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.