REVIEW: 84 Charing Cross Road (Helen Hanff)

Book: 84 Charing Cross Road

Author: Helene Hanff

Premise: This book is the very simple story of the correspondence and subsequent friendship between Miss Helene Hanff of New York and the rare booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road, London.

This was a sweet book and a very quick read. Helene's letters were hilarious and it's clear she loved her books. I loved the contrast between her informality and the more reserved British responses she got back. But it was also lovely to see how kind she was to complete strangers. For example, she used to order them luxury food items as she knew they were there was still rationing in the UK.

My copy also included the Duchess of Bloomsbury, which was Helene's diary account of her trip to England following her book's release. It was nice to see London from a different perspective and she enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere as much as seeing the sights - a woman after my own heart!