A fascinating story of the life of Belle da Costa Greene (née Belle Marion Greener), J P Morgan’s trusted personal librarian, partner-in-art, and confidant. The book follows Belle as she, a colored woman passing as white, learns to navigate among a male-dominated art world …more and mingle with high society across continents as an influential representative of J P Morgan (and later his son) and his John Pierpont Morgan Library. While her path brought Belle professional success, influence, acclaim and rewards, it didn’t come without high risks, personal sacrifices, the burden of familial responsibilities and loneliness as told in this compelling novel.

“I wonder sometimes if the sacrifice I made to have this success is worth it.” (Belle in a conversation with her father)

As a side note - this book will be an excellent read for book clubs! There are many potential topics for engaging discussion. (less)

One of the more challenging books that I have read in awhile. Not only were there a litany of characters with foreign names and several stories unfolding in parallel while intertwining, but the book captured a time period and a part of the world (10th century Poland and …more Nordic Countries) with which I am less familiar so lacked a frame of reference. And yet, for all these reasons, I was captivated by the book! The book had all the makings of a fascinating historical saga - complex familial and political relationships and alliances, intrigue, political strategizing and gamesmanship, romance and war.

As a side note, the translation of this book was brilliantly done in that the book flowed seamlessly, telling the story and capturing the essence as if it were written in English. Also, the audiobook version was an excellent, albeit long listen (24 hours). I used it to accompany the hardback - alternating between the two to help aid in my comprehension and the pronunciation of the names and places. (less)

This book had me hooked from the start. A eloquent memoir of Hudes’ navigation between her “English and Spanish halves” as she strives to find her identity and her direction. Her journey begins in the barrio of North Philly surrounded by passionate Boricua Perez women “who …more danced through a shitstorm of life,” during occasional visits to the homogeneous white suburbia world of her father, and later during her days at Yale. As her story unfolds Quiara finds her own “language,” and direction in words and music. One experiences her family, her culture, the various traditions and emotions in this vividly written book. (less)