Review
An e-copy of the novel has been provided by the publisher, Penguin Random House International, in exchange for an honest review.
‘The Personal Librarian’ follows the story of the Greener family as they traverse a life as white passing citizens. Most importantly, it is the story of Belle Da Costa Greene as she covers her black heritage to survive a world where racial discrimination on top of being a woman is a huge disadvantage.
There is a regal beauty to the choice of narrator with this book. Given that this is the personal story of Miss Greene, it did not brush off the fact that the exclusivity of the story-telling’s narration gave it an interesting taste of excitement and wonder. It begs to answer the question of what might these men think of a strong and amazing persevering woman. Additionally, the theme wherein the novel revolves is a fascinating foundation for the story.
Repeating what I’ve said, on top of being a woman in a world dominated by men with fickle masculinity, being of a skin colour that doesn’t confound with what these people think is right is a recipe for a story that can either be really inspiring or really underwhelming—I’m glad it was the former. Moreover, I think the tone of the entire novel sets it beautifully for the readers. There is a strong intrigue as the story whittles down to its last bits and the mystery within the characters that always makes you wonder is such a fantastic glue to make the readers hooked.
I love Belle! She’s an amazing woman who, despite her circumstances, persisted in achieving the wonderful goals she accomplished. She is an inspiration to readers, to women, and to people of colour. ‘The Personal Librarian’ is a brilliant story of hope, family, and racial inequity, but most importantly it is a story of a woman who achieved greater heights with her perseverance.
