Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Personal Librarian

Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

9 reviews

gris_zorra's review

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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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kaycie51782's review

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book tells the story of JP Morgan's personal librarian, a Black woman who passes herself as Portuguese in early 1900s New York. It is a fascinating story that was incredibly eye opening. They tell the story of how they are able to live as a white family, not shying away from that trauma. The book talks about the immediate post Civil War South, and the hope that was sadly quickly dashed.

This book covers a lot of deep topics, and it doesn't hold much back. Be warned: there blatant racism, misogyny, heavy alcohol consumption, abortion, abandonment...

My main criticism of the book is that it's told in first person, but it very deliberately and overtly points things out. I think telling it in omniscient third person would have felt less like I was hearing a summary than a story. It's like in video games where the next person you need to talk to is highlighted, the author basically points and says "Look at this" instead of molding it into the story.

The book is less about what is in the library (though it is discussed) and more about how she loves through the world carefully, deliberately, and choosing to hide in plain sight. It was a fascinating look at life in 1900s New York as a woman, moving in orbit around the ultra rich (Morgan, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, etc.) but being constantly terrified of having it all taken away.

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bookishaddictions's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

While I try to review diverse works all year long, I feel it’s important that we discuss important real people throughout Black History Month. We don’t hear about Belle Marion Greener, also known as Belle da Costa Greene, yet it was her that historically paved the way for many women (and women of color once her true identity was known). Her story is compelling, informing, and will leave you wanting to know more. Benedict and Christopher Murray make a point of acknowledging where their telling of Belle’s life becomes more fictionalized, so readers can separate their Belle from Belle the historical figure. I loved learning about Belle’s strength, grace, and intelligence. I can’t imagine the internal (and external) struggles she faced trying to pass while not forgetting who she truly is. I could not recommend reading her story enough

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bookishplantmom's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective tense 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

4.5

This was an enrapturing book. Belle’s story is absolutely incredible. The fact that this story is based on true events is just completely amazing. It is layered and beautiful and complexe. Maybe my being a black feminist art historian has something to do with my love for this book but it very much is worth reading! The authors’s notes and the historical note are just as compelling as the story itself. Just phenomenal.

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