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Cheyenne's Reviews > The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian
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When I first saw the title and description of this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I entered every Goodreads giveaway that popped up for this book because I couldn't wait for the publication date. I finally received an e-ARC through Netgalley and began reading right away, only to find that the book did not live up to the hype I had built up for myself.
I appreciate the story of Marion Greener - known throughout most of her life as Belle de Costa Greene - being told: I think as Black women our stories have been hidden through force or necessity for far too long. However, this particular telling of her story just didn't do it for me. The dialogue frequently felt stilted or unnatural; instead of feeling like the dialogue was time-period appropriate I felt like it was written in a way that someone unfamiliar with the time would assume people in that era would speak. The way context was provided was also clunky sometimes, and I found it to be distracting from the story. I appreciated the author's notes and historical context at the end, but they also only furthered my confusion about a major parts of the storyline.
Some of my discontent is my own fault - I took frequent breaks while reading this book and so it seemed in some ways to drag on forever. I tend not to enjoy stories written in first person or the present tense, and yet I attempted to read this one. Reading this book ultimately ended up feeling like a chore, ultimately. I enjoyed the book at times but by the end was excited to finally be finished.
I appreciate the story of Marion Greener - known throughout most of her life as Belle de Costa Greene - being told: I think as Black women our stories have been hidden through force or necessity for far too long. However, this particular telling of her story just didn't do it for me. The dialogue frequently felt stilted or unnatural; instead of feeling like the dialogue was time-period appropriate I felt like it was written in a way that someone unfamiliar with the time would assume people in that era would speak. The way context was provided was also clunky sometimes, and I found it to be distracting from the story. I appreciated the author's notes and historical context at the end, but they also only furthered my confusion about a major parts of the storyline.
Some of my discontent is my own fault - I took frequent breaks while reading this book and so it seemed in some ways to drag on forever. I tend not to enjoy stories written in first person or the present tense, and yet I attempted to read this one. Reading this book ultimately ended up feeling like a chore, ultimately. I enjoyed the book at times but by the end was excited to finally be finished.
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Reading Progress
January 7, 2021
– Shelved
January 7, 2021
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 24, 2021
–
Started Reading
June 4, 2021
– Shelved as:
netgalley-reads
June 10, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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Kwana
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Jun 10, 2021 09:05PM
Oh no! I was excited about this one.
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I am partway thru the book and feel the same way you do about the dialogue.
I'm listening to the audiobook. I'm a librarian and have visited the Pierpont Morgan Library several times - a glorious place (esp. prior to the recent renovation/expansion). I didn't even know this was a true story until I read these reviews. I can't comment on the end of the book yet, but it's just kind of an average read.
Totally agree on dialogue and the clunky context.. the story is very interesting, but I felt myself frustrated with the writing frequently.
I'm almost at the halfway point. The writing is uninspired. The characters lack depth.. Agree with you about the dialogue. It's such a disappointment. I'm debating if I should even finish it.
I agree whole-heartedly with this review. I thought the language was a bit too flowery and finishing it was a bit of a struggle. I also got annoyed with how much the authors wrote the "Pierpont Morgan Library" over and over. We get the setting, thanks.
Great review. I felt the same way about the dialogue, and it really soured the book for me. It didn't ring true at all.It did spark an interest in learning more about the real woman Belle Greene, and her father, Richard Greener.
Hard to make such an inferring story so boring, but the authors managed to do it.
I thought it was just me, lol
Belle deCosta Green must have been a clever, smart, amazing woman. Her accomplishments would’ve been fantastic for a white woman and were completely amazing when you consider she was a woman of color. The dialogue, the silly love story, the narrative of her drinking and acting silly, all diminish her accomplishments. The book could have been much, much more.
I agree with your review, and particularly how you describe the dialogue. I was struggling to put into words what I thought the dialogue was, and you did that exactly in line with my thoughts. I also fully agree with Christine Cole, above about all the silliness making the book worse and taking away from Belle's story
I couldn't agree more with you and Christine. This book is such a missed opportunity. I've seen other authors of negative reviews being bullied here and told the book must have been too difficult for them, but it's the book that's too shallow for the story it seeks to tell. Characters lack depth, writing is stilted, and all the descriptions of works of art and rare books are cliche.
Not only was the dialogue stilted, but the characters had 21st century perspectives, and I think this is why it didn't ring true. It was also very didactic and YA-feeling. I am reading "An Illuminated Life" by Heidi Ardizzone to get a better sense of Belle's life.
Yes, exactly. The dialogue is painful, especially Belle's thought process. I'm 20% in, I'm going to continue..
I agree, Belle is fascinating but I feel like this was a thin romance story with a twist - rather than a true story giving her credit for her achievements.
I felt the same way. Very fair assessment of this book. Halfway through it was finally interesting but I kept reading just to finish it and get it over with.
