Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser was a disappointment. I had it on my list for so long and had heard so many wonderful things about it, that I was delighted when I finally got it from the library. It was far too long, however, and, while the descriptions of art were interesting and the story was very good, I just ended up skipping a great deal of the interactions of the grandfather and Mona about the art as it got really old after a while. I am glad I read it to see what all the hype was about, but overall, it wasn’t for me. “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 listener’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 listenability 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.” (Amazon)