reader when I am enjoying a book).
One quote before going back to finish this...I absolutely adore this line on page 19,
Why should I run all the way down to 17th St. to buy dirty, badly made books when I can buy clean, beautiful ones from you without leaving the typewriter? From where I sit, London's a lot closer than 17th Street.All I could think about when I read that line was replacing typewriter with computer. Helene Hanff probably would have loved the Internet. She even uses lower case "i" instead of "I" pre-SMS, something which annoys the heck out of me in email correspondence from my daughters, but somehow doesn't in the book.
Anyway...I will post one more journal entry to let you know the book is on the move. Thank you Hero for bringing this delightful book into my heart.
Received in today's mail - thanks!
I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I saw the movie years ago. I loved the letters between Helene and the people at 84 Charing Cross Road. I also liked reading about her experiences in London in "The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street"
Mailed the book today to keeprdg in GA.
Mailed the book today to keeprdg in GA.
I hadn't checked my mail for a while since I was out of town for the holidays, but this was waiting for me in my mailbox. I've already read the first section today (the 84 CCR section), and I thought it was charming. I really like how they are involved in each other's lives for so many years and from so far away. Thanks for starting this bookray, Hero!
I liked the first section better than the second, but I still enjoyed both.
I mailed the book today to nkwriter
I mailed the book today to nkwriter
I don't know what I did in January when I thought I had mailed this book, but I just found it here at home. I'm so sorry! I must be losing my mind :-)
I mailed the book yesterday.
I mailed the book yesterday.
Just got the book and read most of it in a night.
Loved it. Just a sweet, human correspondence between two book lovers, and also a paen of love from an American to London.
I was in London just a week or so after I finished the bok, and it was fun being in the old neighbourhods decsribed in the book and noticing the changes. (And the similarities.)
I was in London just a week or so after I finished the bok, and it was fun being in the old neighbourhods decsribed in the book and noticing the changes. (And the similarities.)
Journal Entry 31 by thebookmistress at -- Controlled Release in Toronto, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Released on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 at mailed to fellow bookcrossing member in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
Off to MaryZee to continue the bookray. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
Off to MaryZee to continue the bookray. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
This arrived safely today. It's next up as soon as I finish my current read. I'll update this when I start on it.
8/1 - Just started on this, and flew thru the first 20 pp. Going to love this (just fought my way thru Wild Animus). It's already making me laugh out loud.
8/1 - Just started on this, and flew thru the first 20 pp. Going to love this (just fought my way thru Wild Animus). It's already making me laugh out loud.
Many thanks to Hero, and everyone else, for sharing this book. Believe it or not, I'd never heard of this book before. I really enjoyed it, and found myself laughing out loud on more than one ocassion.
Charming little book about a lady who I'm sure would love BookCrossing.
This will be going on to Seferim soon. I think we're getting together (never met before and we're about 50 mi apart). I also have Year of Wonders to return to her.
Charming little book about a lady who I'm sure would love BookCrossing.
This will be going on to Seferim soon. I think we're getting together (never met before and we're about 50 mi apart). I also have Year of Wonders to return to her.
Received from MaryZee (we had a nice meeting at her Bookcrossing Zone--The Pour House Cafe). I will read soon and mail it on. Thanks!
Journal Entry 35 by Lukutoukka from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Saturday, September 25, 2004
I received the book. Thank you very much! I try to find time to read it as soon as possible. :)
Journal Entry 36 by Lukutoukka from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Tuesday, December 28, 2004
I know I have been keeping this book for a shamelessly long time. However, as you can see I'm not actually a shameless person because I know I should be ashamed. ;-)
To be serious, I AM ashamed, but I have been busy with my studies and that explains the delay. Now I had time during my Christmas holidays and I finished the book at last (or the bookS actually, as it contains two titles between the same covers). I'm glad I did have time at last, because I liked the both books very much! My message will contain some spoilers, so I'll try to use white letters. HTML is not always my friend, so perhaps you should also close your eyes if you don't want to see spoilers. You know, just in case I'll do something wrong, and the text is not white but pink or green. ;-)
I really loved the humorous and witty style of Helene's letters in "84 Charing Cross Road". I think she's a person I would have loved to know! It was so sad that she never got to London "in time" to see Marks & Co. when it was still open.
However, I'm glad there were two books between those covers, and in "The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street" she went to UK and met many interesting persons, and some of them actually related the bookshop, even if none of them actually hadn't worked there. I just hope she still had a chance to go back to London some day and visit the Tower, which she so much wanted to see inside. I like to think she went back and did visit Tower, even if I have no idea if it happened or not.
The book is ready to continue its journey, and sorry again for the delay. :)
To be serious, I AM ashamed, but I have been busy with my studies and that explains the delay. Now I had time during my Christmas holidays and I finished the book at last (or the bookS actually, as it contains two titles between the same covers). I'm glad I did have time at last, because I liked the both books very much! My message will contain some spoilers, so I'll try to use white letters. HTML is not always my friend, so perhaps you should also close your eyes if you don't want to see spoilers. You know, just in case I'll do something wrong, and the text is not white but pink or green. ;-)
I really loved the humorous and witty style of Helene's letters in "84 Charing Cross Road". I think she's a person I would have loved to know! It was so sad that she never got to London "in time" to see Marks & Co. when it was still open.
However, I'm glad there were two books between those covers, and in "The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street" she went to UK and met many interesting persons, and some of them actually related the bookshop, even if none of them actually hadn't worked there. I just hope she still had a chance to go back to London some day and visit the Tower, which she so much wanted to see inside. I like to think she went back and did visit Tower, even if I have no idea if it happened or not.
The book is ready to continue its journey, and sorry again for the delay. :)
Journal Entry 37 by Lukutoukka from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Saturday, January 15, 2005
Sent to nyneph.
*edit* According to nyneph she has received the book.
*edit* According to nyneph she has received the book.
