Welcome to Litsy!

I‘ve had this follow-up to 84 Charing Cross Road on my bookshelf for years. It was just waiting for its moment. January 2025 has been exactly that moment. In a month of too much, it‘s blessedly mundane. It‘s a little book, wherein the author recounts living her dream to finally visit London (and its surrounding countryside). A blurb on the back promises that you‘ll “delight in the Englishness of England and the friendship of new friends.” True.

My cute little niece & I share a birthday month. At her party yesterday, *she* gave *me* a gift. It‘s a (rather wide and) spectacular bookmark. I especially enjoy the taco dog being overseen by two googly-eyed sour gummy worms.

Reading The Duchess of Bloomsbury, which I found on my shelves when searching for something to add a little levity to my January. So far, it‘s just what I needed.

3.5⭐️ Thought it was ok; while it was delightful as 84 Charing Cross Road, it wasn‘t nearly as endearing. It was just ok. I didn‘t like this as much as its predecessor. #2024 #bookreview #nonfiction #epistolary #diaryentries #london #uk #travel

Incisive description of people, romantic description of places encountered, hilarious description of events that took place. Absolutely charming follow up to 84, Charing Cross Road; though I read them out of order, I feel like in combination with 'Q's Legacy', I've completed a memoir/epistolary trilogy.
Hanff also has two books about living in New York that, after seeing how competent she is at non fiction, I'm now eager to read. 1/2

The visual! 😂

For a good time call...1970s London: 😳🫣

Dresses for walking and gets lost even with a map. A kindred spirit!

Idyllic.

"Spent half an hour tying my new red-white-and-blue scarf in an ascot so I'd look British ... We went outside [number 84, Charing Cross Road] - and I stood there and let them take my picture as meekly as if I did it all the time. That's how anxious I am to make a good impression and not give anybody any trouble."

Only 13 pages in and still as wonderful and witty as 84 Charing Cross road , which this short novel is the follow up to and hanffs visit to London in 1971 . I‘m in london on 28th this month so decided to save this one and read it on the train .

#litsyspringbreak #london

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I finally watched the movie of 84 Charing Cross Road, which I enjoyed and it prompted me to finally read this. I‘m glad I did because it was just as charming as 84 Charing. I love her wit, humor and observations. This reads like a mini travelogue of London as Helene writes about her time there while promoting the publication of her book.

Book - The Duchess of Bloomsbury
Author - Didion, Joan
Movie - Dil Dhadakne Do
Song - Defying Gravity (from Wicked)
Band - the Decemberists
#manicmonday
#letterd
@JoScho

We‘ve had a lovely week off for a homeschool spring break of sorts. Projects were begun at least and lots of reading enjoyed. This was a sweet read to end the week. Reality hits tomorrow as we plunge back into our studies. It‘s tempting to let things slide since everything feels strange right now, even though as homeschoolers, this doesn‘t affect us as much as it does others. But education is a life, and it‘s good to have rhythm to our days.

1. That Helene! 💚
2. I was born in my head and the Bronte books. 🤣
3. Summer; the only sport I follow is cycling.
4. @howjessreads and @4thhouseontheleft you both do so much for the Litsy community, thank you!

#friyayintro

Loved this “sequel” to 84, Charing Cross Road almost more than the original! Loved the adoration for and humor about London along with the author‘s obvious humor about her smallest experiences.

What a gem! And a perfect first book of 2020.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

84, Charing Cross Road was one of the last things I read in 2018, and this will probably be my last finished in 19. 💚💚💚 Helene Hanff

Currently:
Ninth House
Goblet of Fire Illustrated
Code Name Verity
⏱️14:30 into #24b42020

@Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid #jb72

This was an absolute delight—Hanff‘s journal of her long-awaited trip to London, on the occasion of the British publication of 84, Charing Cross Road. Hanff‘s voice is just as hilarious & charming as it was in her Charing Cross letters. It‘s so much fun to hear her impressions of London and its denizens as she‘s swept away for tours & excursions by dozens of friends & fans. Definitely read Charing Cross first—this is a delightful companion to it!

Loved reading the correspondence between Helen in New York and workers at a book shop in London. Later she visits this wonderful city and explores the historical and literary places that make it so special.
“If you happen to pass by 84 Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me. I owe it so much”
Is it still there? I know the bookshop is shut. Something for me to find when I go to London🙏🏼
#literature #history #london

Tonight's reading, with bonus cats. #currentlyreading #catsoflitsy

Is it really a #bookhaul if it's only two books? Either way, I picked these up today and couldn't be more psyched to dive in.

1. Proud Detroiter!
2. Helene Hanff, and it took me way too long.
3. Well over 100 at this point...
4. You will see lots of photos taken from my Reading Chair under my striped blue throw with a black cat on my lap.
5. I recommend the Betsy-Tacy series every chance I get. Lovers of L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Louisa May Alcott, you need to have Maud Hart Lovelace's beautiful works in your life.

#littenintro @tessavi

On the train to Oxford to show this little gem of a city to my mother and husband for the first time. On a whim, at the last moment, I grabbed my copy of this book. It‘s a follow up to my absolutely favorite book, 84, Charing Cross Road. I‘m doing a read-along of the book on January 1st here on Litsy, in case you want to join along. This book was a delight! It‘s the journal she kept of her very first trip to London and it‘s inspiring!

I loved this. I didn‘t get a lot of the references but I loved how much she loved London and all of her experiences. Definitely read “84, Charing Cross Road” first.

I love Helene and wish she was my friend. her writing cracks me up.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean Monopoly. On the right, my money. On the left, @kitty_reads money. Sad.
2. We‘re hosting 15 people. I‘m tired already.
3. I‘d like to chill and read. Probably not gonna happen.
4. My kindle cover
5. 👍🏻👍🏻
#humpdaypost

#AugustIsATrip Today, I‘ll like to bring you to a #bookstore on Charing Cross Road. Love these two books.

#mounttbrreadathon post 6: This was a fun travelogue. I loved how she was taken in by so many people! But as a travelogue and a whirl of social engagements, it was light. That said, it was just the right length. Amazing how many people wanted to be near her after reading 84 Charing Cross Road.

This was as delightful as 84, Charing Cross Road. Helene Hanff seems like someone I would have loved to spend a day with and, after reading her books, I don‘t think I am the only one. The last few pages were definitely bitter sweet, as her time in London came to a close and she realized she‘d probably not make it back. Highly recommended.
@bookriot
#readharder #onesittingbook

I read 84, Charing Cross Road and thought it was absolutely delightful. Hoping to enjoy this one just as much.

It was ok. I like the way Helene Hanff sees the world, and I loved 84 Charing Cross Rd, but there wasn‘t anything really captivating about this for me.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, is a sequel to her earlier epistolary novel, 84 Charing Cross Road. ❤️both!

#bestsequelyouread #allthebooksof2017

This is a gem of a book! A sequel to 84 Charing Cross Road, it's a journal of the author's experiences in London. Full of forthright witty remarks, humorous incidents and insightful observations. I can understand and share her excitement as she visited the literary places of interests that she has read and dreamt of visiting. Lovely city, lovely read. 💗

Err, so here I am at the end of the #24in48 #readathon. Only 3 books and halfway through the tagged book which is contained in the 84 Charing Cross Road paperback. Wish I did more, but I'm glad I joined in, or I wouldn't have read these much on my normal weekend!
Great job to all who participated and congratulations to those who completed (and exceeded) the target! 👏🏼📚🏅Thanks Rachel and the team at @24in48 . This has been fun! 😗