Books at Bowers: Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

The February book selection is Mona’s Eyes by author and art history professor Thomas Schlesser. This acclaimed French novel about love, beauty, and the bond between a girl and her grandfather has been translated into 38 languages and named Barnes & Noble’s 2025 Book of the Year.

When ten year olds Mona suddenly loses her sight, her grandfather begins taking her each Wednesday to one of three Paris museums, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and the Centre Pompido, to explore a single masterpiece together. Through these visits, Mona discovers how great artists shaped the world, transforming her understanding of life and art. c. 2025, translated from the French, 432 pages.