Book review: Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesse
Genre: Historical fiction
Release date: August 26, 2025
Goodreads rating: 3.71
My rating: 4.0
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Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesse is a very very different book from anything I have ever read. I highly recommend it if you enjoy art or want to learn more about art (if not, it may not be the best fit).
The premise is the following: Mona, a 10-year-old girl, starts to experience episodes of temporary vision loss. Her grandfather, an art connoisseur, wants his granddaughter to see as much beauty as possible before she loses her vision completely so takes her to the museum once per week to look at a single piece of art together and discuss it. The book is supported by a website that lists all 52 pieces of art so you can google them and see the pieces for yourself as you read along.
This book is a mix between fiction and academic art history. It contains enough depth of content to genuinely give someone a solid foundation in art appreciation, but at the same time, this knowledge is presented in a very easy to absorb way. Each chapter is short and is composed of 3 parts: 1) a snapshot of Mona’s personal life, family, and vision issues; 2) a detailed description of the art piece of the week, and 3) a discussion of the piece between Mona and her grandfather that often delves into the history of the art piece, the life of the artist, and the cultural context of the times.
It's really quite cleverly done but it’s important to go into it knowing that this is not the type of book that you can sit and binge over a weekend. You’ll want to read a few chapters each day and let the story (and knowledge) seep in.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.This is a very very different book from anything I have ever read. I highly recommend it if you enjoy art or want to learn more about art (if not, it may not be the best fit).
Other books you may enjoy:
The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck
The Original by Nell Stevens