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ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
Great fun to read, even though I strongly suspect I've read 80% of it before, set it aside, forget that I'd almost finished it, and began again. She writes so charmingly I've almost forgiven her for hating Tokien. (Plus she wrote the Adventures of Ellery Queen tv show, which I have a soft spot for).
I love behind-the-scenes memoirs, even if (especially if) the protagonist doesn't get all that far. Helene really captured the sense of time and place. And she's funny, too. A really enjoyabe book.
(Note: I'm a writer myself, so suffer pangs of guilt every time I offer less than five stars. These aren't ratings of quality, just my subjective account of how much I liked them: 5* = one of my all-time favourites, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
I love behind-the-scenes memoirs, even if (especially if) the protagonist doesn't get all that far. Helene really captured the sense of time and place. And she's funny, too. A really enjoyabe book.
(Note: I'm a writer myself, so suffer pangs of guilt every time I offer less than five stars. These aren't ratings of quality, just my subjective account of how much I liked them: 5* = one of my all-time favourites, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
dylankakoulli's review against another edition
3.0
There is something about Helene Hanff’s voice that not only makes her an extremely engaging and entertaining writer, but also a glorious reading companion and confidant -especially this year!
This only makes it all the more saddening that I have finally come to the end of my Helene Hanff quota.
Yes, Underfoot in Show Business is not only the last of my collection (thank u again eBay!), but is a true rags to…well, rags story!
As always Hanff documents an incredibly witty and self-deprecating account of her early life as a struggling artists -this time her short lived time as a playwright, in the heart of NYC during the late 40's and 50's.
Full of warmth and humour throughout -though I must admit it was the latter correspondence to her friend, that really sealed the deal in making Hanff one of my favourite and one the most relatable writers I’ve ever read:
"Harpers wants me to write my autobiography how to get nowhere in the theatre...It turns out I spent all those years trying to write plays just so I could write a book about it afterwards..."
Classic Helene!
3.5 stars
This only makes it all the more saddening that I have finally come to the end of my Helene Hanff quota.
Yes, Underfoot in Show Business is not only the last of my collection (thank u again eBay!), but is a true rags to…well, rags story!
As always Hanff documents an incredibly witty and self-deprecating account of her early life as a struggling artists -this time her short lived time as a playwright, in the heart of NYC during the late 40's and 50's.
Full of warmth and humour throughout -though I must admit it was the latter correspondence to her friend, that really sealed the deal in making Hanff one of my favourite and one the most relatable writers I’ve ever read:
"Harpers wants me to write my autobiography how to get nowhere in the theatre...It turns out I spent all those years trying to write plays just so I could write a book about it afterwards..."
Classic Helene!
3.5 stars
sillyzilly's review against another edition
3.0
Obviously not as good as 84 Charing Cross Road, but still fun.
abookolive's review against another edition
4.0
Click here to hear my thoughts on Helene Hanff, this book, and all her other books over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Belly laughed more times than I can count, read several passages out loud for my husband because I just couldn't resist sharing. I love Helene Hanff with all that wit and bluntness!
Belly laughed more times than I can count, read several passages out loud for my husband because I just couldn't resist sharing. I love Helene Hanff with all that wit and bluntness!
teachocolateandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I read 84 Charring Cross Road at least twice. There are times I get a craving for the book. So when I saw Underfoot in Show Business many moons ago I bought it. I love Hanff's writing. This book explores the time she won a playwriting competition and how that bright spot early in her career turned into a blip on a challenging climb to literary fame. I had to control my laughing when she talked about being an outside reader for a movie company and her hatred of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
What I also loved about this book is how events in 84 Charring Cross Road fit into the timeline she writes about in this book. When she talks about needing the dental work I could remember her disappointment at having to cancel her plans. It broke my heart when I read it in 84... and it broke my heart in this book as well.
I love Hanff's writing and want to read more of her work.
What I also loved about this book is how events in 84 Charring Cross Road fit into the timeline she writes about in this book. When she talks about needing the dental work I could remember her disappointment at having to cancel her plans. It broke my heart when I read it in 84... and it broke my heart in this book as well.
I love Hanff's writing and want to read more of her work.