Cat’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2015)

Cat’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I found hard-headed in my current book. Which might actually be the incentive to get it read and done. I started reading it on 7 Feb! Really not taken to it, but I want it out of my TBR closet!

347 pages

Current total: 277,953

DQ Set 5: Chapters 34 - Historical Note

19. Her relationship with Bernard goes through a real rollercoaster here, from "companionable rapport" to her rejection of his passionate final pleas. What do you think about these changes, and the relationship overall?

20. There's an important scene with her father, discussing race and how she should continue to navigate her life. Did you expect her father to say she should continue to pass? What do you think, having finished, about the different views about being authentic? Which - if any - characters felt truly authentic to you?

21. Having spent her life looking after documents, Belle chooses to destroy her personal papers. What do you think about this decision, especially within the context of her struggles with her identity?

22. The Historical Note gives some context about the choices the authors made in writing the book. What do you think of this, and did it change how you perceived the book?

237 pages
400 pages

Current total: 277,606

DAY 4 DQ'S - CHAPTERS 24-33

15. "No matter how close I feel to Bernard, how connected to him intellectually and emotionally, I will never divulge my secret."

So after their weeks of passion and declaring their undying love, Belle admits she will never reveal her secret. And Bernard shows jealously about her relationship with J P Morgan. Trouble in Paradise! Do you think the fact that Belle won't share her deepest secret with Bernard (and he doesn't see to be able to share his with her) lessens the significance of their relationship? And why do you think the two men are possessive of Belle in different ways?

I think it does lessen the significance - it's a major part of themselves that they are keeping from each other. Though honestly Bernard is not much cop at communicating practicalities, it's all the high-falutin' culture and idealised "love" stuff. Imagine if he'd said: "so, birth control - you all over that, right Belle?" but nope.... Men!

16. Wow, Chapters 25 and 26 are just poignantly sad. It seems Belle's hesitation to tell Bernard all was the right one. Was there any alternative for Belle other than the action that she took in London?

I don't think so. No way she could disguise a pregnancy given her high profile and close (obssessive) relationship with her employer. But super sad,

17. Chapter 28 - What a powerful chapter. I had no idea of this small window in time in which equality looked so promising. And the US is not the only country that has to confront its past, Australia also has a lot of issues to work through as well. How are these confronting themes of racism, inequality and sexism affecting you as you follow along with Belle's story?

Every country struggles with "othering" some group or other, whether it's based on religion or race or economics or gender or sexuality. Reading books like this are important, showing both how far we have come, and also showing that the "other" is actually equally competent as your own group - in this case that Belle as a (Black) woman is intellectually equal to the men and astute too. Or indeed, that her father, as a Black man could be part of the intellectual elite too.

18. At last Belle has the Caxton Le Morte Darthur secured for Mr Morgan. But what ramifications! How do you see their relationship? Does it confirm the adage that men and women can never be just friends?

It's a tangled set of issues they are dealing with - employee/r, father-daughter and a bit of sexual attraction. But ultimately, Morgan has all the power, and actually I respect that he doesn't push the sex - if he wanted she could hardly refuse.
That said, I do think men & women can be friends!

we can put my Incredible Unlikeliness in there :)

In that instance, I think yes ?

DQs Day 3
Chapters 16 - 23

11. Mr. Morgan and his increasing neediness are raising red flags all over my brain. What do you make of the relationship Morgan and Belle share? His possessiveness is somewhat extreme, to the point where he even requests her to attend personal family events even though the rest of the family do not necessarily want her there, but - supposedly - because he cannot be without her at all anymore? And what do you make of his condition for her travel arrangements? Is it truly only the fact that Bernard was a Jew before converting or is he jealous of Bernard being able to do what he himself cannot let himself do?

He's gone more than a bit odd on her. Worried that she'll be poached professionally AND personally? Though he's sufficiently powerful that he'd be able to black-ball her socially if she did abandon him, so I think he's safe from an absconding Belle!

12. We previously discussed Belle's boldness when it comes to business transactions, but she is only now realising what kind of portrait she paints of herself by behaving the way she does at society events. Do you have any thoughts or predictions on how this might continue?

I think she'll find her comfortable boundary soon. Though possibly will also start getting a lot of women's backs up as she continues to flirt and charm her way through the rich echelons!

13. "Haven't I sacrificed enough at the altar of whiteness? That sentence struck an enormous chord with me, especially in light of what has been done and discussed in the novel so far. I cannot help but wonder if Belle is going to overstep some boundaries she herself and her mother have set - and I don't just mean her increasing drinking at parties and the way she acts like a clown/pet for the rich and famous. Are there any other words that gave you pause?

Sorry, nothing extra that I've retained overnight!

14. Bernard Berenson is not who he claims to be. I'm not sure Russian Jew, as Belle thinks, is the case, but I'm not quite ready to venture an educated guess. Aaaaand I can't help but wonder if he knows Belle's secret because he has a different lookout on certain situations in life than the wealthy people she usually deals with, who let themselves be blinded by flashy dresses and silly flirtations. What is your take on this? How do you think the Italian trip is going to continue and what will the repercussions be? Also, were you expecting a sex scene in this novel? I sure wasn't.

The text of what he said during orgasm was printed in Cyrillic, which doesn't rule out Jewish, but certainly suggests Ukraine / Russia neck of woods. And hiding Jewish origins is frankly more likely than hiding Russian origins, even if we are still pre-October Revolution and kicking out of all the aristos.

I wasn't expecting a sex scene! But I suspect continued idyll, especially if they have to stay holed up in their suite to avoid people (honestly, was it really such a shock to meet a rich person keen on art in a town famed for it's impact on art??!

DQs Day 2, Ch 8 - 15

6. I had to break away from the book to learn more about Anne Morgan. Now I’m fascinated by her. She was the first American woman appointed a commander of the French Legion of Honor, among many other impressive accomplishments. Has there been any person, location, or other topic that caught your curiosity to research further?

I had a little look at her father, but no one else so far

7. “Leaving the auction midway is not the usual protocol, but I want everyone to understand that the Pierpont Morgan Library and its librarian are singular.” Who else giggled and woo-hooed at this? I continue to be in awe of Belle’s self-assurance. What about her background that we know so far do you think contributed to this characteristic? Or do you think it was more innate than acquired?

I think it started from her mother's pushing but she's now also finding herself in response to the very different social strata she's moving in now - her mother's "be unobtrusive" maxim might work in the majority of circumstances, but for the elite she's now moving in, unobtrusive is not productive.

8. I couldn’t help but be shocked at the description of the family moving from the whites train car to the other. The lack of upholstery and tables, as well as the description of the bathroom facilities, really hit home as a dividing line. What else from the narrative demonstrated the delineation between any of the groups depicted (white and POC, mega rich and “have nots,” men and women, etc.)?

It's doing well to highlight all the different privileges and how people negotiate them

9. Who else was holding their breath about Morgan’s anger toward Belle and the newspaper article? I knew it had to be ok because, in real life, she did work for him for many years. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t incredibly nervous for her!

I found it amazing how much he blew up about that. like she's not allowed to have interests outside of his scope of collection? Apart from anything else, you need to make connections to modern life to ensure the continued relevance of older artistic works.

10. I love how her ploy for acquiring the Caxtons from Lord Amherst worked out! Do you think she will ever acquire Le Morte D'Arthur?

I'd expect so!

DQs Day 1: Ch 1 to Ch 7

1.) Did you know of Bella's story prior to picking up The Personal Librarian? Did your knowledge (or lack of) her story influence your decision to decide to read this book?

I didn't know about her, and initially thought it was a straight non-fiction, so was slightly surprised (happily) to be reading a fictionalised biog.

2.) In the early 1900's would you do what Bella's mother did and lie on the census and have them pass as a family as white? Even with your husband as a civil rights activist?

I'm so confused by this - in the UK census information isn't published at an individual level until 100 years after the census date, so there wouldn't be the direct personal benefit that is being presented her - noone (outside of the analysts) would know what had been ticked. And it's not that it was a face to face census.
I can see why her mother would want to take the chance to help them professionally, but she didn't seem to ask them, and has cut them off from their family and heritage.

3.) The mega rich just exist different I think. I can't image having priceless original works in a rando box or just sitting out on the floor in the foyer. Can you image being that blasé about one of a kind, million dollar pieces of art?

It's just crazy! I read Taxtopia recently, and there was one annecdote about an UHNW person having three personal assistants - one for business, one for social, and one to manage the general calendar of how long they;d been in any given place.... bonkers.

4.) What are your impressions of JP Morgan and his family so far? What about his desire to have a library/collection so vast he needs a personal librarian/curator?

JP Morgan seems HIGH maintenance! I guess part of this is ultimately a philanthropical thing, but he does understand the value of his collection, and thus of having a professional to care for it.

5.) Belle. What a complicated web she walks on, sticky and thin, that threatens to break if she takes one wrong step. A woman, white-passing, from a working class family trying to make it in the mega wealthy white man's world. That takes some gumption and seems exhausting and scary. What do you think of her so far?

She's interesting for sure. The brittle facade she has to put on to protect her secret must be hard. I'm not sure I like her, precisely, but do admire her formidableness!

that's catchy to me! it's our call, after all :)

ooooh...... I dunno. I'd be totes fine with any of the Brontes' works being used, but I think this is anonymous publication rather than pseudonymous publication.

420 pages
354 pages
400 pages

reporting 1174

Current Total: 258,034

is this a white cover?


I think it is, an off-white, which is still white, right?


ETA: and if it is right, then it can probably also work for "relationship under false pretences" - Belle is in an employment relationship based on a false pretence that she is white, not Black

I've got the GREED in title covered :)

340 pages

Current total: 231,930

what, no "Coffee table - features abuse of innocent furniture item" ?!

I'm glad we moved away from Wheel rounds being 1 week

I'm stalling so hard on one of my books. it's off the TBR, and I suspect that if I can get to 20% it'll grab me, but so far.... nope.

so I'm going to hold off on picking up another book for a bit, whilst I grit my teeth and plow on through!

324 pages

Current Total: 230,585

432 pages

Current total: 224,956