The saying goes....Don't judge a book by it's cover.... but, come on folks, they would all have plain covers if the authors/publishers didn't believe that the cover has an impact on us.
I am often really surprised when I see a book with a mediocre cover that hides a fantastic read.
I thought I would share some of them with you.
First up.....
84 CHARING CROSS ROAD - HELENE HANFF
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| Apologies for half a book cover and my mug I was a newish blogger when I added this photo and only one I have of the book cover in question. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it! |
I picked this one up from the library after seeing other book fans reading it on an on-line forum.
Now, I know the jacket is a classic jacket for a classic novel, but it certainly gives no clue to the fabulous read within.
Here is what I had to say about this novel
Have been ranting about this novel ever since I picked it up!
How did I miss this wonderful read.
84 Charing Cross Road contains letters written between Helene Hanff, a New York writer and Frank Doel, and other staff at Marks & Co Booksellers.
It began with a letter requesting books to be sent from the bookshop in London to Helene in the USA in 1949. Over the years Helene and Frank's friendship develops to the point that Helene sends food parcels to the staff at Marks & Co during rationing and has requests to come and visit England. The letters end in 1969 when Frank's wife still requests Helene to come and visit. The lost art of letter writing is encaptured here. Ordering books from Amazon is a world away from this.
There are some lovely references historical events over the years
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is a journal kept by Helene when she finally visits England in 1971.
It is a detailed account of her time in London, Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon. It reads like a tourist guide and I could identify with how excited Helene was to finally see the sights she had read about including Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakesphere's birthplace. I do envy the fact that she had been inside St Paul's. Something I still have to do.
It also introduces the reader to some wonderful people she met whilst here, including the fab Joyce Grenfell. 84 Charing Cross did not appear, at the time to be a bestseller, but like Helene said it was what brought her to London and opened doors for her.
In the journal Helene has managed to highlight some of the differences between USA and UK folk and some of our strange UK customs that oversees visitors cannot understand.
One example that actually comes up in my previous posting (at the end as a P.s), The search continues, springs to mind about language difference.
She writes
Nobody over here says "six-thirty" or "seven-thirty", they say "hoppossix" and "hopposseven". And 'in' at home, is 'trendy' here and 'give it up' is 'pack it in' and 'never mind' is 'not to worry'.
hoppossix and hopposseven -
half past six and half past seven. We also say quarter past and quarter to the hour rather than 6.15 or 6.45. We teach it in schools.
I am 'in' when I am home. I tell my kids to 'pack it in' when misbehaving and I still use 'not to worry'. :)
I loved this book.
5/5 for me!
How did I miss this wonderful read.
84 Charing Cross Road contains letters written between Helene Hanff, a New York writer and Frank Doel, and other staff at Marks & Co Booksellers.
It began with a letter requesting books to be sent from the bookshop in London to Helene in the USA in 1949. Over the years Helene and Frank's friendship develops to the point that Helene sends food parcels to the staff at Marks & Co during rationing and has requests to come and visit England. The letters end in 1969 when Frank's wife still requests Helene to come and visit. The lost art of letter writing is encaptured here. Ordering books from Amazon is a world away from this.
There are some lovely references historical events over the years
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is a journal kept by Helene when she finally visits England in 1971.
It is a detailed account of her time in London, Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon. It reads like a tourist guide and I could identify with how excited Helene was to finally see the sights she had read about including Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakesphere's birthplace. I do envy the fact that she had been inside St Paul's. Something I still have to do.
It also introduces the reader to some wonderful people she met whilst here, including the fab Joyce Grenfell. 84 Charing Cross did not appear, at the time to be a bestseller, but like Helene said it was what brought her to London and opened doors for her.
In the journal Helene has managed to highlight some of the differences between USA and UK folk and some of our strange UK customs that oversees visitors cannot understand.
One example that actually comes up in my previous posting (at the end as a P.s), The search continues, springs to mind about language difference.
She writes
Nobody over here says "six-thirty" or "seven-thirty", they say "hoppossix" and "hopposseven". And 'in' at home, is 'trendy' here and 'give it up' is 'pack it in' and 'never mind' is 'not to worry'.
hoppossix and hopposseven -
half past six and half past seven. We also say quarter past and quarter to the hour rather than 6.15 or 6.45. We teach it in schools.
I am 'in' when I am home. I tell my kids to 'pack it in' when misbehaving and I still use 'not to worry'. :)
I loved this book.
5/5 for me!
DIZZYC
It is a fantastic book. The cover debate is a tricky one. What image would you have used on the cover of a book which is about a correspondence between two people? I certainly don't want those clinch covers with the sweaty bare chested man and the wilting woman with lots of hair and cleavage! It might guarantee more sales but would give totally the wrong impression of my books.
ReplyDeleteSounds just my thing. Have ordered it off Amazon (not to be ironic or anything, just practical - my library doesn't have a great selection). Your review makes me think of The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, actually which I loved!
ReplyDeleteGreat new feature for your blog.
ReplyDeleteI know I shouldn't but I do judge books by their covers. It's the first impression you have of a book and with so many out there, who has time not to judge by the cover?
Gilli,
ReplyDeleteYes, I am sure those covers would not suit your novels, but we do know what to expect from novels with those covers :)
The cover debate will go on forever, I do find it is more apparent now we have e-books.
Lara,
I do hope you enjoy this slice of England.
Mama J
Thank u. I hope to share more books that have surprised me once I opened them up.
carol
Leo Marks (whose Dad owned the book shop in Charing Cross road) wrote my favourite poem ever. I read about the bookshop in his memoirs (Between Silk and Cyanide). This book sounds like a delightful read.
ReplyDeleteI like the new feature too!