84 Charring Cross Road, London (A bookstore)

[DATo]

Dato, i think you have overly defended her, to be fair. Its great that you loved the book and you have obviously researched her life a great deal, but anyone can have an opinion on a book or whether they like it and (bar a complete misunderstanding) they dont normally change that opinion. Rather than go in depth replying to each and every one of your points about Helene, I will reiterate that personally, I found it odd that she made so many excuses over a 20 year period to not travel to London, when she could have saved a few of her Digest cheques and put off refurbising her flat to save the money. I thought it was a bit of a dampener that the only time she saw the bookstore was when the owner was dead!

As for your character description, it doesnt really support the fact that you dont want anyone to say a bad word against Helene. Im sure other people who have read the book didnt like her or warm to her, is that wrong? I would certainly never give a book a glowing review just to 'fit in' with the general opinion. For example, I hated To Kill A Mockingbird, didnt find it interesting at all, and if anyone doesnt like that, then fair enough, I dont really care. I could also say to you that Stephen King had a hard upbringing or his wife had surgery lately (im pretty sure she didnt though!), and thats why he doesnt come accross well in interviews etc. Its a waste of time me trying to change someone elses opinion because it contradicts mine, and I think you are trying to present your own view as gospel and an alternative view as rubbish. This thread only has a few positive reviews I have found many negative ones out there, so they do exist.

I dont mean to say you were wasting your own time adding that footnote, but let people make up their own mind about the book. I didnt even think about it when i read tha last page and wanted to move on to my next book so at least you have caused quite a debate but hey, thats the nature of this place. It would be interesting to see if other people read it and post an opinion. :D

You hated To Kill A Mockingbird and I am not surprised to learn that. I am going to repeat once more that I TOTALLY respect your right to your opinions. You have stated why you disliked '84' and I have stated a defense of my opinions. Q.E.D. (thus it has been stated).

[StephenKingman]

You hated To Kill A Mockingbird and I am not surprised to learn that. I am going to repeat once more that I TOTALLY respect your right to your opinions. You have stated why you disliked '84' and I have stated a defense of my opinions. Q.E.D. (thus it has been stated).

I agree, DATo. As Fran said, imagine Helene laughing now, knowing all the debate her book was causing, Im sure she would have loved it. And hey , at least its getting us talking about it and hopefully more people will decide to read it and see for themselves what they think, everyone wins.

[Fran]

@DATo
It's 1:15am and I have just finished reading Q's Legacy .... I was so thrilled to find my favorite lines of poetry quoted "Tell them I came, and no one answered, That I kept my word," he said ...." I have adored Walter de la Mare since I was in school and The Listeners is my all-time favorite poem. I can still recite the full poem without needing prompts.
I love how Helene's reading led her from one book to another and one author to another ... the connections, introductions & cross references ... so evocative of how my own reading lists have developed.
I agree with you totally, I think Helene would have made an absolutely amazing and inspiring English Literature lecturer, her sheer love for authors and books leaps off the page.
There are so many laugh out loud moments in this book .... Brighton beach and the 'sunbathers stretched out on the burning hot pebbles as peacefully as Indian holy men on beds of nails' I nearly fell on the floor laughing at her two incontrovertible facts about cataract surgery! I absolutely loved her foray into the Tudors and poor old asinine Essex ......... and Oliver Cromwell OMG I hadn't know they dug him up to hang him again!

I really loved this little book (apart from the print) and I thank you sincerely for bringing it to my attention ... I would so love to have me Helene but I have a feeling she did not actually want to meet Frank, perhaps she feared that had they met one or other might have been disappointed & it was better to keep their image of each other unsullied. It's clear from the book and her admiration for Elizabeth I that she was a hopeless romantic.

"But the books will be there, on my shelves and in my head - the one enduring reality I can be certain of 'till the day I die" .........

[Fran]

@DATo
It's 1:15am and I have just finished reading Q's Legacy .... I was so thrilled to find my favorite lines of poetry quoted "Tell them I came, and no one answered, That I kept my word," he said ...." I have adored Walter de la Mare since I was in school and The Listeners is my all-time favorite poem. I can still recite the full poem without needing prompts.
I love how Helene's reading led her from one book to another and one author to another ... the connections, introductions & cross references ... so evocative of how my own reading lists have developed.
I agree with you totally, I think Helene would have made an absolutely amazing and inspiring English Literature lecturer, her sheer love for authors and books leaps off the page.
There are so many laugh out loud moments in this book .... Brighton beach and the 'sunbathers stretched out on the burning hot pebbles as peacefully as Indian holy men on beds of nails' I nearly fell on the floor laughing at her two incontrovertible facts about cataract surgery! I absolutely loved her foray into the Tudors and poor old asinine Essex ......... and Oliver Cromwell OMG I hadn't know they dug him up to hang him again!

I really loved this little book (apart from the print) and I thank you sincerely for bringing it to my attention ... I would so love to have me Helene but I have a feeling she did not actually want to meet Frank, perhaps she feared that had they met one or other might have been disappointed & it was better to keep their image of each other unsullied. It's clear from the book and her admiration for Elizabeth I that she was a hopeless romantic.

"But the books will be there, on my shelves and in my head - the one enduring reality I can be certain of 'till the day I die" .........

[DATo]

I am so glad that you liked it Fran. The line from de la Mare's poem (which is also one of my favorites), the part about the Queen's bookbinders, and the "you only drown once" part were like the "Hey Boo." moment from Mockingbird .... each of them made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. And you are right ... there were many laugh out loud moments too. How about her entry test at the beginning of the book - [sic] "No one ever failed so spectacularly" - *LOL*

Reading these books and watching the videos and going to the websites was a beautiful learning experience for me. The last line of your post says it all with regard to my excursion into the world of 84.

[Fran]

I am so glad that you liked it Fran. The line from de la Mare's poem (which is also one of my favorites), the part about the Queen's bookbinders, and the "you only drown once" part were like the "Hey Boo." moment from Mockingbird .... each of them made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. And you are right ... there were many laugh out loud moments too. How about her entry test at the beginning of the book - [sic] "No one ever failed so spectacularly" - *LOL*

Reading these books and watching the videos and going to the websites was a beautiful learning experience for me. The last line of your post says it all with regard to my excursion into the world of 84.

You are right ... it's been a lovely experience.
Do you recall the episode when she was in business college & when the girls made the English teacher give a kiss to the student with the best score .... can you imagine that happening now? OMG the sexual harassment cases that would generate - innocent times!

I'm going to read Albert Nobbs by George Moore today .... the short story the movie with Glenn Close is based on. The movie is opening here this week and I plan on going to see it & I'd like to be familiar with the story first. I have, of course, heard of George Moore but haven't read anything of his. I listened to a radio chat about him last week & he seems to have been a 'bit of a character' (as we say here), apparently he upset just about everyone in Ireland and a good % in England during his writing career .... now that's recommendation enough for me!

[viking308]

I went to London as a boy and was enraptured at everything about it, notably also the literature available to children. I didn't know about this movie or book but picked the book up by chance and found myself back in that magical world of the beauty of England and it's writers. A friend who was equally taken by the book and movie got in a London cab and asked to be taken to 84 Charing Cross Road and sadly it is now a music store. The beauty of the story lives on though.
LG

[DATo]

You are right ... it's been a lovely experience. :)
Do you recall the episode when she was in business college & when the girls made the English teacher give a kiss to the student with the best score .... can you imagine that happening now? OMG the sexual harassment cases that would generate - innocent times! :lol: :lol:

I'm going to read Albert Nobbs by George Moore today .... the short story the movie with Glenn Close is based on. The movie is opening here this week and I plan on going to see it & I'd like to be familiar with the story first. I have, of course, heard of George Moore but haven't read anything of his. I listened to a radio chat about him last week & he seems to have been a 'bit of a character' (as we say here), apparently he upset just about everyone in Ireland and a good % in England during his writing career .... now that's recommendation enough for me! :lol:

I do indeed remember the "kiss for the best score" and I was thinking exactly the same thing you were thinking. In The States a teacher who did that today would be sacked, no questions asked, even if the girls initiated the idea themselves.

I am not familiar with Albert Nobbs but I'll check it out. Sounds interesting, and once again, for exactly the same reason you give *L*. Of course, it has been my experience that the Irish have a way of "upsetting" a person such that they become a friend for life. (I am considering naming my first born after StevenKingman.) I am currently working with an associate from Ireland, Johnny, and he is a delightful person. I told him I absolutely LOVE his brogue. His reply, while sporting a wry, cherubic smile was much as I expect Helene's would be: "Dear boy, it is YOU who have the brogue." My reply: (what could I say after considering the historical record except) "Quite right. Quite right." *LOL* I had exactly the same conversation with an English woman long ago - almost word for word. I guess I'll never learn.

[Fran]

You are right ... it's been a lovely experience.
Do you recall the episode when she was in business college & when the girls made the English teacher give a kiss to the student with the best score .... can you imagine that happening now? OMG the sexual harassment cases that would generate - innocent times!

I'm going to read Albert Nobbs by George Moore today .... the short story the movie with Glenn Close is based on. The movie is opening here this week and I plan on going to see it & I'd like to be familiar with the story first. I have, of course, heard of George Moore but haven't read anything of his. I listened to a radio chat about him last week & he seems to have been a 'bit of a character' (as we say here), apparently he upset just about everyone in Ireland and a good % in England during his writing career .... now that's recommendation enough for me!

I do indeed remember the "kiss for the best score" and I was thinking exactly the same thing you were thinking. In The States a teacher who did that today would be sacked, no questions asked, even if the girls initiated the idea themselves.

I am not familiar with Albert Nobbs but I'll check it out. Sounds interesting, and once again, for exactly the same reason you give *L*. Of course, it has been my experience that the Irish have a way of "upsetting" a person such that they become a friend for life. (I am considering naming my first born after StevenKingman.) I am currently working with an associate from Ireland, Johnny, and he is a delightful person. I told him I absolutely LOVE his brogue. His reply, while sporting a wry, cherubic smile was much as I expect Helene's would be: "Dear boy, it is YOU who have the brogue." My reply: (what could I say after considering the historical record except) "Quite right. Quite right." *LOL* I had exactly the same conversation with an English woman long ago - almost word for word. I guess I'll never learn.

My, my what a forgiving soul you are
By the way you do know that brogue in Gaelic means an old comfortable shoe

[primrose777]

Wow so much has transpired since I last visited. ( Lap top dead, no hope for a new one so my contributions will be less frequent for a while).
I am feelimg so left out as I am still waiting for my copy to arrive. Australia is a long way from England apparantly. Funnily enough while I was at the Book fair I found an old tatty ( very tatty ) copy of 84 . Well I couldn't just leave it there, but I knew my copy was on it's way ( and in better condition), what to do? Well I found an unsuspecting fellow book lover over at the "s" section and gave it to her with a short explanation of why she must have this book. Couldn't bear to think it would end up unwanted and unloved. She was delighted and on the chance she shares SKM's views, I will probably never see her again

[DATo]

Wow so much has transpired since I last visited. ( Lap top dead, no hope for a new one so my contributions will be less frequent for a while).
I am feelimg so left out :D as I am still waiting for my copy to arrive. Australia is a long way from England apparantly. Funnily enough while I was at the Book fair I found an old tatty ( very tatty ) copy of 84 . Well I couldn't just leave it there, but I knew my copy was on it's way ( and in better condition), what to do? Well I found an unsuspecting fellow book lover over at the "s" section and gave it to her with a short explanation of why she must have this book. Couldn't bear to think it would end up unwanted and unloved. She was delighted and on the chance she shares SKM's views, I will probably never see her again :lol:

Primrose !!! So happy to see you !!!! We've missed you !!!!

It was very kind of you to pass '84' on with your recommendations to a fellow book lover. I am not surprised to learn that the book was well worn out. I can imagine many people passing it on as you did to friends with similar recommendations. It may be some solace to consider that the person you gave the book to will be blessing you when they finish it.

[shoestringnell]

Hi DATo,

I know its a bit late ( I'm a new member, just joined today) but saw your great review on one of my all time favourite books 84 Charing Cross Road. I felt the same way about this wonderful book. To see the movie is on my to do list.(long list) Speaking of forged friendships from books have you read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows. Perhaps this has already been discussed but I'm new!!!

[DATo]

Hi DATo,

I know its a bit late ( I'm a new member, just joined today) but saw your great review on one of my all time favourite books 84 Charing Cross Road. I felt the same way about this wonderful book. To see the movie is on my to do list.(long list) Speaking of forged friendships from books have you read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows. Perhaps this has already been discussed but I'm new!!!

Howdy Shoes, Welcome to the forum. I'm pretty new here myself. I have not read the Shaffer/Barrows book but the premise sounds like the sort of thing I'd like. I'm putting it on my list to check out. I'm always happy to meet a fan of '84'. I think we should start a club or something. *L* The movie is basically the book with a bit of garnish ... GOOD garnish, let me hasten to add. I think you will like it.

[shoestringnell]

Glad to hear that. I will check out the movie asap. it just moved up the Bucket List, will keep you posted. Thanks for that great review.

[primrose777]

Hi DATo,

I know its a bit late ( I'm a new member, just joined today) but saw your great review on one of my all time favourite books 84 Charing Cross Road. I felt the same way about this wonderful book. To see the movie is on my to do list.(long list) Speaking of forged friendships from books have you read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows. Perhaps this has already been discussed but I'm new!!!

Hi there, I am still waiting for my copy of 84, however, I absolutely loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato peel pie society. It is my all time favourite book thus far.