Thursday, June 4, 2009

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff--I worship this book and the film starring Anne Bancroft


84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff, is a book reader's dream book. This book tells the story of a life-long correspondence between two people, Hanff, a single, Jewish female television comedy writer living in New York and a married, antiquarian bookseller in London named Frank Doel. Doel's bookstore, Marks & Co, is located 84, Charing Cross Road. Charing Cross Road in years past was the book capital of London (it is no longer).

This book is simply captivating. But the amazing thing is that the film version, which stars Anne Bancroft as Helene Hanff, is equally captivating primarily because of the goddess, Bancroft. The 1986 film also stars Anthony Hopkins as Frank Doel. This happens to be one of my most favorite books as well as films of times, and the following clip illustrates why. It is about two of my favorite things in the world: books and bookstores.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPV8sja0dsg

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