For some, the decision to be White passing may seem easy, but it is clear through this narrative the enormous amount of sacrifices that coincide with such a life changing decision. It was these inner thoughts and feelings that resonated with me most as a reader. The pure danger and sacrifice that comes with such a difficult decision in hopes of living a better life are felt across every single word and every single page. The novel itself does detail the various books, artwork, and artifacts that Greene collects on behalf of Morgan however, the true core of the story details the complex feelings and emotions that coexist with the decision for a Black person to identify as White. I was even more surprised to learn that she was a Black woman passing as White. Prior to diving into the pages of The Personal Librarian, I knew nothing of Bella da Costa Greene and the role that she played in helping collect and curate JP Morgan's personal library. Even with an educational path centered on learning the ins and outs of history, I still find myself quite surprised by the individuals and events that seemingly bypass common/universal knowledge. So much that I spent the entirety of my undergraduate career pouring through archives, articles, manuscripts and more to get just a small glimpse of the past. It's been my first love since middle school.
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