84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
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Book Summary Author: Helene Hanff Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 1990-10-01 ISBN: 0140143505 Number of pages: 112 Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) |
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Book Reviews of the 84, Charing Cross Road
Customer Review: "...love affair" ?!
Summary: 2 Stars
Why do publicists lie so much? A 'love affair'? This shows how unreliable the comments on the flaps and covers of books may be.
Her correspondence with Mr. Doe is scarce for a span of +20 years. And how on earth did she manage to keep the letters she sent to Marks&Co? Maybe she wrote them on carbon paper and kept the copies for +20 years? She retrieved them from the addressees after +20 years?
Leaving aside the veracity of those letters, Helene Hanff's relationship with Frank Doel is that of a customer and a seller; nothing more, nothing less. Their letters educate us about some literature and about the availability and good/bad conditions of the books in Marks&Co, in a post-war background. Not very enticing.
If we bear in mind that this is a 'diary' kind of book, it is essential that we get on with the author. But I find her writing style irritating: she often behaves like a hysterical insisting person; she over-uses words written in capital letters and exclamation marks; and always tries to be witty and funny. No wonder the attitude of londoners was often restrained and odd while she was in London.
I'm glad Miss Hanff got her letters published at last, but in my opinion this is an overrated booky.