84, Charing Cross Road

Another in my quest to read short books and feel like I'm making reading progress is 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. An epistolary work of non-fiction, we are invited to read the corospondance between Helene Hanff, a writer in New York City, and Frank Doel, a clerk at an antiquarian bookshop in London. Helene is frequently in need of decent copies of old, out of print books and she develops a friendship with Mr. Doel and many of the other employees in this small bookshop. The book spans twenty years between 1949 and 1969.

I literally read this book in one afternoon. That may not be much of an accomplishment for some, but it was very quick for me. The humor expressed in Ms. Hanff's letters is endearing as are the relationships she develops over the years. This was super quick, and very sweet.