I'm a big fan of The Morgan Library and had learned about Belle la Costa Greene just prior to hearing buzz about this novel. I could not wait to read it. It was enjoyable to learn about Greene's work as Morgan's librarian -- the authors could have gone into much more detail on this topic. (Admittedly, I'm currently in library school and love reading about librarians and library work.) The racial struggle between Greene's parents was heartwrenching and added a lot of depth and food for thought regarding the concept of "passing." This was a good read and it left me wanting to learn more about Greene and other women librarians of the time period.

I don't read all that much historical fiction these days but I really loved this! What an interesting woman with a compelling story.

I had never heard of Belle de Costa Greene. I knew of the JP Morgan Library, but I had no idea of the woman behind library or her fascinating story. It is so appropriately a book for our time - spanning the time from the Civil War to the 1940's, as they enveloped the story of Belle's parents and how she came to live the secret life she chose. I enjoyed this book and recommend to everyone who loves art and literature, as well as social challenges and changes.

In The Personal Librarian, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray weave together a fictional account of the life of Belle La Costa Greene, the personal librarian to JP Morgan. Belle helped him develop a world renowned collection of rare books and manuscript in the early 1900s. She did this as a Black woman while passing for white.
This work of historical fiction is an interesting look at the life of a remarkable woman.
I was given an ARC of The Personal Librarian by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#thepersonallibrarian
#mariebenedict
#victoriachristophermurray
#netgalley

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray does what I love best about historical fiction. It introduces me to a history I might never otherwise have learned. This book tells a story of surviving in a racist, segregated society and the compromises made to endure. It keeps me turning pages beginning to end and sends me on a search for the actual history that underlies the fiction.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/10/the-personal-librarian.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Excellent historical fiction! The true story of a librarian who worked for JP Morgan and was also passing as white. This was a fascinating story based on a true story. I enjoyed the Morgan Library story because I used to live in NYC. The Morgan Library and its origins is defined by the relationship of Belle, the librarian, and JP Morgan. The history and details of racism in the US are excruciating and necessary. I loved the stories of how the treasures were found and purchased by Belle.

After reading multiple historical fiction/biographical fiction books by Marie Benedict, I was excited to read one about a topic like this.

Belle De Costa Greene is a light skinned African American woman who has found luck in being employed by one of the the richest men in the world, J.P Morgan. Pierpont Morgan, as he goes by, puts her to the task of being his personal librarian, helping him procure rare books and items that make his library one of the most enviable and illustrious libraries in the world. Part of Belle's job is hiding who she is in plain sight and toeing the line the ever precarious line of obtaining these materials for Mr. Morgan and not being caught out for who she is.

Firstly, Belle is amazing. I loved that she went from someone who helped Pierpont keep track of items, to reading to him, to actually negotiating with people to acquire materials. I LOVED that growth. Some of the materials she found too. Just beyond enviable. I ended up researching some of the items too because I hadn't even heard of them and was just in absolute awe once I had heard of them. Belle and her characterization was the strongest part of this story.

I think two things really pulled this story down. A. The book needed more outside interaction showing us Belle's life beyond the library. I understand that the book really wanted to make readers aware of Pierpont, who he was and how their relationship built over time. But the book was mainly supposed to be about Belle. I just feel like her life was probably so much more than the library. Maybe I'm wrong?

The book how it's built though? Should have quit with Pierpont dying or close after. I just had a lot of trouble finishing it. If the book had built more layers to Belle's life outside of the library I think finishing it would have been easier. It's too bad because Belle is just fascinating. But the way it's built it does come off as a book who needs two strong voices off and on. So eh.

Overall, I did enjoy it. I hoped it would be my favorite, not the case unfortunately.

Thank you for the ARC!

A moving account of the life of an extraordinary individual that served behind the scenes yet played an important role in the life of JP Morgan and New York’s art society world as a strong visionary, creative, and bold influencer yet silently waged the wars of racism.

There are many books lately about librarians out there, but this one really has an intriguing backstory. The characters were very well written and the plot was well built up.

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, even if you don't ask

This one was a well researched historical fiction based on the life of Belle de Costa Greene. Even though she was the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard, her complexion allowed her to pass as a white lady. Her family used this to her advantage and changed her name to allow her more opportunities.

I learned many things, and it made me want to go learn more about people like her.

An excellent addition to Marie Benedict's collection and perfect for library and museum lovers.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What a fascinating figure in history. I’d not heard of Belle Dacosta Greene before but her story was moving and left much to consider.

Amazing topic but didn’t quite hit the mark. I was not a fan of the writing style but could see how others could love it. The story of a colored female’s accomplishments at a time when all females had a hard time in the working industry was an amazing topic to read about. I just wish it was executed differently. I would still recommend as a nice read for lovers of historical romance.

I received a free copy of Personal Librarian from Net Galley. Belle de Costa Green was the first Librarian of the J. P. Morgan Library in New York City. This is a fictional account of her life and her potential struggles. Belle had two strikes against her when she applied for the job and one was a secret that could have seen her severely punished. Belle was pretending to be a white woman in what was initially a man's world of purchasing acquisitions of art and rare books. She made her mark in history and helped make the institution into what it is today. I recommend this book to librarians and to readers of historical fiction

I was given the opportunity to read the ARC for my honest review from NetGalley. I LOVED this book!

This is the first book that I have read by Marie Benedict, but it definitely will not be the last. I own quite a few of her books and cannot wait to read them.

The Personal Librarian is based off of J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene. A black woman who passes as white during a time where racism is strong. I was immersed in this book from the first sentence. As Belle rose to become a star in the New York society pages and the art world, I was finding myself routing for her and holding my breath every time that she thought that her secret could be found out. Her intellect, perseverance, strength, charm, and style made her into the woman that she was during a time where women had the lower hand. I am looking forward to my trip to New York City to see the Pierpont Morgan Library and relive all of the pages in this book.

Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J P Morgan to be his personal librarian. The first thing she has to do is organize the books and manuscripts he already owns...
Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published, so you can get a copy now.

Bella is black but she's light enough she pretends to be white. Her mother is the one who insisted on that. Mother thought they'd have a better chance in life if they hid their heritage. She tells her to say her grandmother is Portuguese and that will account for the darkness of her skin.

Bella is very good at negotiating and getting the material she wants for the library. Her employer becomes fond of her.

One thing Bella is not good at is choosing men. She flirts with them all, wears bright fashions, and goes to bed with a few. The man she fell in love with makes her abort the baby they created. Suddenly he's not as charming as she thought.

She treasures her boss. He teaches about everything and let's her make purchases with his money. He also regularly gives her raises.

But Bella has more heartbreak ahead. Her one success in life is being the librarian..

I’ve savored this book for awhile, saving it for just the right time and I’m so glad I did.

THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN tells the story of Bell de Costa Green, personal curator of the JP Morgan library. She’s incredibly smart, strong, and I loved her wit!

Born as Belle Greener, to a wealthy Black family from Washington DC, I was so moved by this story and the choices that were made for Belle to pass as White as her family moves to NYC.

*many thanks to Berkley/Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

A fascinating book that I will recommend to my friends, and the literature and English instructors here at our college. I won't be buying it for our library (unless they specifically request it) because I'm afraid our seminarians won't have a lot of interest in it. (They're generally very focused on philosophy and religion, and don't have a lot of spare time for non-academic reading.) What an inspiring woman - and one I had never heard of before! An inspiration to librarians everywhere! I especially enjoyed reading about how she *loved" librarianship - enjoyed the process of choosing, organizing, and sharing the collection. We can relate! Destined to belong to every public library collection in the land!

I think people who like historical fiction will probably like this title. I found it amazingly boring...and I am a librarian, so you would think the topic alone would appeal. Fell very flat for me.

I am a huge fan of Marie Benedict and her collaboration with Victoria Murray did not disappoint. Once again I was transported into the life of a little known woman from history who did great things.

Belle da Costa Greene was a young black woman raised as a "Colored" person in Washington D.C. until her mother decided that for their futures she would move her and her light-skinned kids to New York and live as white people. Belle went to school and then became a librarian before being recommended to J.P. Morgan for a job as his personal librarian. Over the years, the respect that Belle was able to achieve due to her brilliance in obtaining and curating a vast collection of antique books and artwork was a source of great pride but also concern that she was ignoring who she really was.

I totally get that the authors wanted to take us into the conflict that Belle had to deal with in "passing" for white and her understandable fear of what would happen to her and her family if she was found out, but I would have been happy with a little less angst. I felt that that I was beaten over the head with it.

Belle lived an extraordinary life for a woman of her time, early 1900's. Her ability to go toe to toe with men of the time in her acquisitions was nothing short of historic and to know now that she did it all as a Black woman just reinforces how important is is for us to hear her story.