84 CHARING CROSS ROAD
查令十号街84号
Helene Hanff
[美]海莲·汉芙
英文封面
中文封面
作者：Helene Hanff/[美]海莲·汉芙 ISBN：9787544782029/9787544762885 出版社：草鹭/译林出版社 阅读时间：2021.3.20~4.5 编号：331/332
我没有想到我人生中第一本看完的英文书不是《火星救援》也不是《小王子》，竟然是这本《查令十字街84号》！（果然参加了共读计划会激励自己完成阅读任务）
此书以书信体的形式，向读者徐徐展开了美国读者“海莲”和英国“马克斯与科恩书店”的来往。书店的店员里，和海莲相交最多的是弗兰克，他们俩人从普通的购书者卖书者，慢慢熟悉，到朋友以至亲如家人。虽然海莲的工作不太稳定，没有太多钱财，但是她一直在保证有买书的花销；除此外，在得知美国当时（19世纪五六十年代）物资短缺，更加多次购买鸡蛋，肉类等食物寄往英国……相交的二十年，海莲和店里的员工早已亲如一家，也认识了弗兰克的老婆和他们家的邻居。往往书信里的只言片语，弗兰克就知道海莲想要的书是怎么样的，可以说是书籍版本的灵魂伴侣吧。
在阅读双方的书信时，有一个特别大的感觉，英国书店的来信比海莲的来信易读很多。海莲的想法十分天马行空，而且因为其本人是文字工作者的关系，在文字的表达上会用一些跳脱的形容和“高级”的词汇，对于英文阅读量少的人（我啦）来说也是比较大的挑战。（因为她感兴趣的主要是非虚构的，古旧的书籍，所以我并没有因为阅读这本书而种草他们书信里提及的众多作品哈哈）
说回两人的交情，很可惜的是，由于海莲的资金不够，即使她一直都梦想着能够亲自去书店，梦想着见到弗兰克和其他店员，可二十年后终是错过了——弗兰克已经因病去世。人与人的机遇很是奇妙，即使他们从未见面，但是其中往来的情分却一点都不见少。爱书之心，也是人际关系的纽带呀。
摘录
Being used to the dead-white paper and stiff cardboardy covers of American books，I never knew a book could be such a joy to the touch. （P5）
I do love secondhand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest. （P12）
We have none in stock at the moment but shall look out for one for you. （P19）
We have none in stock at the moment but shall look out for one for you. （P19） Ben Marks is trying to see what I'm writing, so shall have to close. （P29）
I don't know how to describe it to someone who has never seen it.…（P36） It's certainly good to know that someone so many miles away can be so kind and generous to people they haven't even seen. （P42）
It's dim inside, you smell the shop before you see it, it's a lovely smell, I can't articulate it easily, but it combines must and dust and age, and walls of wood and floors of wood. （P48）
It's against my principles to buy a book I haven't read, it's liked buying a dress you haven't try on…（P68）
I am enclosing a few snaps, Frank says none of them do him justice, he is much better-looking, but we just let him dream. （P76）
What a weird world we live in when so beautiful thing can be owned for life——for the price of a ticket to Broadway movie palace, or 1/50th the cost of having one tooth capped. （P78）
I only have three bookshelves and very few books left to throw out. （P83）
Why is it that people who wouldn't dream of stealing anything else think it's perfectly all right to steal books? （P95）
.…One more summer will bring us every American tourists but the one we want to see. （P114）
You see how it is, Frankie, you are the only soul alive who understands me. （P130）
The blessed man who sold me all my books died a few months ago. And Mr. Marks who owned the shop is dead. But Marks & Co. is still there. If you happen to pass by 84, Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me? I owe it so much. （P149）