MONA’S EYES by Thomas Schlesser
If you are a lover of art, museums and slow-burn stories, this is a book I highly recommend. But, if you prefer fast-paced, plot driven fiction, you might find MONA’S EYES a tedious read…fair warning! It’s meant to be savored, a few chapters at a time, rather than binged! I often had to reach for Google or an art book to appreciate the art being described.
“Mona’s Eyes” is a touching story about the love between a grandfather and his granddaughter that’s told in fifty-two chapters of masterful art history lessons. Every Wednesday for an entire year, ten-year-old Mona’s grandfather, Henry, takes her to art museums to fill her memory bank with beautiful images… because Mona is going blind. Each chapter highlights one piece of artwork and its artist in detail. (The author of this book just happens to be an art historian.) Traveling from the Renaissance to contemporary artists, Mona and her Dade embark on a magical adventure of discovery. (Of course, Paris offers the perfect museums to accomplish this task.) Through Henry’s gentle guidance, Mona is not simply introduced to art…she’s taught how to see. His reflections, rich with history, cultural context and personal insight, elevate these moments beyond lessons…they become conversations that bridge generations. Their time together is not just about observation, but about understanding…art, each other and the world around them. Woven between these artistic explorations are glimpses into Mona’s own young life, school and family, grounding the story in both wonder and vulnerability.
A novel of love, nostalgia, family connections and most of all, the power of art to heal, broaden understanding about being human and to open the mind to the human capacity to create!!
*****