Review 228: The Personal Librarian

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book takes on the fictional account of the groundbreaking librarian for J.P. Morgan and his new library of art and rare manuscripts and books. Morgan did the unthinkable and hired a woman, Belle da Costa Greene.

Not only is the librarian a woman, which was a unique position for the early part of the 20th century, but she was also a black woman passing as white, born as Belle Marion Greener, whose father was an outspoken advocate for equality. The tension created by the necessity of hiding her true identity made for an engrossing book.

Belle always has to watch herself, could not make one mistake, and yet she does slip up every now and then. I felt myself cringe for the repercussions with these minor slips, as one cannot do anything but cheer for Belle and hope she will succeed despite all of the challenges she faces.

Belle stood out in a man’s world where no other woman operated, so she adopted a style that went against her upbringing and became bold and daring.

I was swept away with this book and read it quickly, not wanting to wait to see if she would be caught, or what may happen. It felt as if I did not breathe until the book was over. And with this book we can get a glimpse of what it felt like to be her, or other women from the era trying to pass as white.

Unfortunately, there are a few slight issues I had with the book, a phrase that repeated a couple of times, talking to a future audience, these lines were unnecessary and jarring particularly as it was repeated. In general there were a few other repetitions inserted that also made the book weaker. Despite these flaws I did enjoy the book overall.

Although the book is historical fiction it is based on fact, Belle worked at Morgan’s librarian, and she passed as white. The author’s note at the end is a must read.



Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 227: Ethel Rosenberg

Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy by Anne Sebba
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars



Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, a notorious couple that were electrocuted in June 1953. The author, Anne Sebba, focuses on Ethel and posits that she was murdered by the state and likely innocent, and did not deserve death. Ethel was betrayed, by her family and the state. Once could say she was a victim from the beginning, being raised by a mother, Tessie, that never showed her love, and instead poured her emotions to Ethel’s younger brother David. The same David who names her and Julius in order to reduce his own sentence of the same crime of giving secrets away to Russia.

Ethel was a smart woman, trapped in the 1940’s image of what a woman was allowed to do, not much beyond being a wife and mother. Ethel was determined to be a better mother to her two children and believed in new parenting methods.

Why she didn’t speak, other than pleading the fifth, is a question probed in this book. Some answers are given, but it’s unknown fully of her motives, leaving the question open if she was guilty or not, or at least knowing about her husband’s activities.

A fascinating book into the WWII era and the beginning of the Cold War. Of a family thrown into the headlines and forever embedded as part of the American culture from the anti-communist sentiment and Cold War. I particularly enjoyed the ending, the “Many ways of imagining and seeing Ethel,” with books, plays and a recreation of the trial, which remain part of Ethel’s legacy around the world.

I listed to most of the book as an audio narrated by Orlagh Cassidy. The narration is done well and keeps you in the book. Couldn’t ask for a better narration for this story.



Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance audio copy.

Thanks also to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 226: The Ice Lion

The Ice Lion by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Having read many books by the author Kathleen O'Neal Gear (co-authored with her husband) in the North America's Forgotten Past series, I was curious and interested to read a book focused on the far future.

The world building had me guessing throughout the book. I cannot say my questions were completely answered, but some do resolve as the book goes on. There is a fantasy feel to the book with the belief system of the Sealion People, which is reminiscent of the Gear’s other series.

While there a few similar aspects between this book and the other series, this is a completely different world. Hints of our modern world now long past pop up. The icy world that now exists seems to have developed with an attempt at fixing the climate change problem in the past and failed. Now tribes are at war with each other, while constantly on watch for the large animals that hunt them, such as bears, lions and wolves. The biggest obstacle though, seems to be keeping warm in this icy world. I love how women are warriors too!

Good book for fans of the Gear’s books, as this book will have the same feel. While generally I don't read series, I do make exceptions and this will be another, as I'm looking forward to the next book.


Thanks to DAW Publishers and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 225: Double Blind

Double Blind by Edward St. Aubyn
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars



Not a light read here. Although short, there are large passages with dense rabbit-hole wanderings into neuroscience, biology and other wild ideas mainly put forth by a drug induced mania.

We have several characters: Hunter being a venture capitalist with a penchant for drugs; a couple of friends Olivia and Lucy being reunited in England after Lucy starts working for Hunter. Olivia and Francis just started a love affair. Lucy soon discovers there’s a tumor lodged in her brain. Olivia’s dad works with schizophrenics and the two start working on a project based on the illness and genetics and nurture. We also get one of the patient's story with his neurodivergent thought patterns.

There are many themes in the book and none well developed or resolved, just many huge ideas thrown in and on occasion info dumped into the text of the book. Yet it is held together by the relationships of these people that become more intertwined as the book continues.

Odd enough, I do wish the book had more pages to it, as then the author may have helped some of these themes become more developed or to some conclusions. Although I do get the sense that was the point, to end early and leave it all in the air. This may not satisfy many readers, but some may revel in the complexity.



Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.