An Illuminated Life: Bella da Costa Greene's Journey from Prejudice to Privilege by Heidi Ardizzone, 2007
The collection da Costa Greene amassed and catalogued resulted in the Morgan Library, a museum I look forward to visiting. An impressive collection of illuminated manuscripts and Caxton books are housed in the museum thanks to da Costa Greene.
Women did start working in the late 19th and early 20th Century, but held menial jobs and were expected to quit after having a baby. The fact that da Costa Greene rose to her position of power and influence with hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending power was extremely rare.
Adding to this accomplishment was the fact that da Costa Greene was born Belle Greener, daughter of Robert Greener, the first black man to graduate Harvard University. da Costa Greene's mother moved her family to New York City to live as a white family, something the proud and civil rights activist Greener could not condone.
This decision gave da Cost Greene the opportunity to fulfill her potential, which she did in spades.
Her life included outings at Alfred Stieglitz's 291 studio and sittings for modern artist Matisse. She had affairs, most infamously with married Bernard Berenson, an Italian Renaissance expert whose patrons included Isabella Stewart Gardiner.
A thorough biography, An Illuminated Life brings da Costa Greene's expertise, charm and wit to life. She was a badass woman who thrived despite having imposter syndrome thrust on her due to her heritage.
French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson At A Time by Jane Bertch, 2024
An American who moves to Paris via London, Jane Bertch tackles the challenge and excitement of living in Paris knowing limited French.
A notoriously challenging city and culture to penetrate, Paris does not easily welcome outsiders. Bertch learns that it takes years to develop a relationship as Parisians don't understand how fast friends can be made with someone you barely know.
Bertch moves to Paris for a job and discovers that co-workers do not socialize, especially managers and their direct reports. Bertch finally befriends someone in her office...a year later. The approach to making this friend included an invite to work lunch, then an adequate period of time before a counter-invite is offered.
Partly due the transient nature of expats, Bertch learns the rule of thumb that if someone has been in Paris more than three years, then they are likely to stay and be worth the trouble to befriend and get to know.
Bertch does not get discouraged by the challenges of learning the unwritten rules of Paris, though. She even has a business idea to start a cooking school in Paris, which she grows to become the largest nonprofessional cullinary school in Paris, catering mostly to tourists.
Not to take credit away from Bertch, whose entrepreneural spirit and persistance pushed La Cuisine Paris to success, she had a French partner, her boyfriend at the time, to navigate the red tape and talk through the social norms of doing business in Paris.
Unlike the bold and brashness of America, Paris business is based on building relationships. When Bertch wanted to partner with a local cheese producer to offer classes, she knew she needed to invest a year to build a relationshp with the person before even mentioning the potential of a partnership.
Even after mentioning the possibility of collaborating, Bertch needed to take additional time to let the idea settle before making additional overtures.
Other social norms that Bertch mentions is when entering a shop, it is like entering someone's home, so a Bonjour greeting should be proferred. Also, to take advantage of a shop keeper's expertise and ask questions about the products.
If at a dinner party and orange juice is offered, that is the signal to leave. You can see how the unspoken rules are impossible to decipher for newcomers to Paris.
True to the French way, Bertch acknowledges her ghost writer.
I have always been fascinated by Americans who live abroad and are able to adjust to another language, culture and way of living; and so impressed by those who actually manage to do so.
Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV by Karleen Koen, 2011
As I have become more interested in Spanish and English history, I realized that I know very little about French history.
In my mind, there's Marie Antoinette and that's about it...
Before Versailles is a historical fiction novel that takes place over four months in 1661, the formative yeras of the young Louis XIV's reign.
Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the de factor ruler of France and lover of Louis' mother Queen Anne, has died.
Monarchs were not involved in the administration or running of the country. They were more figureheads to be displayed, while either generals or finance ministers gained power and ran the country.
With the passing of Cardinal Mazarin, Viscount Nicolas steps into the role of running the country.
Already powerful with spies placed all over court and the coutry, Viscount Nicolas has accumulated great wealth and power.
Viscount Nicolas' display of wealth culmuniates in the building of Vaux-Le-Vicomte, near the royal palace of Fountainebleau.
The story is told from the point of view of Louise de la Baume le Blanc a made to Madame, or Henriette first princess of France, married to Louis XIV's brother Philippe.
The story includes brave and faithful Musketeers, Philippe's band of men (some who prefer to dress in women's clothing), and an imagining of the mythical Boy With The Iron Mask. A magical and decadent time, 17th Century French court was filled with ballet, music and elaborate gowns.
Face markings, large feathres in headpieces and heeled shoes for both men and women were the fashion.
Louis XIV's queen is Maria Teresa, a devout princess of Spain, a powerhouse at that time. Louis is faithful to her in the beginning, but his attention is soon drawn to more vivacious women in court, including Louise, who eventually becomes mistress to the king.
I thought Before Versailles was a bit tedious at points and flowery with the romance, but enjoyed learning about France's rich history.
Behind You Is The Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj, 2024
The collection starts with Reema Baladi, a teen whose mom is catatonic after the death of her husband, Reema's husband. She finds love with a Mexican boy named Torrey.
Marcus Salameh is a family friend, who is a cop, and trying to bridge the gap between his sister Amal, who has a child out of wedlock, and father, who has cut his daughter out of his life after having an abortion.
Marcus's aunt is Nadya Ammar, who has married the wealthy Palestinian Walid Ammar. Ammar owns various properties in Baltimore and despite his weath, struggles with how spoiled and Americanized his children have become.
Rania Mahfouz struggles with her distant husband and raising an ADA child. Her husband returns from a trip home to the Palestines where he is embroiled in a #Justice4Rasha contraversy that has started spreading globally.
Rania engages the service of Samira Awadah, a stellar education attorney who is looked down upon by some in the Arab community because she is divorced. Even though her ex-husband was abusive, she still suffers from judgement (with her treatment justified by the fact that she did not become pregnant...) and is tolerated by her family because of her checkbook.
As Rania's father's health and memory disintegrates and he needs to be put in a home, Rania learns the truth of why even her mother criticizes her decision to divorce her husband.
Maysoon Baladi is Reema's little sister, who is a cleaner and ends up working with Dalia Ammar, married to the philandering Demetri, son of Walid. Dalia's three children are even more spoiled and despite their wealth, Reema's son Gabriel is the one who scores the perfect score on the AP exam.
Layla Marwan is cousins to Hiba Anway, one of Dalia's three children. Dedicated to the theater community and building sets for school plays, she struggles when her high school decides to put on Aladdin.
She attempts to discuss her unease with the stereotypes built into Aladdin with the theater director, who dismisses her concerns.
We then follow Hiba Ammar in college, where she takes a semester off to deal with her eating disorder. She lives with her loving and humble grandparents connecting to her heritage while her parents continue to live in their materialistic ways.
Samira and Marcus's story continue with Samira finding her voice and love with Logan; and Marcus returning to his father's village to bury his remains. In Palestine, Marcus discovers another side of the bitter man he knew growing up in Baltimore with his father.
Short-listed for the Pen-Faulkner Award, Behind You Is the Sea brings characters to life with its honesty and authenticity.
You'll Never Believe Me: A Life of Lies, Second Tries, And Things I Should Only Tell My Therapist by Kari Ferrell, 2024
Growing up in the 80s with limited understanding and dialogue about other cultures and sexual orientation, Ferrell used humor to deflect her pain.
She then started using lies and realized that her charisma was able to get people to trust her. She started scamming friends and then men she would meet out.
Eventually her infamy spread and she made the Salt Lake City Most Wanted List and fled to New York City after serving a brief stint in jail.
Farrell's deceit eventually caught up with her and she was outed as the Hipster Grifter. This led to her arrest again where she was incarcerated for almost a year before being released.
Criminals are charming. Despite her scams and lies, people stood by her. Her honesty and self-hatred are so raw. She starts therapy, visits Korea on a work trip and starts to piece her real self together.
Some of the truths are painful to read and I suppose that's the appeal of the book. The work it took for Farrell to get to a good place.
