Beautifully written and superbly translated. The entire book was very thoughtful and beautiful, but my only issue was with some of the grandfather's intentions.

Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser checked every box I want in literary fiction. I don't think it is a perfect book, if there is such a thing, but it was strong in all areas.

Novels that seek to use a deep dive into a topic to help make the story speak to readers and, perhaps, help them appreciate both that topic and their own lives better always appeal to me. Like so much of the marketing for this book points out, and anyone who has read both books will attest, Sophie's World is a good comparison. While that one covers philosophy this one covers art history/appreciation. It should be noted both are pretty much exclusively western philosophy and art, but this isn't a textbook claiming to be teaching art but a story taking place in the west using western art as a frame for the story, so it makes as much sense as a novel from some place else that uses the art and culture to which it belongs to tell their story.

It is easy to get lost in the art work and discussion and forget there is a story, not just Mona's story but the story of her family as well. There certainly isn't the kind of detail in that story as one would expect if we were reading the details of their interactions. This is about the world of the mind and how it intersects with the physical world within which we dwell. Many of the details are left for us to fill in, but it isn't difficult, we are given enough information.

Mona is, indeed, a precocious child, sometimes acting more mature for her age and at others acting younger. Most children are like this to some extent, and to make the story work Schlesser makes Mona a bit more of such a child. In much the same way most main characters are effective in the story we're reading but unusual to find in real life. I had no problem with what she picked up on or how she sometimes reacted to things.

The physical book has a picture of each artwork in a foldout dustjacket, but I would still suggest looking them up online and looking at detailed images and different angles. I found myself rereading some chapters on works that particularly spoke to me, once to place within the story and once to gain more appreciation for the work.

I think one of the biggest takeaways will be finding new and different perspectives into art in general. This book uses 52 pieces in telling the story, but we can take the approach, the attention to detail and to history, the pondering about hows and whys in the art itself and in the creation of it, with us when we next visit a museum or look closely at images online.

It has been a number of years since I have visited the museums in Paris, so I probably didn't get the same sense of nostalgia and recognition as those of you who have been there more recently, but it was still fun to think about how I felt every time I walked into any of them.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

An art appreciation course dressed up as a novel? Yes, but what a lovely novel it is and how can you not love the precocious Mona and her erudite, doting grandfather. Mona may or may not be losing her sight. As part of her therapy, her Dade agrees to take her once a week to a psychiatrist. Instead, he takes her to see a great work of art each week. After all, it is Paris.

This is an interesting and enjoyable read that I was lucky enough to read ahead of publication on NetGalley. The story starts with the enraging main character of Mona experiencing a sudden, terrifying but temporary loss of sight. Her immediate family react with understandable worry and rush her to the doctor for tests and ongoing checkups. Is Mona going to go blind, will she lose her sight forever? Her grandfather’s response is a little different and a plan is formed … he and Mona visit works of art once a week and focusing on only one on each visit they visit 52 in all.
What follows is the tale of the growth of their already strong relationship as Mona matures and learns more about both art and her own family history. She explores and investigates and slowly uncovers the truth about her beloved grandmother. I really like the way Mona tries to make sense of her relationships with her family, with her friends, with her doctor and with her teachers as these change and grow.
When reading, I decided not to view pictures of the works of art and just concentrated on the descriptions given and found that these were vivid enough. Fascinating information is imparted by Mona’s grandfather about each artist and work of art and I definitely learned a lot! This, I feel is a strength of the book and made it unusual. However, this is also what made it a slightly more challenging read as sometimes I was reading fiction and some of the time it was non-fiction.
Well worth reading, I enjoyed it!

Thomas Schlesser's 'Mona's Eyes' is a beginner's guide to art history, wrapped up in a novel about a young girl who might - or might not - lose her sight. There is a back story of a family secret that Mona cannot broach as well as her father's failing business, both of which provide some tension against which to set the art history lessons.

The book is long, covering a period of just over a year, during which Mona's devoted grandfather takes her on weekly visits to Paris's great art galleries to consider only one work of art at a time. This is a great vehicle for introductions to great works of art and then making comparisons between them and considering the development of artistic movements and their influences through the ages. I enjoyed a lot of the content, but found Mona's story more of an interruption than an interesting part of the novel. I also found Mona's precociousness distracting and somewhat unbelieveable. For me she did not come to life and her parents were just downright annoying! Mona;s grandfather was, for me, a more convincing and interesting character and I loved the reasoning behind his ploy. I found the ending unsatisfactory and a bit too pat, so overall the novel really didn't work for me. That said I WOULD recommend it, because of the lessons on art history. I suspect had Schlesser written a non-fiction version of 'Mona's Eyes' it might well have drowned in among all the plethora of other 'introductions to art history' volumes to be found, so he is probably cleverer than this review might appear to give him credit for. I did read it all, carefully, but if I were to read it again, I would just go to the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay and Beaubourg with Mona's grandfather and leave Mona at home.

I expected a more sentimental, emotional story but this is candid in a very charming way.

We follow Mona and her eccentric, no nonsense grandfather Henry as every week he marches her from artwork to artwork-schooling her on the analysis like a tough but well meaning school teacher. He clearly adores her and during these visits it becomes clear the Wednesdays they have together are for the benefit of them both.

An absolute read for art lovers and historians. Layman and experts will find equal footing in appreciating the brilliance of the story and deep appreciation for each work of art.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europa Editions for the Advanced Copy.

It feels a little hard to fathom the plotline but once it was done, this is a very beautiful and lovely read.

You See! She Sees! Paintings seen as Miracles - We are in Paris
In the prologue we hear 10 year old Mona say, “Mommy it’s all gone black,” creating a sense of a fearful beginning for her, her family and the reader. She las lost sight.
However, her vision quickly reappears when she is taken to a psychiatrist/doctor who continues to monitor and help her. The riveting power of this book continues when her Dadè, grandfather Henry, who is immersed in art history, decides to take her to an art museum, once a week, for 54 weeks, Starting from the Louvre, they begin with a painting from the 1600’s, planning to continue with a new artist throughout time to the present.
Their conversations deepen, both artistically and emotionally. Each artist’s life and style is thoroughly covered in their specified period, and beautifully explained by Dadè as Mona participates to both question and add her thoughts,
There are secrets to be revealed as Mona grows in knowledge of her family history, which will bring her, Dadè,
and her parents to a new beginning. You, the reader, Will See!, and be learning along with Mona.
This is an in-depth reading of art as history, lives of artists, and generational relationships that are so immersive that you will keep going back to read parts again, and again and head to an art museum.

This is a truly informative story about the power of art, beauty and wonders.

The main character in the book is Mona, a ten-year old girl who suddenly experiences episodes of temporary blindness. Her parents decide to take her to a doctor who finds no physical issues and suggests seeing a psychiatrist. Her grandfather is then tasked with the responsibility, but instead of a visit to a psychiatrist, he takes her to various museums in Paris (Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and Centre Pompidou) to admire different art work every week, for 52 consecutive weeks, hoping that she will be able to remember the beauty of art should she permanently lose her vision.

Every chapter is dedicated to an art work, covering the last 500 years of art history. We then get to read the dialogue of Mona and her grandfather analysing the work, as well as what she learns from it.

“…the hidden meaning of a painting, what also had to be imagined behind the images: it wasn’t only about complex readings, learned interpretations, bold decipherments, and hypotheses by the hundreds. No, what was hidden, and should be kept in mind, under the layers of pigment was the banality of this soulless canvas on its stretcher, the disarming simplicity of these objects onto which immortal moments of humanity itself might be set down.”

As an art enthusiast myself, this is one I would never have said no to. I was properly absorbed - I searched online for the art work in each chapter, zoomed in and studied the description in detail.

I must say that I'm a bit sceptical that such a young child can comprehend so well, and perhaps the characterisation is what is lacking for me, but I have learned so much about the different pieces I read about, so for that alone, I think the book has done its job for me.

Many years ago I read Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. Mona's Eyes will do for the history of art what Gaarder's book did for philosophy. Both of these books are wonderful and reward careful, unrushed reading.

Mona's Eyes is translated from the French. It tells the story of a little girl who had an episode of temporary blindness. It is not clear as the story begins whether or not, she will face a life without vision.

Many intercede to care for Mona. The most interesting might be her grandfather, Henri/Henry. When Mona is supposed to be attending therapy sessions, instead her grandfather is taking her to Paris museums. He wants Mona to soak up the art so that it is in her memory and he wants her to learn the lessons that the works have to teach. It is from here that readers find out much about the history of art beginning with Botticelli and moving forward all the way to Pierre Soulage. There is ample description of each work as well as a sense of what Henri hopes Mona will take forward from each. To start at the beginning, the Botticelli is paired with learning to receive as well as give.

In addition to the art history, there is a plot relating to those around Mona including her family and friends. There are also details of her daily life.

There are no reproductions in the book so it is best to read this one with access to the works as they are described. That way, the reader can see what Mona is seeing.

I most highly recommend this title. Mark your calendar for its release date.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Europa for this title. All opinions are my own.

A poignant and revealing journey through the world of art contained in Paris museums, and through the eyes of a ten-year-old child who may be going blind. After Mona experiences periods of blindness, leaving her doctors puzzled as to its origins, her grandfather makes it his mission to educate Mona regarding art, from Michelangelo to Rothko, before her sight slips away. Their weekly visits to art museums fascinate Mona, and she becomes an apt student. And yet, there are recurring shadows of memories regarding her grandmother, long dead, who gifted her a pendant made from a shell. Is this pendant related to the cause of Mona’s bouts of blindness? Is there a cure in store for her mysterious illness? Read the book to find out!

Europa truly has some of the most talented writers and translators. This book was beautiful and overall a masterful display of storytelling and writing prose. I loved reading this book and have falling in love with Schlesser’s writing.

Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

My rating
3.5/5 stars

The plot
Mona is 10 years old when she suddenly loses her eyesight for a short but stressful hour. Her grandfather, wanting to make sure she sees all that’s beautiful in the world if she is to go blind permanently, takes her each week to see a new work of art, for 52 weeks. Her grandfather Henry is well versed in many artists and the meaning behind their art and imparts his wisdom and knowledge onto Mona.

My review
If you love art history, you will love this book. I have always had an interest in art history but have never been sure how to best learn it. Turns out it’s this sweet grandpa explaining the meaning of art to me like I am a 10 year old.

Now the novel part of this book is slightly another story. This is most definitely an art history book with a small novel backstory in the background. Learning about Mona’s life gives reference to how she learns about the paintings but I definitely get the impression we were hurrying through her life to get back to the art. Nevertheless, it did add to the through line of the relevance of the art and the impact of Mona’s potential blindness although there is no medical explanation for her temporary blindness.

Mona is bright, funny, smart, emotional, sensitive, wise and thoughtful. I loved learning about the art world through Mona’s eyes. While this story is primarily about art, it is also about life, love, beauty, expression, pain and loss.

Thank you Europa Editions for providing this advanced reader copy for review. Mona’s Eyes is expected for release in August 2025.

Some quotes that stood out to me
“You can’t believe without doubting, Mona.”

“Many art historians think that Monet invented the ‘series.’ Notably, between 1892 and 1894, he would paint forty versions of the façade of Rouen cathedral, before which he declared: ‘Everything changes, even stone.’”

“When one approaches art history naively, one believes that creating is merely about producing beautiful things. But that’s wrong: painting, sculpture, photography, literature, music, and theater, too, stir up the most deeply buried layers of who we are and intensify them, including our anxieties.”

Mona’s Eyes is a beautifully written and emotionally rich novel about family, art, and the fleeting nature of time. The relationship between Mona and her grandfather was heartfelt, and I appreciated the way art was woven into the narrative. However, the detailed descriptions of the paintings, while interesting, sometimes slowed down the pacing for me. Still, this is a poignant and thought-provoking read that art lovers will especially appreciate.

Mona's Eyes is a spectacularly beautiful book detailing ten-year-old Mona, for whom sight is not guaranteed, and her family, specifically her grandfather, who takes her to different museums every Wednesday to interpret artworks. This novel is an incredible tale of growing up and family, but it also contains incredible art-historical inventories and interpretations of 52 fantastic pieces of art spanning from the fifteenth century to the present. Being in an art history class myself, this book sincerely added to my love and appreciation of the way of learning. I fell in love with the characters in this novel, and you will fall in love with them, too, when you read this delightful and necessary book. I cannot recommend this book enough to art lovers, francophiles, and anyone who wants to learn a painful and heartwarming tale of childhood and family.

was really so excited to read this but the beginning was such a slog to get through, i really didn’t like the in depth descriptions for all the paintings (i’m a history major) which i usually love! i think the short chapters at this point is what made me dislike it the most just because everything was happening so quickly.

it did get better as the book went on and i did overall enjoy it, just not as much as i thought i would!

“Losing is the indispensable condition for feeling alive.”

The threat of a terrible illness is the catalyst for 10-year-old Mona and her grandfather to place value on their intergenerational relationship and the power of art.

In supporting his grandchild’s positive outlook and memory storage, Henri plans to use the next 52 Wednesdays to visit 52 works of art. He helps her find a balance between darkness and beauty as they experience the healing power of art.

Reading was slow on this one because (despite the wonderful explanations of each piece of art) I needed to see the piece for myself. That’s not a bad thing going slow, don’t get me wrong. Just be prepared to reach for Google or an art book if you want to see what’s being described.

I loved the advice given to his granddaughter: “Mona, go towards what you risk.”

I can see why this is such a popular book. It’s emotionally rich and healing.

I was gifted this copy by Europa Editions and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.