The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street

by Helene Hanff | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by mojosmom of Chicago, Illinois USA on 7/23/2003
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29 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Ms. Hanff finally gets to go to England! (SEE 84, Charing Cross Road)

Journal Entry 2 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Thursday, July 24, 2003
This book, along with 84, Charing Cross Road, is on its way to Dawni.

Journal Entry 3 by dawni from Windsor, Ontario Canada on Monday, July 28, 2003
Another wonderful RABCK from mojosmom... thank you so much for the book, and for the beautiful postcard that came with it... you made my day! :)

dawni

Journal Entry 4 by dawni from Windsor, Ontario Canada on Saturday, August 9, 2003
I very much enjoyed Hélène Hanff's journal of her long-awaited trip to England, after publication of "84, Charing Cross Road", and was very sorry to have to put it down when finished. I will definitely be searching out more of her books for future reads.

Thanks again, mojosmom, for introducing me to this author!

dawni

Journal Entry 5 by dawni from Windsor, Ontario Canada on Friday, August 15, 2003
Mailed today to vi0let in Finland.

dawni

Journal Entry 6 by vi0let from Espoo, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, October 9, 2003
Received this & 84, Charing Cross Road today.

Journal Entry 7 by vi0let from Espoo, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Saturday, October 18, 2003
I actually loved this even more than 84, Charing Cross Road. This book will continue it´s journey asap, but I simply have to get a copy of my own.

Journal Entry 8 by vi0let from Espoo, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Promised to bookaholic1346. Will send soon.

Journal Entry 9 by bookaholic1346 from Florence, Kentucky USA on Sunday, January 11, 2004
I'm so sorry about not journaling sooner - I hadn't even realized that I hadn't done it. Will read soon and pass along!

Journal Entry 10 by cheesygiraffe from Florence, Alabama USA on Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Received in the mail today from bookaholic1346. thanks!

Journal Entry 11 by cheesygiraffe from Florence, Alabama USA on Thursday, July 22, 2004
Very Funny Got to Love Helene!!

Journal Entry 12 by cheesygiraffe from Florence, Alabama USA on Thursday, July 22, 2004
offered on "Always International" relay...

Journal Entry 13 by cheesygiraffe at mailed in Casualreader.net, Bookrelay -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 22, 2004
Released on Thursday, July 22, 2004 at mailed in Casualreader.net, Bookrelay Controlled Releases.

mailed to thechinasourcer as part of relay

Journal Entry 14 by ChinaSourcer from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Monday, August 2, 2004
Received in the post today, many thanks.

Journal Entry 15 by ChinaSourcer from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Saturday, October 2, 2004
Posted yesterday to Jalna.

Journal Entry 16 by ChinaSourcer from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Saturday, October 2, 2004
I'm sending this out on a Ring.

The 'rules':

1. When you receive the book please journal it to let everyone else know how far it has got.
2. PM the next person on the list for their address, ready for when you finish the book.
3. After you've read it please journal again with your comments.

Jalna
Chelseagirl
Semioticghost
ZiggytheCat
ChinaSourcer

Journal Entry 17 by jalna from Wrexham, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, October 4, 2004
How nice to receive a book that doesn't turn out to be zillions of pages of tiny print! I don't think even I will take too long to read this one and I expect to start it within the next day or two.

It's exciting to see how far this book has travelled already and to be a small part of its continued journey. I'm sure I will love it as much as everyone else did, as I have read and enjoyed Charing Cross Road at least twice.

Journal Entry 18 by jalna from Wrexham, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 5, 2004
What a lovely little story - a delightful read. It's always good to share in someone else's happiness and Helene's great joy in fulfilling an ambition to visit London was palpable. My only regret is that I don't know London well enough to picture all the places she spoke of.

I will move the book on to Chelseagirl now.

Journal Entry 19 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 7, 2004
This arrived safely this morning and I made the mistake of showing it to my Mum (herrgirl) and she's promptly nabbed it off me! think I might have to let her read it first .....

Journal Entry 20 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 11, 2004
My Mum read this in a morning and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as she recently went to the stage show of 84 Charing Cross Road and was lucky enough to be there the same evening as Frank Wotsit's daughter, who spoke to the audience about her recollections of the story.

Mum has put the book down somewhere and I can't quite place it at the moment - damn these piles of books everywhere!

Anyway, chinasourcer had asked if she could borrow someone's 84.. to read before this returns to her, so I offered her my charity shop copy. I just took it off the shelf to register and discovered that it includes this sequel as well! I read my mum's copy years ago, then saw it in a shop and bought it for my PC but have never got round to re-reading it, hence I hadn't even heard of the sequel, much less discovered that I actually owned it! I'll be reading both once my copy returns from chinasourcer.

I'll send The Duchess on to semioticghost as soon as I find it!!

Journal Entry 21 by wingSemioticghostwing from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Received from Chelseagirl today - thanks very much, and I'm looking forward to reading it! Will PM Chinasourcer for her address straight away.

Journal Entry 22 by chelseagirl from Faringdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Oops, I forgot entirely to journal this ... sorry :0)

I really enjoyed this, Helene Hanff has sucha wonderful writing style. She's totally unprofessional in her diary entries yet they read so well, as if she is actually telling me about her travels. It was lovely to see London through her eyes, not only the eyes of a foreigner but through the eyes of a Londonphile, and I really feel like going out to visit all the places she did, simply because she knows so much more about London than I do! Alas, I fear that many of the buildings she visited will be much changed now.

Thank you so much for sharing - I'm looking forward to reading 84 Charing Cross Road again when I can!

Journal Entry 23 by wingSemioticghostwing from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Monday, November 8, 2004
I loved this as a wonderful continuation of the first novel, and as a stand-alone, for its unique and beautifully written observations of Britishness by one who loves it.

Sent on to

Journal Entry 24 by ziggythecat from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 10, 2004
This arived yesterday- thanks semioticghost. Got to read 84 Charing Cross Road first (which is also sitting here in my, too large, tbr bookring pile, eeeek). What luxury to be able to read the two together if I choose :o)

Journal Entry 25 by ziggythecat from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 20, 2004
doh! Started reading the bookring copy of 84 Charing Cross Road this morning, only to find that it includes 'The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street' in the one book. Will try & remember to journal here after I've read it, but will now send this copy on to chinasourcer asap.

A pleasant, enjoyable read. I wouldn't have realised that 84 Charing Cross Road had achieved any real level of fame unless I'd read The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. I think I preferred the first book but its a close run thing! Such a shame she didn't make it to London earlier and see the shop in its glory.

Journal Entry 26 by ChinaSourcer from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Received in the post today, many thanks. Thanks also for the fruit bar.

Journal Entry 27 by ChinaSourcer from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Friday, February 11, 2005
This is a lovely book. I just had to find a picture of Helene when I had finished reading- she was just as I visualised her.

Journal Entry 28 by ChinaSourcer from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Friday, March 11, 2005
Taken from the BookRelay by PreciousArwen and posted today.

Journal Entry 29 by CenouraDoLado from Seixal, Setúbal Portugal on Monday, March 28, 2005
It is written as a travel diary and it was a very nice read. I particularly enjoyed the visit to Great Tew and the picnic on the top of the Dog’s Hell with Chester-the Sheep-Dog. It was really funny.
And as Helene said we also feel that 'History, as the say, is alive and well and living in London'... Reading this book was like visiting London with a dear friend.
I can’t decide witch one I liked most, this or 84 Charing Cross Road…

Well, now I will offer this book to my BCer friend Fantasma. It was for her that I pick it up in the relay site. It will be a surprise and I am sure she will like it.


Pic: Russel Square

Journal Entry 30 by Fantasma from Carnaxide, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, April 1, 2005
We have days in our lifes when we're felling low, for no particular reason, it was a stressful day at work, a bad night sleep, worries about the family, anything... and suddenly, in those days, we get home and have such a wonderful surprise in the mail...

Thanks, PreciousArwen, it really was an unexpected and great surprise! :o)

(and the picture on your JE, I'm crazy about London and I usually stay at a hotel side by side with Russel Square!)

Journal Entry 31 by Fantasma from Carnaxide, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, April 29, 2005
So... I must admit I prefered 84 Charing Cross Road... And why?

Well, at first Helene was really getting on my nerves!! I know it was her first travel abroad and it was the early 70's, but I don't understand how she could be so scared!! And she seemed so naive and innocent about everything, and was always talking about "here they call it xxx...", "this is how they do things here...", etc, like New York and London were in different planets!!

Then I started to feel a little simpaty for her ;) And it really is like making a trip to London...

Journal Entry 32 by Fantasma from Carnaxide, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, April 29, 2005
Now....
This book's going to be made a surprise ;o) And you have to thank PreciousArwen for the idea!!!
She remembered I could turn this book into a bookring that would go to the same people who participated in the 84, Charing Cross Road ring. But as a surprise! I won't tell them about it ^_^

So, when you receive the book, don't tell anyone! ;op Just pass it along when you're finished. I'm almost sure no one will say no, but if you've to post it it's better to ask before, even though it will be a smaller surprise...

And who are gonna be the lucky ones???? :-)

The ones from Lisbon (choose your order):
* fflloorr **DONE**
* Xana **DONE**
* mady **DONE**
* Goide **DONE**
* Escalla **DONE**
* patxocas **DONE**
* Virgulina **DONE**
* Elsita **DONE**
* Maria-Nunes **DONE**
--------------------------
Then, following this order:
1* syrin (Coimbra) **DONE**
2* Winkiemoon (Porto) **DONE**
3* Witchie (Espinho) **DONE**
4* PCSAF (Gondomar) **DONE**
5* ichigochi (Gaia) **DONE**
6* -BookHaven- (Porto) **DONE**
7* Kapalika (Porto) **DONE**
8* fio-dagua (Porto)
9* borbolletta (Fig.Foz)
10* quico (Coimbra)
11* Lunavita (Santarém)
12* Satyanarayani (Almada)
13* Cokas (Almada)
14* Moimeme (Lx)
15* begmartins (porque pediu muito, muito... ;op)

Hopefully going to fflloorr in next week's dinner!!

Journal Entry 33 by Fantasma from Carnaxide, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, May 6, 2005
The first lucky girl :o)
Going to fflloorr tonight, at our BC dinner!

Journal Entry 34 by fflloorr on Saturday, May 7, 2005
It's now with me! =)
Thanks a lot Fantasma. I can't wait to read it. I loved the first one =)

Journal Entry 35 by fflloorr on Monday, May 9, 2005
Now I really must go to London! =)
I liked this book but 84, Charing Cross Road is much, much better. And I miss Frank ='(
Thanks Fantasma for the ring, I was very curious about this book.

Next lucky reader: Xana!

Journal Entry 36 by Xana from Genève, Genève Switzerland on Monday, May 9, 2005
I'm yet another link in this secret ring.
My mission (and I decided to accept it!) is to read this, plus The Secret History and finish Oryx & crake before I move to The Netherlands in 4 days ;)

Update:
Made me want to visit London even more! This book doesn't have the charm and je-ne-sais-quois of 84.. but it's still enjoyable.

Journal Entry 37 by mady from Reading, Berkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, May 19, 2005
I've had this book already for a few days, but I forgot to write a journal entry for it. Sorry! I'm already reading it.

Journal Entry 38 by mady from Reading, Berkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 28, 2005
Finished this a few days ago, but since my memory isn't the best thing these days I forgot to make a new journal entry.
Not as interesting as 84 Charing Cross Road, but still Helene's humour is there. Even though I'm not that fond of London (Fantasma, you can kick me next time we meet), it made me wish to see the places she described that were unfamiliar to me.
It's already with its next reader (that will probably make journal entries even later than me :D).

Journal Entry 39 by Goide from Lisbon, not specified not specified on Friday, June 17, 2005
It's seems that mady was wrong about the lateness of my entry :P
Finished it yesterday evening.

I liked it. I find it very difficult to remember non-portuguese names when there are several of them. The fact that she kept meeting and re-meeting people was upsetting :| PB was the only one I was pretty sure I'd read of before, not very hard to remember =)

The greatest value for this book is for London lovers, and "84, Charing Cross Road" LOVERS. I liked the 1st book very much. The dog talk in this one was also a lot of fun to read. I don't find the differences between USA and UK that interesting. For a diary, it lacks details. It's a nice book, but it needed more immersion-like stuff.

Journal Entry 40 by Escalla from Lisboa - Parque das Nações, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, June 27, 2005
Received on the 2nd Picnic.
I'll try to start reading it tomorrow! Probably will only last me a day :P

Journal Entry 41 by patxocas from Câmara de Lobos, Madeira Portugal on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Received today at the Lisbon meetup.
What a surprise it was. Thanks fantasma for the opportunity. ;-)
This book is going with me to netherlands in the weekend.

Journal Entry 42 by patxocas from Câmara de Lobos, Madeira Portugal on Monday, July 11, 2005
Read it between Lisbon and Amsterdam. :-)
Really, really enjoy the end. Maybe because I was reading in the plane back home.
Was all I had watched and the visit really true? Or was it my imagination.

In the global, the book is not as good as the 84, Charing Cross Road.
The other one is much more funny and emotional.
I Think that if I haven´t read this book in a travel I wouldn't have like it.

Thanks Fantasma for the lovely opportunity.
It's going to Virgulina or Elsita or Maria-Nunes in the next meetup.


Journal Entry 43 by usedtobe on Thursday, July 14, 2005
It's with me now! Thankfully it's a thin book as I'm surrounded by BookRings. ;o)

Journal Entry 44 by usedtobe on Friday, July 22, 2005
This book disappointed me a bit, it doesn't have the same magic as its predecessor. Helene finally gets to London and this is her travel diary but there's no Frank and the bookstore has been closed. We are introduced to a lot of new people that weren't part of the previous one and I really found it difficult to keep them straight in my head, except for PB. I'm glad she finally accomplished her dream but now I wish I hadn't read this one, it ruins part of the aura 84, Charing Cross Road created!

Journal Entry 45 by Elsita from Almada, Setúbal Portugal on Wednesday, July 27, 2005
It's with me, now!! What a surprise!!
Thanks, dear Fantasma, you're great!

Journal Entry 46 by Elsita from Almada, Setúbal Portugal on Saturday, August 13, 2005
Finnaly, Helene goes to London!
And what wonderfull descriptions of the city she did! I really enjoyed that!!
:))

--->going to Maria-Nunes asap!

Journal Entry 47 by Maria-Nunes from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, September 2, 2005
got this book on today's mail :)))
thanks!! I loved "84 charing cross road", so I'm looking forward to reading this one.
thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 48 by Maria-Nunes from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Wednesday, September 7, 2005
I liked 84 Charing Cross Road better than this one, just because I never liked Helene that much. I certainly liked Frank much more.
But I really liked "remembering" all those places in London :)
It's always funny to read people describing the diferences of people from one place to another (it's really like that. it's amazing, isn't it?).
I enjoyed this book, though.
Thanks for sharing

Journal Entry 49 by Maria-Nunes from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, September 13, 2005
sent to syrin on the mail, today.

Journal Entry 50 by wingsyrinwing from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, September 16, 2005
Arrived today.
I already knew about this surprise ring (lurking in other people's bookshelfs does that), but it's great to b able to read it.
I'll get to it asap.
Thanks Maria-Nunes, Fantasma and PA

Journal Entry 51 by wingsyrinwing from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Friday, October 7, 2005
Keeping with the general consensus here, I also found 84 Charing Cross Road to be much much better than this book.
Helen seemed like a different person here, much more naïve than she looked like in the previous texts (and sometimes even a bit boring).
Not even her fascination with London made me want to keep reading like last time, probably because London isn't one of the places I dream about visiting.
I'd say the best part of this book is the opportunity to be in a secret bookring! :)
I'll send it to Winkiemoon as soon as I have confirmation that she's around!

[13/10/05] On its way to Winkiemoon... surprise! :)

Journal Entry 52 by Winkiemoon from Porto - City, Porto Portugal on Friday, October 14, 2005
It´s with me :)
Thanx Syrin ;)

Journal Entry 53 by Witchie from Espinho, Aveiro Portugal on Tuesday, November 15, 2005
It's with me, now! What a great surprise, I loved the first one so much! Can't wait to read it! Thank you so much!!

Journal Entry 54 by Witchie from Espinho, Aveiro Portugal on Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I loved it! Although 84, Charing Cross Road is better, this one was also very good! My favourite thing was the view of London through the eyes of a non-english person. Because she didn't live there (and because of all the longing to go there) her opinions are fresh, surprised and delighted! And delightfull as well!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book too! And I am so sorry for keeping it for this lonf (too long!), but it was trully impossible for me to finish it sooner... I'll mail it to PCSAF as soon as possible!

Journal Entry 55 by PCSAF from Gondomar, Porto Portugal on Saturday, March 4, 2006
I got it! What a wonderful surprise. I have the other so very much. I'll read it soon and pass it along.

Journal Entry 56 by PCSAF from Gondomar, Porto Portugal on Saturday, April 22, 2006
I am sorry for having kept it so long! But it's already on its way to surprise the following on the list :-)

I reaaly enjoyed to read this wonderful little book, that makes wanna go to London and see what Helen Hanff describes. It was great to read after the frist one. Thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 57 by ichigochi from Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto Portugal on Tuesday, May 2, 2006
It's with me now!
Thank you PCSAF and Fantasma.. What a nice idea to surprise people like this :)
I see it has been a year since Fantasma started this surprise ring.. I will read it and send it ASAP to resume its long and special journey..

Journal Entry 58 by ichigochi from Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto Portugal on Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The book travelled with me to Shanghai, and it was a very good company (though it didn't last the entire trip :))
I really enjoyed feeling Helene's happiness at discovering the city she had dreamed so much about.. though I guess it would have been even more enjoyable if I had already visited London, myself.. ;)

Thanks for sharing the book, Fantasma!
It is now on its way to surprise -BookHaven- :)

Journal Entry 59 by -BookHaven- on Wednesday, May 31, 2006
chegou como ring surpresa.
obrigada pela partilha e pelo envio!
___________________________
sorry, for the portuguese je...
it says: the book arrived as a surprise ring.
thank you all for sharing and sending the book!

Journal Entry 60 by -BookHaven- on Tuesday, June 6, 2006
i didn't like this one as much as 84, but maybe that's because i had such high expectations...
still it is quite a nice book, and i must say i did feel moved about the tenderness that was put in it.

thanks a lot for the lovely surprise!

i'm waiting for kapalika's ok to receive it too.

Journal Entry 61 by Kapalika from Porto - City, Porto Portugal on Wednesday, June 14, 2006
what a good idea and what a good surprise!!Thank you all! I can't wait to read it... :)

Journal Entry 62 by fio-dagua from Porto - City, Porto Portugal on Monday, September 25, 2006
it's with me! like many of you i was charmed by 84 Charing Cross Road and so any books of the author are welcome.
thanks for sharing

Journal Entry 63 by Escalla from Lisboa - Parque das Nações, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, July 21, 2008
Read it a loooong time ago, didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, i know it's not with me anymore, but i can't for the life of me remember who i sent it to...

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