The Personal Librarian.

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CONTAINS SPOILERS

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection. 

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American. 

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives. 

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  Heartbreaking. Cherished. 

I can't begin to explain my feelings about this book. The Personal Librarian played with my emotions which are everywhere right now. I love historical fiction books that deal with books. I had read a couple of books by Marie Benedict before and knew that she was a good writer, so I was excited to find out that she's one of the authors. I haven't read any books by Victoria Christopher Murray before picking this book up, and now I'm eager to check her other books. If I begin to describe all my emotions while reading this book, I would be here all day. When I picked up The Personal Librarian , I was hooked and wished that I had more time to read this book. I loved the book's timeline, and as a reader, I felt as I was experiencing it all, along with Belle. There was so much happening, on every page, every chapter that I kept on turning the pages, and at times losing track of time. 

The Personal Librarian taught me so much. I have learned what goes into curating a collection, the research and auctions along with it, and how rare collections are discovered. I had no idea how much work went into it. Belle ran into some issues, and working for someone like J.P Morgan wasn't easy. Sometimes I wondered how she put up with him for as long as she did. I believe it's because of the connection the two of them had. As I read The Personal Librarian , I wondered if something would happen between Belle and J.P Morgan. I knew that if her identity were discovered, it wouldn't end well for Belle. I wish that Belle didn't have to hide that she was African American, but I understood why she had to. The emotions in the book were incredible, and it's one of the reasons that I could pull away from the story. 

Before reading The Personal Librarian , I had no idea that it was based on true events, not until the end. Once I finished the book, I did some research because I was fascinated by the story. This is one of the reasons that I fell in love with historical fiction and why it's one of my favorite genres. You couldn't help but fall in love with Belle, and she was strong and determined. I loved her approach to rare collections she would get for J.P Morgan and how she would stop at nothing to get that collection into her hands. She never gave up. The Personal Librarian is not a book that you will forget, I thought about the story, long after I turned the last page. This story is the one I will be returning to in the future. 

An inspiration. A must read.