The Paris Bookseller
by Kerri Maher
Informative... (11/13/2021)
The Paris Bookseller is an unexpected treat. For someone who loves books and bookstores this fascinating visit to the historical perspective is deeply appreciated. Kerri Maher brings the reader right into the streets of Paris during the Twenties and Thirties when prominent writers gathered at Shakespeare and Company, Sylvia Beach’s legendary bookstore. Don’t miss the Author’s Note – makes reading more of Ms. Maher’s work worth exploring.
The Last Chance Library
by Freya Sampson
Move over Susan Orlean and Michael Gillebeau... (7/18/2021)
Freya Sampson's fiction debut is a heartfelt homage to libraries and the pivotal role they serve in our communities. June Jones, the assistant librarian at her local library, transforms from shy introvert to sneaky rebel when the local council threatens closure of her library branch. Ms. Sampson develops strong characters, some quirky yet all realistic and human. The author employs a few twists, and the pace picks up as the story progresses. Readers will smile, sometimes laugh, and finally, tears will fall as the book ends. The Last Chance Library is a fitting tribute to the library in your neighborhood.
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Experiencing life through Belle's narrative challenges what we think and want to believe… (1/30/2021)
You know that feeling you have after finishing a remarkable book. I last experienced that emotional high upon completing The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Now, gratefully again, when I closed the ARC of The Personal Librarian, I felt the same rush of excitement, treasuring the book I just read while wishing for more.
Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray collaborate on this fictional tale of Belle da Costa Greene, the young woman who became J. P. Morgan's personal librarian, in charge of his Pierpont Morgan Library.
This book is a compelling reading experience for a couple of reasons. First, the quality of the writing is seductive. You feel part of Belle's journey on every page, sharing her fear, joy, the pride of accomplishment, and walking the tightrope of a light-skinned black woman assuming the life of a white woman. Second, the historical detail, which includes references to the library's growing collection and the suffragette movement, is fascinating, deftly woven into the narrative. Third, the portrayal of Belle describes her as a courageous young woman determined to use her knowledge, skills, and talent to become who she wants to be. The authors are very skillful storytellers, as this novel demonstrates.
Finally, this book's last section is a historical note that speaks to what literary license may have been exercised while writing this account, along with personal statements from Marie and Victoria. The inclusion of this material and what is shared only underlines how unique this project has been.
As I said, The Personal Librarian is a remarkable book. The comfortable writing pulls you through the story. And the experiences that are shared – powerful, enlightening, and educational. Nothing compares to seeing life from another's perspective, but the life we feel from Belle's perspective provokes considerable thought.
The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
by Sarah Penner
well done, yet hard to read... (9/1/2020)
While this is not the page-turner, for me, promised in the promotional blurb, I find myself wondering why it was so hard to finish. The Lost Apothecary is a skillfully written novel that switches between three primary characters living in the late 1700s and today. Sarah Penner quite vividly paints the agony of betrayal that Nella, the apothecary, experienced in 1791. And she portrays Caroline's reaction, in 2020, to her husband's infidelity in sensitive detail. The author also creates an excuse that fuels Caroline's determination to uncover the story behind The Lost Apothecary, conveniently connecting the time periods and characters.
This complex story invites and stimulates both discussion and thoughtful contemplation. Overall, the tale is a dark one dealing with murder, deception, and varying degrees of loss, some explicitly described. Slow in the beginning, the narrative pace gradually picks up. I cannot say I enjoyed reading this book, and I now realize that is why it was so difficult to read. I would not recommend this book without a caution concerning its content.
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