Marie Benedict writes fantastic historical fiction novels and she's written another one with THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. I haven't read anything by Victoria Christopher Murray, but definitely will after this book. This was a wonderful collaboration about a woman named Belle da Costa Greene who was the librarian and curator for J. P. Morgan's library of rare books and manuscripts. She tells the story of how she gains respect in the auction world, which is male dominated with her knowledge of rare books as well as her business sense. The struggle she has is she's a light skinned African American woman trying to pass for a caucasian woman. She does this because that is the only way she could get a job like this one. She's worried her secret will be discovered and she won't be able to help provide for her family. Her struggle with denying her true identity is very thought provoking throughout the book. I found her story to be very interesting and it kept me wanting to read about her. We need to learn more about amazing women like Belle who was an important part of history, but no one ever knew her story.

This book gets four stars based on the authors' notes at the end alone--it was really interesting to hear about their research, their writing processes, and how they connected. I've read other Benedict novels and enjoyed them, and I'm so glad she invited Victoria Christopher Murray to co-write this one, I think that was the right move.

Personal Librarian
This is an incredible book about an amazing woman. A young black woman passing as white, entered the world of J.P. Morgan and conquered it. Taking a job as J.P.Morgan's personal secretary, she proceeded to help him create and build the Pierpoint Morgan Library. Based on a real woman, this fictional account brings to light and life Belle de Costa Greene. Amazing on so many levels, Personal Librarian is not a book to be missed. Never mind that the writing is excellent, the story is fascinating.

When it comes to The Personal Librarian I cannot come to a single conclusion; I liked it but I also didn't like it. I was intrigued but I was also bored. I enjoyed it but I also rushed through it to get it over with.

Marie Benedict's and Victoria Christopher Murray's The Personal Library is a historical fiction based on the life of Belle da Costa Greene, born Belle Marion Greener. After J.P. Morgan builds the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York, wanting to create the most impressive collection of books, art and manuscripts, he hires Belle to be his personal librarian. The year is 1905 and Jim Crow is creeping up north. While her light complexion, confidence and expertise in her field allow her to assimilate into high society, Belle has to be very careful not to reveal her African-American descent, which would ruin everything she has built.

This is not the first time Benedict brought a powerful female character from the past to life. Her book The Only Woman in the Room about an actress Hedy Lamarr, who was also a scientist in disguise helping fight the Nazis, was a very pleasant and interesting read. This time, together with Murray, the two wrote a story that also started very interestingly. Before it stopped being interesting.

The first half of the book, following Belle's assimilation into the society she knew she didn't belong in, felt thrilling and curious. It was fun to follow along—the more comfortable she felt, the sassier she became, flirting with men, asserting her position.

But the higher Belle rose, the more I started to feel disconnected from the character I became so fond of. Writing in first person is a challenge for the character's objectivity, which is forgivable. But the issue here comes from oddly constructed sentences that ended up sounding unrealistic even as thoughts, let alone spoken words.

When Belle described what it felt like to be in the back room of the museum restricted to employees only, and compared it to the magic of being backstage of a Broadway show, I felt pulled out of the story. How is this comparison helpful and how would the character ever know what being backstage is like?

Belle's thought "standing so close that I inhale every breath he exhales..." did not arouse feelings of intimacy but rather made me cringe.

The character started to feel indifferent, the story apathetic, the sentences carelessly put together. So many emotional events have been going on, yet none of it had any effect on me as the reader. I lost my connection to Belle.

After finishing the story, I launched an internet search to get to know the full story of Belle da Costa Greene and was pleasantly surprised by how faithful The Personal Librarian is to Belle's life. I am glad I came across it and got introduced to Belle.

While I cannot decide whether I overall liked it or not, one thing is certain — next time in New York, I will pay a visit to the Pierpont Morgan Library.

I didn’t know what to expect when I began reading this book, but I found a very well-written historical novel about a remarkable woman I’d never before heard if.

Belle da Costa Greene was J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian as he compiled his personal collection of paintings, books, manuscripts, and”incunabala” or very rare, very old and valuable pieces of written material. Belle’s audacious personality seemed to be just what he needed to put his total trust in her to help him acquire a collection unlike any other in the world.

There was a great deal that could be said of this unique woman, but perhaps the most interesting is that she was a “colored “ woman passing as white. To think of what she accomplished while keeping her racial identity a secret is astounding! Very good book by two authors, one white, one black. Interesting author’s notes at end of book.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Belle da Costa Greene lands the dream job of personal librarian to J. Pierpont Morgan, the financier who dominated Corporate finance on Wall Street during the gilded age. Belle makes herself invaluable to Morgan as she expands his collection of books, art and artifacts. She becomes a trusted personal friend to him as well. But Belle has a secret that could ruin everything if it ever came out. This historical fiction account of Morgan and Belle is rich with details of the period and of the relationships that Belle develops as she takes the art world by storm.

How fitting that I finished this book on International Women's Day! Marie Benedict is known for novels about strong women who are behind the scenes making significant contributions to society. This book certainly fits the mold. This is my first time reading a book by author Victoria Christopher Murray, and I will likely seek out more of her writing after this.

Belle is a young, light skinned, African American woman whose family has chosen to live as white in New York City to avoid the being discriminated against and advance in their careers. Belle is a librarian in the early 1900's--a time when African Americans are not able to find decent paying jobs and even run the risk of being lynched. It is essential that she keeps the secret of her heritage hidden if she wants be continue to build her career. In the early parts of her career, she becomes friends with a nephew of the famous financier J.P. Morgan, who gets her a job as his personal librarian in his brand new Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle quickly proves her worth by advising Mr. Morgan in all of his acquisitions, and using her bold personality to build his vast collection of art and antiquities. She becomes well known for her success among the New York City elite and ultimately throughout Europe.

This is a truly amazing and fascinating story of a woman who is willing to do anything to preserve her legacy and provide for her family while risking everything hiding behind a fake identity.

Knowing nothing of J. P. Morgan’s Library or personal librarian, I was intrigued by the title. Written by two authors, one white, one black, created an authentic look at the cost/benefit of “passing”. Professionally and socially, Belle was able to dramatically succeed through her intellect, passion and perseverance for the printed word and for art. Belle was able to effectively deal with the business associates who sought to use her for their personal gain and as she weighed responses to questions to avoid spilling her deepest secret. The family dynamics, both immediate and extended, were interesting. Especially interesting was the pressure from the mother for her to succeed while seemingly content for the mediocracy for the other children. This is sure to be on the agenda for book clubs across the country. I know I will suggest it for club!

This is a powerful book about powerful women. A mother who chooses to hide her family’s true identity and creates a story for her family to pass as white in order to raise her children in a racist, segregated country. Her daughter, Belle, who struggles internally being born of the first black man to graduate from Harvard who spends his life fighting for race equality while she spends her life passing as a white woman. The historical fiction story of Belle De La Costa Greene (Marion Greener), the Personal Librarian for the infamous J. P. Morgan, is a fascinating read. I am heading to the Morgan Library!

A five star book of a remarkable woman. The authors do an excellent job of bringing Belle to life. Unforgettable!

This was just okay for me. It was interesting reading about the personal library of J..P Morgan but it seemed to flounder at times. I enjoyed the back story of Belle and her family.

I really do enjoy reading historical novels. One gets the flavor of the time told as a story, placing historical figures in factual situations. And the really masterful writers manage to weave an interesting story while sticking to the facts. "The Personal Librarian", is this kind of book.
Filled with actual events that took place in the early 20th century, with a cast of the famous who populated the world of Belle da Costa Greene, we learn all.about a woman who earned a prominent place in history. And not least of all, she did so by being a Black woman passing as white. That she did so, and managed to keep her secret from some of the most brilliant people of the time, makes this story so powerful.
I loved this book from beginning to end. I can't wait for the Pandemic restrictions to be gone so that I can visit the J.P. Morgan Library and actually see for myself the work done by Ms. Greene.
I highly recommend, "The Personal Librarian".

The little-known true story of Marion Greener, AKA Belle da Costa Greene, is fascinating and certainly worthy of more attention. I wish I could say The Personal Librarian does the story justice, but it falls a bit short. The writing is okay, but not great. And given that the authors admittedly took a lot of liberties with Marion's life anyway, I wish they would have engaged more deeply with the whole concept and ramifications of "passing."

Still, the book has left me with a desire to learn more about not only the real Marion Greener, but about others like her--people who hid their heritage in order to be successful, or even move safely through their communities. And that's a good thing.

A fantastic story about a strong, smart and powerful woman I never heard of, set in the early 20th century She personally researched, negotiated and collected works for JP Morgan's library while desperate to keep her personal background secret. Highly recommended for book clubs.

I absolutely loved this story. Very beautifully written. I was right there with the main character Belle. A remarkable woman. I knew nothing about the J.P. Morgan library. I suggest you read the authors stories in the back of the book first. Then continue to the beginning. Nothing is given away. Great book club read. I will put on the library purchase list. Thank you to Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray for writing this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very enlightening to read. Everytime I sat down to read, it felt like I was sitting down with a good friend. I really took my time with this book because I didn't want it to end.
The two authors really complimented each other and did a great job with being as historically accurate as possible.
I myself cannot imagine having to hide who or where I came from and it really opened my eyes as to how fortunate I am.
Love this book and would recommend it to bookclubs for a great discussion in a most proper way.

Interesting historical fiction about JP Morgan’s “personal librarian” who curated the collection of the Pierpont library. Belle held her own in a man’s world of auctions and negotiations, while keeping her identity and background secret.

Would you live a lie if you could achieve your dreams? Belle even changes her name and lives as a white person to achieve her dream of working for J.P. Morgan to build his personal library. Belle becomes well known in this very elite circle of society but struggles with her decision to live as a white person. She is guarded and proper and learns to deflect any inquiries regarding her personal history to preserve her dreams and achievement, a wonderful read about a historic female.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for a fair review. Marie Benedict has done it again. If you have read any of her works, they all follow the same basic format. A strong woman who is behind a famous, strong man, and how she influences him in some way. This story about the librarian who created one of the most impressive personal, and then public libraries of antiquities in the world. A black woman who 'passes' named Belle is hired by JP Morgan to help him secure beautiful works of art for his private collection, but there is far more to Belle's story than this.
This is another one I feel would make a good book discussion at the library. I think patrons would enjoy this book thoroughly, although for me a touch too long. But its length was more to the subject matter's life and not a lot of superfluous writing.
Round up slightly to 4*

This is a good historical account of a remarkable woman doing great things during a time when it was difficult for women to get any kind of respectable job or one that paid well.
The author does a good job of telling a story and using actual facts and events to share what Miss. Greene did to create the library for J.P. Morgan.

Miss Greene made the difficult decision to pass herself as white. I can’t imagine what that would be like.
I’m really glad I read this book.