"84, Charring Cross Road"

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

This book was thoroughly enjoyable. I found it sweet, witty and a breath of fresh air after the last couple of (very serious) books I've read.

The story is told in a series of short letters that begins with a young American woman ordering a book from a bookshop in England. What develops is a friendship that spans the ocean and the years.

The characters are likable and are developed nicely through the letters so that you feel you are getting to know them as they get to know each other. There's real life in this story, sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, and always endearing.

You really should give yourself the pleasure of reading this little book. It's not much of an investment in time; I read it in less than two hours. It is a delight to read, and it's a book about books; what could be more captivating than that?

Next: Cheating At Canasta by William Trevor