Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

What an interesting subject and what a missed opportunity to make the most of it! This book was so disappointing. The fascinating subject matter (as outlined by other reviewers), is completely glossed over and summarised, used only as a framework skeleton. The main character, based on a real person, had an amazing life but we only get outline glimpses of her achievements. Instead, the entire focus is about how difficult it was for her to pass as white, how every interaction (or so it is made to seem) has her in fear of detection. It would have been enough to tell us all about it in the early chapters, as the author does, and then refer to it only occasionally from then on. It would have been interesting to have more detail on the work Ms Bella de Costa Greene aka Belle Marion Greener, did throughout her life running the Pierpont Morgan Library. But instead, every chapter has at least a half dozen references to Belle's fear of detection until that subject has been beaten to death. It would seem to be pure laziness on the part of the authors as going into more depth would have required detailed research, which has obviously not been done here. In addition, the narrative is painfully slow and uneventful. The whole story just drags and drags until it is a real chore to continue reading. With all of the reference to Belle almost being found out, you would expect some tension, but none exists at all in the writing. This may be personal preference but I also found the use of first person present to be very annoying. This works well when we are meant to be reading diaries after the fact. But that is not the case here. We are reading about past events written as if they are happening now. I would love to read more about this fascinating woman and her achievements. Unfortunately, that is not what you will get from this book.