Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Personal Librarian

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

113 reviews

etbishop's review against another edition

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informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

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just_one_more_chapter_ok's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The story world be a remarkable success story for any woman during the Gilded Age. It is truly amazing when you add in that she was African American and passing due to the lighter tone of her skin.
The book was well researched and I believe the collaboration between the two authors made for a compelling and realistic telling of Belle's story..

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nadia_not_there's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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katiejohns's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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ssionainn's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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claudine2's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

A very interesting historical fiction novel about Belle da Costa Greene, personal librarian to J.P. Morgan.

I enjoyed learning about the early manuscripts and art that she helped Mr. Morgan acquire. It makes me wish I had appreciated the early books I saw at the British Museum more and also makes me want to visit NYC to see the library and its holdings.

This was my 2nd Marie Benedict and 1st Victoria Christopher Murray book. Excited to see that they also collaborated on The First Ladies!

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kbifolck's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Fascinating story. I didn't know about "passing" and about Belle. However, I found myself craving the real facts rather than this story. Might have to pick up the biography on Belle.

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jaycialt's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book pulled me out of a deep reading slump. It was historical, lovable, thought-provoking journey. There were several themes that carried throughout via the characters and time frame. Read this if you love period pieces, history, art and culture plus family ties.

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alissa_the_barista's review

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informative

3.0

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the_castle_library's review against another edition

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adventurous funny reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

This is a Historical Fiction based on real people and real historical events, but have been slightly manipulated by imagination and speculation from missing information. *If you aren't familiar with her story, this book does contain mention of child loss and the grief that comes with it.*

🗓️ The Morgan Library & Museum in NYC is dedicating an exhibit to Belle from Oct 25, 2024 - May 4, 2025.

Belle Marion Greener is an African American woman in 1906 trying to find her place in a very racial and segregated United States. At the time, one of the main careers for women was teaching, but she was not passionate about that, she was passionate about art, introduced to her at a very young age by her father, Richard Greener.

She starts off working at Princeton as a librarian while she sends money to her family in New York City to help them get by. Since their move to New York City from Washington D.C. when she was 11 or so, they have been passing as having a Portuguese heritage to pass as White, changing her name to Belle da Costa Greene to give the family a fighting chance at a better life. She sees an announcement that J.P. Morgan is building a personal library and is looking for a librarian to help him run it. Belle seizes the opportunity and applies for the job...and gets it!

How crazy and unrealistic is it for an African American woman to lend a job with THE financial tycoon, J.P. Morgan?! Again, no one knows her true ethnicity or identity, but to her and her family, this is an amazing accomplishment! She goes on to thrive in the world of art and owns her place in the world of high society. Internally, she faces so many challenges of hiding her secret, longing to be free of it without losing all she's worked for, and longing for love and a family she knows can never exist. My ratings for romance and spice are 💖/🌶️

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