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Belle Greene
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
5 posts | 2 read | 10 to read
Based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, a woman who defied all odds to carve out a destiny of her own choosing, this is a richly imagined novel bursting with atmosphere, lush period detail, and many unforgettable characters. New York in the 1900s. A young girl fascinated by rare books defies all odds and becomes the director of one of the country's most prestigious private libraries. It belongs to the magnate J. P. Morgan, darling of the international aristocracy and one of the city's richest men. Flamboyant, brilliant, beautiful, Belle is among New York society's most sought after intellectuals. She also hides a secret. Although she looks white, she is African American, the daughter of a famous black activist who sees her desire to hide her origins as the consummate betrayal. Torn between history's ineluctable imperatives and the freedom to belong to the society of her choosing, Belle's drama, which plays out in a violently racist America, is one that resonates forcefully, and illuminatingly even today. The fruit of years of research and interviews, Alexandra Lapierre's magnificent novel recounts the struggles, victories, and heartbreaks of a woman who is free, astonishingly determined, daring, and fully, exuberantly alive.
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Tamra
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
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TheKidUpstairs Great choices. They both sound soo good, and those covers are stunning! My vote is for 3w
See All 33 Comments
Tamra I have to say, this whole Europa adventure is not helping diminish my TBR! I want to read them all. 3w
Sapphire I collect Europa editions in paperback, so I should vote for winter swallows because it is the one that is available in paperback but I vote for Belle Greene because it sounds too good to resist 3w
Sapphire @Tamra IKR!! 3w
Tamra @Sapphire by 12/24 hopefully it will be available in paperback. 🤞🏾🤞🏾 3w
Sapphire @Tamra that is a good point! 3w
jlhammar Wow, these both sound amazing!! I‘m going to have to have a little think. Oh, and tagging @Adventures-of-a-French-Reader so she can also vote. I think you‘ve got everyone else. 3w
Tamra @jlhammar thank you! I added her. 3w
BarbaraBB Winter Swallows please! 3w
CSeydel Ooh they both sound good but since we‘re reading it in December I‘m voting for Winter Swallows 3w
GatheringBooks Awesome covers! I vote for 3w
LeahBergen Oh, both sound marvellous but I‘ve always been fascinated by Belle da Costa Greene! My vote goes to 3w
Deblovestoread Hard to choose but voting 3w
squirrelbrain Gah - another difficult choice! I‘ll go with 3w
Aimeesue On the one hand, it would be interesting to see how De Giovanni treats this scenario, which I remember from a Ngaio Marsh book, but OTOH, Belle Greene seems really, really relevant these days. I‘ll go with 3w
jlhammar So excited that @Cathythoughts will be joining us! Cathy, feel free to cast your vote. 3w
Cathythoughts Thanks 😘😘 I‘ll vote 3w
jlhammar I would definitely like to try that Neapolitan mystery series sometime and it does seem particularly good for December, but the Lapierre sounds so good (you didn't make this easy!). I'll vote for 3w
Tamra @Sapphire according to Amazon, the paperback is scheduled to be released this September. 👍🏾 (edited) 3w
lauraisntwilder I think I'll go with 2w
jlhammar @charl08 @mcctrish @DrexEdit Would you like to get your vote in today before we call it? If you‘ve no preference, that‘s fine as well. Thanks! 2w
mcctrish Both look so good but I do like the idea of reading a winter time mystery in winter so 2w
jlhammar Welcome @TheBookDream ! Feel free to vote on this one today if you‘d like. 2w
DrexEdit @jlhammar Thanks! I like the advance planning and pace of this reading collective. I might even be able to contribute. 😊 But I'll just read whatever everyone decides to read. 2w
jlhammar Another close one! Closing voting now so looks like our winner is the Lapierre. In December 2024 we'll be reading Belle Greene! 2w
Tamra I would have been perfectly happy with either! 👏🏾 2w
jlhammar @lauraisntwilder @mcctrish @Deblovestoread @GatheringBooks This is a ways off, but FYI. We‘ll vote for our 2025 picks sometime towards the end of 2024 and I‘ve got you four down next for nominating duties. I‘ll give you a heads-up when it‘s time. (edited) 2w
jlhammar @Tamra Same! I want to read everything that‘s been nominated so thrilled either way. 2w
Tamra @jlhammar yes!! 2w
45 likes33 comments
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Mitch
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
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Pickpick

This is a fascinating story of the life of Belle Greene - a spirited and determined young woman who rose to become the highest paid woman in 1920s America, as the librarian of the JP Morgan library. With a fierce passion for books and manuscripts she built the library collection and laid the foundation for public access. Inspiring enough - and then you remember she did this whilst holding a secret that could ruin her.

Mitch Great story - I wish I‘d of read it before our epic trip to the library in 2019. It reads love narrative non fiction - deeply researched and faithful to source material whilst also being a page turner. 7mo
DivineDiana After reading The Personal Librarian, I have become fascinated with Belle! Stacked. 7mo
68 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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RowReads1
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
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I‘m looking forward to this one.

22 likes1 stack add
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
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Pickpick

Extraordinary! Such an excellently written history - fictionalized - of Belle Greene! Enthralling from beginning to end.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Cool cover ❤️🖤 10mo
24 likes1 comment
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
Belle Greene | Alexandra Lapierre
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Starting this fascinating sounding book tonight. Belle Greene sounds like an incredible woman. Loved that the author included this in her note: To The Reader