Reading Helene

I re-read 84 Charing Cross Road for the seventh or eighth time last week, I'll never tire of reading it I think.

I pass the place where the bookstore once stood quite often. There is a small plaque marking the site. Sadly the building was demolished before I started frequenting the street. Sadly too, now, there are far fewer book shops in the street.

I'm almost through re-reading Q's Legacy. The thing with Helene is you don't want to stop hearing her voice. Her enthusiasm for literature, and for life as a whole is infectious.

#1 In 84CCR Hanff talks about reading a book and being repeatedly diverted to other books mentioned therein. I find that's exactly the effect she has on me and even though I must have read Charing Cross at least half a dozen times (and probably considerably more) I can still spend months over it while having to veer off and investigate the other books she talks about. It's a miracle my copy (my third) isn't stained with drool marks.

>>2 Collectorator:. I have never heard of that book by Hanff, and seems a bit out of character, as she wasn't much of a traveller. Is it any good, can you hear her voice?

>>3 Booksloth:. Booksloth, I have just started reading Walter Savage Landor's Imaginary Conversations, the first of six volumes, it will keep me busy for the rest of the year I suspect.