Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

 

There is never a better book club discussion than when the book is either not liked or controversial.  Or really, really long!

This ambitious novel is definitely long, and the consensus was that it was not our favorite. But boy did we have a lot to say about it!  The premise, tragic though it sounds, ended up being very inspirational and hopeful:  A young girl experiences a sudden bout of blindness, so before her sight goes forever, her beloved Grandfather determines to take her to the art museums in their home of Paris and show her one masterpiece a week for the year the doctor gives her.  Sounds kinda awful, but just wait until you meet 10 year old Mona.  She is a piece of work herself, and she is beautiful.  Each week they discuss just one painting, and her grandfather imparts some wise Life Lesson.  This precocious girl catches on quickly.

Meanwhile, her parents grapple with financial struggles, the loss of Mona's grandmother, drama at Mona's school, and the future their daughter may now face. Mona's parents are like stick figures here - not fully developed and quite representational.  Structured basically into 52 chapters, with a brief look at real life before heading to the museum each week, this is a novel you should not try to read in 1 or 2 long sessions.  It becomes rote.  Pick it up, put it down, come back to it.  There is no rush, and there is a lot to ponder.  SO much symbolism here!  He throws in a lot of psychology too. Part Art Lessons, part parable, part story telling and history (some great tidbits about the artists' lives!), and a lot unbelievable (not even in Paris do they speak to 10 year old about such adult issues as Grandfather speaks of to Mona!!).  At first I could not figure out why he chose these 52 pieces of art to discuss with Mona.  But they each have a purpose, and it is not just the famous ones he chooses, the Mona Lisa aside.  

There is more here than just art though.  The grief different characters feel over Grandmother's death is hidden behind the secret of how she died.  This is a slow burn reveal in this book and ends up being a major plot point.  Sneaky!  The epilogue really does bring a lot together, but it is quite a journey getting there, I'll give you that.  Don't be afraid of this book, but don't think you are going to whip through it either.  View it as a challenge, and read the hardcover, not audio (see below).  It does present as a textbook, and would actually be a great additional reading requirement for Art Classes.  After all, the author is an art professor, and his insights into each piece of art are tremendous, even if hidden in the form of a novel, as another reviewer put it.

Bonus:  the hardback sleeve opens up to reveal small pictures of each piece of art Mona and her 
Grandfather view.  This was so helpful to me!  I actually learned a lot, with flashbacks to Art Appreciation 101 in college!!