When we visited London, my husband was a little confused to find himself standing in front of a little tired-looking shop as one of my MUST SEE stops on our travel itinerary. I knew it had long since ceased being a bookstore, and by then I think it was a music shop. It was pretty dingy, but it was still a special moment to stand on that spot. Needless to say, that book is a favourite.

I guess it's time for a reread. Probably I should just put it on an annual shelf with A Christmas Carol and The Uncommon Reader.

I believe I first read it in 2000, at the behest of 'villians (and after which I declared Hanff the patron saint of Readerville), and have read it several times sense. It really is truly delightful. Glad you liked it, Ben.

This was AMAZING—I laughed out loud over a dozen times, and read cover to cover in well under an hour. Thanks, Karen!

I believe I first saw this recommended in Seventeen or some such. Regardless, I loved it.

Must be read at least once a decade.

A wonderful book about being a reader, and how such a solitary interest can connect people.

If you love books (and given where you are right now, you must), you HAVE to read this. Hanff shares with us the letters that tell the story of her relationship with a British bookstore and its employees over a number of years. It's funny and heartwarming and wonderful, and if you don't get teary-eyed, I'll eat my hat.

This was published in 1970 and I remember reading a Reader's Digest version (in the magazine, I think; not a Condensed Book) when I was in junior high school. It was quite some years later when I found the book and read it in its entirety.

I adore this story. Helene Hanff (1916-1997) is one of those people I'll always wish I'd had dinner with.