Mona’s Eyes—Book Review
Mona's Eyes
Thomas Schlesser
I was on the lookout for my next book to embrace. Reading is a sacred, cherished ritual for me – usually reserved for the quiet of early mornings and late nights, so I never take the search for my next book lightly. I am grateful to live close to a Barnes and Noble – but I rarely get to visit – partly due to a busy life but mostly because my special needs daughter (who I spend a great deal of time with) won’t go inside.
However, I recently found my way there one afternoon. As I entered, I took a moment to do a panoramic scan, savoring the sounds, colors, and people, before strolling over to the new arrivals, biographies, and memoirs. Seeing art on a cover will always ensure that I further investigate, and that day I was immediately drawn to a book cover with a section of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (eyes only) on it. The book was Mona’s Eyes, by Thomas Schlesser. My first thought was why the cover designer didn’t use Mona Lisa’s eyes. I found that answer to that question just after I finished reading the book. I was fortunate enough to attend a Zoom session where an art historian friend was interviewing Thomas Schlesser. She invited me at the last moment, and I was so excited to be listening in on the conversation.
The story follows a 10-year-old girl, named Mona, who is suffering from a mysterious eye ailment. She has a special relationship with her erudite grandfather, an art lover, who has a way with words. He decides to take her on a year-long (covert) journey through Paris museums to experience 52 masterpieces of art every Wednesday. It’s important to him that Mona be exposed to as much beauty as possible. Only after bringing the book home did I realize the cover unfolds into a poster revealing all 52 pieces they visited. One of those 52 was Mona Lisa – the reason why the author didn’t use it on the cover – or any of the other examples on the poster.
It’s a beautifully written story about family bonds and secrets, potential tragedy, and art. If you love art history, you are in for a treat; even if you don’t, you will learn a great deal about Western art through the eyes of a very smart little girl and her adoring, patient, grandfather. I highly recommend it.
