Reviews tagging 'Racism'

La bibliotecaria di New York by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

113 reviews

claireburr's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

Stilted writing, especially in the fictionalized dialogue. However, the story is fascinating and the research and details are worth it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Antisemitism, and Abortion

smreads24's review against another edition

challenging informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism

booksfantasmic's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia

katie_m26's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Solid 4.5 stars for me. I felt like this book tackled race during an era that I haven’t heard talked about much. Belle’s story is one of strength, courage, and humanity. She went through struggles and triumphs that are displayed beautifully. While it is noted by the authors that the story is not 100% historically accurate, I felt that it was completely plausible and an extremely intriguing read

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Abortion, and Death of parent

andreabey's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Racism, Antisemitism, and Abandonment

elissas_reads's review against another edition

informative inspiring 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

3.75

Interesting historical fiction with flawed characters. It took a bit of time to get into but ended up becoming pretty engaging. I think it will make for good book club discussion!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Abandonment

cptnstphy's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

This was a nuanced window into a challenging time period. Neat to learn about Belle De La Costa Greene and the art that fascinated her. I found it a bit slow and repetitive (sometimes it felt like every other chapter ended with a similar line repeating her name and a question of whether someone would find out). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: War

theliterarylair's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It might be because I'm not used to reading historical fiction, but I first found this book very difficult to get into. 

While parts of this story are certainly problematic (very questionable dynamics 🚩🚩), I feel happy to have had the opportunity to learn more about this truly inspirational woman.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

gris_zorra's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and War

dev921's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism