Book Review: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating historical novel about Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan. It describes the beginning of her career working at the Princeton Library, her interview with J.P. to get the job, and her extraordinary experiences building his library collection of priceless manuscripts, artwork, and books. She has a vast knowledge about the works she is collecting, and stands out as virtually the only female in a man's profession. Belle is African American, but in the early 20th century New York City she and her family are forced to pass as white due to the racist climate. This book has all the things I love to read about -- a strong female character, books, libraries, NYC, and history.

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Book Review: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The quintessential summer book! Set on Nantucket during the busy summer season, at the recently elaborately renovated Hotel Nantucket. No expense spared; an exquisite guest experience. I got a behind-the-scenes view at what running a hotel entails. There's a historical aspect, with a ghost haunting the hotel due to a chambermaid being killed in a fire 100 years ago. I was a little skeptical about how the ghost would factor into the story, but I ended up liking the way that she was able to further each of the character's story line. I've never been to Nantucket, but I feel like I know the island after reading this wonderful 'sense of place' novel. Overall I highly recommend this book for a page turner summer book!

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Book Review: The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating book about friendship between two unlikely people -- Lenni is a 17-year-old girl and Margot is an 83-year-old woman. Both are long-term patients in a hospital who join an art class. Together they work to create 100 paintings which represents their total lives. I read this for book club, and it generated wonderful discussions.

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Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A page-turner romance set in the publishing industry. Nora Stephens, a NYC book agent, is convinced by her sister to spend a month of her summer vacation in a rural North Carolina town. Almost immediately she runs into a NYC book editor, with whom she has not has not gotten along with in the past. You can predict what happens next. The relationship with the two sisters very special and makes the book worth reading. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you will turn the pages quickly to reach the end. Of course, since it was dealing with the book industry, it had my name written all over it. I loved every minute of it!

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