Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

55 reviews

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

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: Sexism, Misogyny, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Racism, Antisemitism, and Xenophobia

arcookson's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Antisemitism and Racism

krstn13's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Great historical fiction

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Antisemitism and Abortion

lportilla's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Racism, and Abortion

leannanecdote's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Sexual content, Racism, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Classism, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Moderate: Hate crime, War, Slavery, and Sexism

freshbatchofbooks's review

informative medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Antisemitism, Infidelity, and Abortion

Minor: Death of parent and Death

kaypringle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This novel took me on an overwhelmingly awakening experience. I honestly felt like an ancestor was speaking to me through these pages; sharing their triumphs and follies and all the hurdles in between. The one me absolutely minute and very minor detail that would’ve made this story hit home is if Murray’s Name was listed first on the cover but I know that I don’t have full background on the collaboration and that alphabetically is doesn’t work along with a slew of other factors that make this tiny hang up illogical and pretty meaningless. Despite this very small little thing this collaboration between Murray and Benedict was beautiful and painted a magnificent picture of emotions and experiences in my head, heart and soul and I am so thankful that they have chosen to retell Belle’s life in this manner, it is that I believe a read all must experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, War, Abortion, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, and Sexism

erinwolf1997's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Racism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Antisemitism and Classism

nroberts016's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Lesbophobia, Classism, and Sexism

Minor: Antisemitism, War, and Abortion