Last Updated on May 13, 2026
Resident John Arnold will review Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser [New York: Europa Editions, 2025] on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 7 PM in the Auditorium. This is his book review for the May 2026 issue of The Sunburst.
Join us on a journey! Actually, a year of journeys, through the world of art. Journeys through the museums of Paris, where residents John Arnold and his wife, Dotty Reitwiesner, have frequently explored the artworks featured in Mona’s Eyes, the focus of the May Book Review.
Our companions on the literary journey are Mona, a ten-year-old Parisian girl; her parents, Camille and Paul; and her grandfather,
affectionately known as Dadé. The story turns on Mona’s sudden and mysterious episode of temporary blindness. While it appears to resolve itself, the prognosis of the possible permanent loss of her sight within the coming year inspires Dadé to take Mona on a yearlong feast for the eyes. For 52 Wednesdays, Dadé and Mona lose themselves in a noteworthy work of art at one of the legendary museums of Paris. Their adventure takes them to the Louvre, the Musée D’Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou.
Fittingly, Mona’s Eyes is dedicated to “All the grandparents in the world.” The story is driven by the special affection shared by Dadé and Mona, and the world of beauty they experience together in their year of immersion in the visual arts.
The author, Thomas Schlesser, is a professor of art history at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris.
John Arnold has lived at Charlestown since 2024. He is an oil painter and the May 2026 Fireside Artist of The Month. He currently serves as secretary of the Residents’ Council and co-chair of the 2026 RC Nominating/Elections committee. This is his first Book Review.