84-Charing Cross

84, Charing Cross

By : Helene Hanff

Ratings : 5.0 / 5.0

Friends. The theme got me thinking in spiral about all the books I have read around this theme that included works about female friendship: Sula, Bird Summons, Shirley or Comrades in war like Pink Mist, All Quiet on Western End and sidekicks like Sherlock with Dr. John,  Alice & Mad Hatter, all sorts of Pets  , then there are trios like Harry Potter and friends; the list just went on and on until my head was about to explode. Just then I thought of this neat, short, candid book I read sometimes ago called, 84, Charing Cross written by Helene Hanff in 1970.

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It is, now I can say with surety, the best book about friendship. How can there be one book that stands out in a reader’s mind as best? Well, let us see, the book is based on 20 years of letters exchange between a man and a woman living across Atlantic. Needless to say it’s biographical as Helene, an aspiring writer living in New York corresponds with a British bookseller, Frank Doel and other employees of Marks & Co Bookshop in London which was based in Charing Cross Road to inquire after books that they may have  mostly second hand books until one day a letter just discloses in calm grave tone that Frank Doel has died. Although the correspondence continues with his family and other workers of the bookshop, but it marks the end of an unimaginably beautiful long-distance friendship between two strangers, over the connection of books.

Epistolary style renders it warmth and coziness we all can enjoy in a relationship. The commentary and opinions about books make it platonic and poetic. While Helene is able to convey the sacredness of friendship as a bond that excels beyond borders, boundaries, genders, desires and physical presence. What better tribute to this bond that may exist anywhere anytime among any type of people. It is about 100 pages long with a letter in Epilogue that gives readers a closure although, leaves a bittersweet taste of life.

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BaSila Hasnain

01-11-2020