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Mona’s Eyes: When Art is the Story
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Book Review
Thomas Schlesser’s Mona’s Eyes has captured significant attention. It was named Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year in 2025.
Its enticing cover, featuring Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting Girl with a Pearl Earring, also cleverly evokes the Mona Lisa, which is housed at the Louvre Museum—though the connection is somewhat misleading.
52 Masterworks of Art
Fresh from a trip to Paris and the Louvre, I was eager to give the book a try. This ambitious novel sets out to unite family drama and philosophical reflection in a narrative built around 52 masterworks of art.
Originally published in French as Les Yeux de Mona and translated into English by Hildegarde Serle, the novel follows 10-year-old Mona, who faces the possibility of losing her eyesight after a sudden episode of temporary blindness. This premise alone makes for an intriguing story.
The Great Museums of Paris
As part of an unconventional form of psychological treatment, Mona joins her grandfather on a year-long project. Each Wednesday, the pair visit a masterpiece in one of Paris’s great museums. Their goal is to fill Mona’s memory with beauty before she goes blind.
The novel is a passionate celebration of art. Schlesser, an accomplished art historian, brings obvious expertise to discussions of works ranging from Botticelli and Vermeer to Rothko and Basquiat. The museum scenes paint a vivid picture, so to speak, enriched by historical context and thoughtful interpretations. I must admit that the novel inspired me to explore several of the artworks more deeply.
For readers like me with little background in art history, the book serves as an accessible introduction to major artistic movements and ideas. Its central message—that art can shape our understanding of loss, memory, and humanity—is both moving and well intentioned.
However, Mona’s Eyes struggles to balance its educational ambitions with the demands of fiction. The plot feels formulaic, and additional twists or more developed character arcs might have created a more compelling narrative.
Less Art History , More Genuine Emotion
At times, Mona herself feels less like a child on the brink of darkness and more like a convenient vehicle for the book’s ideas. Her dialogue frequently seems too sophisticated for her age, while her grandfather’s monologues often read more like art history lectures than expressions of genuine emotion.
I was left wondering why Henry, Mona’s grandfather, chose to replace medical guidance with his own treatment plan centered on museum visits. It also raises questions about whether Mona’s parents should have been more involved or informed.
Despite these shortcomings, Mona’s Eyes succeeds in conveying the idea that art and beauty can help heal us. Readers who appreciate art history, museum culture, or reflective novels will find much to enjoy.
In the end, Mona’s Eyes is an interesting, if somewhat formulaic, work of fiction. Its greatest value lies not in its plot but in its belief that beauty, once truly witnessed, can become an enduring source of comfort and meaning.
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