Strange question:  How is "Charing" pronounced in the title of this book?

Like "chair" (that one sits on) or "char" (like burning a steak)?

I'm excited to finally read this gem but want to pronounce the title correctly and haven't yet watched the movie to get the answer.

Thanks for enlightening me!

In the movie, I believe they pronounce it "char". It's been a while since I've seen it though, so I could be wrong.

ETA: I found a youtube video of the trailer of the movie. Maybe this will help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs01gT67upE

Sounds more like "chair" in the trailer, which is how I remember it from seeing the movie.  Love that movie...

It's like "cherry"--just put the "ng" on the end of it.

Thanks so much, ladies, for the clarification.  It is greatly appreciated!

Valerie

One of my all time favorite books...reread in now and then.  HATED the movie!!!!  They got it all wrong!!!!  LOL  But then, I usually think the movie gets it wrong!  So, if I really like a book, I refuse to see the movie...keeps me from babbling all the way through it about all the things they leave out, do wrong, etc!!!!

I loved the movie because I'm crazy about Anthony Hopkins--I also like Ann Bancroft a lot--I watch the movie every year or so.

I love the movie!  I only recently realized that there is ALSO a book, so now I have to read it. But I do love the movie...

Yes it's Charing as in chair + ing - I've been there.  The street used to be lined with used book stores but most of them are gone now, killed off by the big chains like Borders and Waterstones.  But there is an independent bookstore on Charing Cross Road that I love called Foyles - a must visit for any book lover who goes to London.

The street is so named because the train station at the south end (also called Charing Cross) sits on one of the sites where the coffin of Queen Eleanor, much loved wife of wife of Edward I (we're talking the 13th centry here) stopped on the way to her funeral at Westminster Abbey.  The king had a cross erected at each such site including the then-village of Charing.  A replica of the cross sits on the site, in front of Charing Cross train staiton and is now the point from which disances are measured in London. 

Also there is a sequel to the book 84 Charing Cross Road, called The Duches of Bloomsbury Street.  The building at 84 Charing Corss Road no longer exists (if you were planning to visit).  It was divided up between the buildings on either side.  But there is a plaque commenorating the location - I have a photo of it buried somewhere in a photo album

All of Helene Hanff's books, 84 Charing Cross Road, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, and Q's Legacy are wonderful reading. I highly recommend them to all booklovers. I didn't think the movie was THAT bad -- I enjoyed it -- but no movie would be able to do that wonderful little gem of a book justice IMO!

Wow, those are really great recommendations for the book--good thing it's already on my wishlist!

This is one of my all time favorite books.  Charming, sweet, and funny! I too had trouble with the movie, but that was just me.

I loved the book and I thought the movie got it just right -- I have read that book maybe a dozen times.

The PBS version was ALL WRONG.