“Mona’s Eyes” by Thomas Schlesser is a MUST READ for anyone who appreciates art. It is definitely not a ‘quick read’ – the paintings/sculptures are described in great detail and there is a large amount of historical content about the artists and their time period – but I truly enjoyed this novel. (I spent lots of time googling each artwork, only to discover that they were all pictured at the end of my kindle read. I believe the artworks are also displayed on the dustjacket hardcover edition of this book.)
Mona is a 10 year old French child who completely loses her eyesight for a short time. Doctors can find no physical cause, though they continue many tests and visits. Her parents are understandably upset, and agree to have her see a psychiatrist in case there is a traumatic event that caused the blindness. Mona’s grandfather, Henry, offers to take Mona to the weekly appointment but instead takes her to the Louvre museum. He wants to make sure she can see beauty in her head, just in case she does lose her sight in the future. While viewing different works, Henry learns much about his perceptive grand-daughter. He also suspects that the museum visits are helping to get to the root of her trauma.
Mona and Henry are the stars of “Mona’s Eyes” – their interactions kept me reading the novel. I do love art and art history, but without the two main characters, the story would have been rather bland, more like a textbook. If you love grandparent/grandchild relationships and are also an art lover – check this book out! (Just realize that this isn’t a ‘fluff’ or ‘quick’ read.) “Mona’s Eyes” was Barnes & Nobles’ 2025 Book of the Year!
Leave a Reply