July Salmonberry Books General Book Club
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Join us for our monthly general book club, meeting in the Port Orchard Market. For July, we're reading "The Personal Librarian," by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
--Book Description--
The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian--who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white--her complexion is dark because she is African American.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go--for the protection of her family and her legacy--to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
Content warnings: Violence, Slavery, Death, War, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Child death, Sexual harassment, Rape, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Infidelity, War, Death of parent, Slavery
Buy your copy of the book through Salmonberry Books and receive 15% off!
Our goal with this book club is to help you discover something new and to read things you may not have otherwise considered. So we don't read within a particular genre, we don't only read one style of book, and we'll read both new releases and older (backlist) titles.
--Book Description--
The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian--who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white--her complexion is dark because she is African American.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go--for the protection of her family and her legacy--to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
Content warnings: Violence, Slavery, Death, War, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Child death, Sexual harassment, Rape, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Infidelity, War, Death of parent, Slavery
Buy your copy of the book through Salmonberry Books and receive 15% off!
Our goal with this book club is to help you discover something new and to read things you may not have otherwise considered. So we don't read within a particular genre, we don't only read one style of book, and we'll read both new releases and older (backlist) titles.
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Where is it happening?
715 Bay Street, Port Orchard, WA, United States, Washington 98366
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherSalmonberry Books
