Europa Editions
Mona's Eyes
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THE SENSATIONAL #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER THAT HAS TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM
"Vibrant debut ... Schlesser seamlessly interweaves the art lessons with Mona's story ... Readers of Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World will love this." --Publishers Weekly
Ten-year-old Mona and her beloved grandfather have only fifty-two Wednesdays to visit fifty-two works of art and commit to memory "all that is beautiful in the world" before Mona loses her sight forever.
While the doctors can find no explanation for Mona's brief episode of blindness, they agree that the threat of permanent vision loss cannot be ruled out. The girl's grandfather, Henry, may not be able to stop his granddaughter from losing her sight, but he can fill the encroaching darkness with beauty.
Every Wednesday for a year, the pair abscond together and visit a single masterpiece in one of Paris's renowned museums. From Botticelli to Basquiat, Mona learns how each artist's work shaped the world around them. In turn, the young girl's world is changed forever by the power of their art. Under the kind and careful tutelage of her grandfather, Mona learns the true meaning of generosity, melancholy, love, loss, and revolution. Her perspective will never be the same -- nor will the reader's.
Mona's Eyes is a heartfelt, enlightening journey across five centuries of Western art history. With the emotional impact of The Elegance of the Hedgehog and the readability of The Little Paris Bookshop, Thomas Schlesser's sensational debut novel is at once a moving book about the beauty of life and a deeply touching story about the special bond between a girl and her grandfather.
Discover all 52 masterpieces inside the fold-out dustjacket.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9798889661115
EAN:
9798889661115
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
432
Authors:
Thomas Schlesser
Publisher:
Europa Editions
...and I love this book.
Very good read
Can you imagine your child suddenly and briefly going blind and the doctor doesn't know why? This happens to a young Parisian girl named Mona, and this story is how her grandfather takes it upon himself to choose how the matter is handled. Mona’s parents plan to follow medical advice and put their young daughter in therapy. The incident was traumatizing. If it occurs again and is permanent, they want her to be mentally and emotionally prepared. Her grandfather Henry has a different idea and is willing to deceive Mona’s parents to carry out his plan—to introduce Mona to 52 works of art so she will have experienced true beauty in the event she does, indeed, lose her sight. This results in a common complaint among reviewers—that a grandparent has no business overriding decisions made by parents, particularly when it comes to the child’s health and welfare. Securing a promise that the child lie to her parents adds insult to injury. That might be why for many it’s hard to appreciate the grandfather-granddaughter togetherness theme. I struggled with Henry’s approach, but I opted to enjoy the opportunity to learn from author Thomas Schleswig, an art historian and professor, as Henry’s lessons are actually his. I do agree with reviewers who complain about Mona’s characterization. She does, indeed, come across as older than her years and, I might add, a bit stilted.If you are an art lover and, especially, if you have been to the museums Henry and Mona visit, this might be a book for you.Many thanks to Europa Editions and NetGalley for providing this eARC.#MonasEyes #NetGalley
Each year I purchase a book for myself as my own Christmas present. I have read the prologue and find it spellbinding. I cannot wait until Christmas Day when I will begin reading this year's book choice as a present to myself. I can hardly wait. At first viewing, the only fault I find is that the reproduction of the art masterpieces seem very small and may require the use of a magnifying glass to truly enjoy the book's classic works of art in Paris.
Luckily I got the audible for only $7, as it was a waste of even that. I am an artist and love art. I knew most the artists described in the book, but found the explanations and descriptions a little over the top and not particularly true.
