Q's Legacy: A Delightful Account of a Lifelong Love Affair with Books

What an upbeat book! This is the romance of life's unpredictability; of life's path. Helene Hanff the author and our heroine in this autobiography is a person we can all identify with: with a high school education, a survivor's tenacity, a bright mind and a bit of luck she turns what could have been a mediocre existence into an exciting if quietly successful life! One could not have a more prototypical American dream. But here, it appears represented without the scrubbed clean, sanitized methods of Holywood. Her wonderfully charming narration, leads us through her struggles as a writer in New York, through the apparent lucky accident of her book "84, Charring Cross Road," and the mesmerizing consequences that a successful book brings to her life. It is her persona though, who is fascinating: a strong woman with few doubts about likes and dislikes, who fights doggedly for a living, with a good sense of humor, generosity towards others and an apparent humility. What a combination! But to top it off she is sharp, quick, loves books and what they can teach her. This is a book to be read in one sitting, but only after you read "84 Charring Cross Road." It is fun, upbeat, a charmer and it also has an almost oldfashioned value: it celebrates life!

I couldn't put this book down! I read it straight through in one sitting. I didn't even put it down when I went to the kitchen for a drink, etc. Unlike most autobiographies, this one is written out of a love of writing rather than out of love of self. If you have read "84, Charing Cross Road" you will immediately recognize Hanff's touch in this book. "Q's Legacy" reads very much like one of Hanff's letters to her friends at the bookshop. It's almost as if she's come out of the pages and is there at your side telling you her story. If you haven't read "84, Charing Cross Road" I suggest you read it first. It will make "Q's Legacy" seem more relevant. Overall, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time and I know it will become an oft-read favorite.

Reading Hanff's memoir/bio writings is like taking a long walk with an old friend. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes surprising, sometimes mundane, but always heartwarming. This feeling starts with the shared love of books and the whole world of books. Having read and loved her "84 Charing Cross Road" and "The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street", peeking behind the scenes, so to speak, with Hanff as she deals with life before, during and after her literary successes is just too much fun. Hanff takes this opportunity to fill in the holes from her two previous memoirs; such as describing how reading and writing grabbed her when she was young and how she came to seek out books from a second-hand bookshop across the Atlantic. But most important to me is this is a real description from Hanff about what she did and how she felt, shared as if with a good friend sharing a pot of tea, and I thank her, posthumously, for her trust in the fans of her writing. PS - first, read "84 Charing Cross Road" (at least)

Ms. Hanff had a certain style of self-abasing humor, pointed at herself, mostly. Is she a "cult read", like Robert Pirsig ("Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance")? or Daniel Quinn ("Ishmael")? Yes, she qualifies. Because if you read one book, you will want more. My suggestion? Read "84, Charing Cross Road" first, THEN this. (I read all her books before this, so I knew what she was referring to.) And don't miss the Anne Bancroft/Anthony Hopkins movie of "84... "

A wonderful follow up to "84 Charing Cross Road" It's both a precursor and a follow-up to her earlier books. I discovered Q about the same time I discovered "84 Charing Cross Road" back in the mid-70s. Unfortunately he didn't lead me down the same path as Helen Hanff. I came late to this book - I didn't find it until about 10 years ago. It is definitely a must-read for readers who loved her earlier books, but enjoyable as a "stand-alone" read. My only criticism is that it's too short - at 177 pages I read it in one day.

I adored 84, Charing Cross Road. I wanted to read more of Ms. Hanff's irreverent and light prose, and Q's Legacy does not disappoint in that respect. This book is a combination of short essays and diary entries, and it shines when it focuses on the author's love affair with the words of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Ms. Hanff breathes life into the man and you can picture him lecturing in dapper tweed with adroit but understated speech. There's also a surprisingly delightful bit on Ms. Hanff's struggle with cataracts. With that said, there's a touch too much filler in the middle. Where 84 kept me enthralled through-and-through, I found my mind wandering with this book. It's certainly worth reading if you've read 84, but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual reader.

Truthful, witty, and endearing, Q's Legacy is everything you would expect and more from the beloved writer of 84, Charing Cross Road. You experience the letter with news of Frank's death up close and personal. You travel with her through ups and downs, laughing and crying right alongside. The anecdote about not changing the 84's title and having people forever misremembering it tickled me. Story after story of loving, but maybe a little crazy, fans who helped her achieve cult classic status will keep you turning pages.

This is the third in Helene Hanff's set of books about her correspondence with a London bookseller. The first, 84 Charing Cross Road, was followed by The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. Helene was a writer - tv scripts, Readers' Digest articles, and novels. Basically self educated due to lack of funds for college, she discovered a British prof dubbed Q whose lectures were published - he recommended books and Helene followed his excellent advice. Q's Legacy details that tromp through literature and also her trip to England when she was able to visit his home (after his death). Like the first two, it's a short book but just a wonder filled escape into the wonderful world of reading.