Reviews with content warning for Lesbophobia - La bibliotecaria di New York

Engaging and informative! While a fictionalized telling, this book brought the life of an under-acknowledged historical figure to light, simultaneously urging a discussion the far reaching white supremacy, colorism, and privilege just as relevant today as in the 20th century.

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readbycarina's review against another edition

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emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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bookcasey's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

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machenn's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional informative 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? Yes

4.25

The Personal Librarian is a fascinating, well-researched and engagingly told story of a woman who made headlines during her day but is relatively unknown today. Belle da Costa Greene worked as a personal librarian for financier JP Morgan and was responsible for curating the collection of rare books, manuscripts and paintings that became the Pierpont Morgan Library. As portrayed here, Belle was a fascinating woman, strong but flawed, with a very successful professional life and an interesting personal life. The setting is fun, with all the glitz and glamour of New York in the Gilded Age, but also European locales like London and Paris. There’s plenty of tension in the plot to hold a reader’s interest- the negotiations and auctions that had to be won to acquire what Morgan, a demanding and mercurial boss, wanted and expected; difficulties maintaining professional boundaries as a woman operating in an environment dominated by wealthy men. And then there was the issue of race for Belle was Black but passed as white. The reasons for this decision as well as the stresses it caused in all facets of her life were a key part of the story. The ramifications for Belle and her family if her secret was discovered would have been devastating. The historian in me loves when historical fiction comes with an author’s note delineating fact from fiction and this book delivered in that regard as well.

Definitely a book I recommend, one that raises issues as relevant today as they were more than one hundred years ago.

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