The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

My thanks to Random House U.K. Cornerstone Hutchinson Heinemann for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘I, Mona Lisa’ by Natasha Solomons. It was first published in May 2022. My apologies for the late feedback.

I was delighted as I began reading ‘I, Mona Lisa’. What a fascinating premise to have the story of the Mona Lisa told by the Mona Lisa!

As a lover of art and art history it was easy for me to imagine that a work of art could have consciousness and a voice that a few are open to hearing and responding to.

It is clear that a great deal of research went into the creation of ‘I, Mona Lisa’ and I felt that Solomons’ beautiful writing brought the story vividly to life. The Mona Lisa proves a witty commentator and her love for Leonardo runs throughout the novel. Still, there are times when her loneliness was palatable.

I found it quite a moving story with rich descriptions throughout. Solomon doesn’t follow a strict timeline and she has the Mona Lisa returning again and again to recall her years with Leonardo.

I appreciated that Solomons opened with ‘A Gallery Guide’ that provided a character list of historical figures that feature in the Mona Lisa’s 500 year history. I especially enjoyed her portrayal of the young Picasso visits to the Louvre.

Overall, a unique and unusual work of historical literary fiction. While this was my first experience of Natasha Solomons’ writing, I am now interested in seeking out her earlier novels and will also be looking out for her future projects.

An original tale of Mona Lisa. Unlike other stories, this is not about Mona Lisa, the woman, this is about Mona Lisa, the painting. Loved by Leonardo da Vinci, she comes to life and had a mind and soul of her own. She can even communicate with those gifted enough to hear her voice. Makes me so sorry to know she is now held in captivity in the Louvre, fully protected, but ever so lonely

I love books that bring art subjects to life! This one was exceptionally thrilling; I felt completely immersed in history and its famous figures. I'll always look at the Mona Lisa differently now, and I love how fiction can make us do that. Thank you for the ARC!

I loved this novel which made me sit with Wikipedia or Google open so I could look up the people, places and the paintings when inspired to find out more than the enigmatic narrator would offer. Certainly I learned a lot and as somebody who appreciates words but not paintings, it was a great opportunity to delve into why the Mona Lisa is considered so unique and beloved.

There are elements of the writing which were just gorgeously expressed and I thoroughly enjoyed this journey back and forth through time, across Europe and into the mind of a genius.

I was fascinated by the concept and liked how Mona Lisa was telling her story and the story of what she saw.
The plot is fascinating, the historical parts vivid, and Mona Lisa is a fleshed out characters.
It's a bit confusing at times but I liked it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

From the moment she is painted by the master Leonardo, Lisa discovers that she has a voice. Although it can only be heard by the best artists, she narrates her story and the story of the women she encounters throughout time. From her beginnings in Renaissance Florence, through the Palace of Versailles and the Nazi search to her present day isolation in the Louvre, Lisa has lived a life
I really liked the concept of this story but found it really messy in the telling. The chronology is not linear and that made it somewhat frustrating as a reader. however there is a lot of promise here.

Loved the concept of this novel, to give Mona Lisa her voice and really enjoyed the various historical aspects throughout the book. Well executed but felt it strayed a little too far in the closing chapters, moving more into a romance than the authentic muse we heard from to begin with. Cleverly done, I'd recommend!

The idea of a talking painting is one thing, but when it’s the Mona Lisa it’s got to be good. And this was good. I’m not an art fan but I knew the Mona Lisa and that Leonardo da Vinci painted it, but that was as far as my knowledge went. By the end of the book I knew an awful lot more. I looked a lot of it up as I read and studied the other paintings, artists and historical figures. I was really drawn into this book and actually felt sorry for her losing everyone she loved over the years, for a painting she’s certainly had a long and eventful life. I have never been to the Louvre but if I do I will certainly be talking to Mona Lisa! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK/Cornerstone for letting me read and review this book.

What an interesting concept - a piece of art sharing its own story! Mona Lisa is such a well known piece of art that this is a brave venture by Natasha Solomons and I think she does Leonardo and Mona Lisa proud!

Through this book you learn about Leonardo and the challenges of his life. You discover his intimate relationship with his magnus opus and how she loves him back. It was wonderful to hear Mona Lisa's thoughts and desires. Her jealousy of Lisa del Giocondo is biting and heartbreaking at the same time.

The book changes timelines at several points in the book, which I found somewhat disconcerting to start with, but as I read on I felt like I was locked in the frame with her and freely roamed through her memories of times gone by. The concept of some characters being able to communicate directly with the painting offered me, as a reader, direct access into Mona Lisa's observations of life. Her analysis of other characters and comments on their behaviour are often pithy and direct; yet, it is clear she is lonely and longing for more than she could ever hope for. Such a clever way to bring a character to life, yet leaving her frozen in perpetuity.

I found myself learning more than I expected and researching up some of the details. The book seems to be well founded on fact with a wonderful rounding of their historic characters. Mona Lisa lived a life of adventure and mishap which are well fleshed out in the pages of this book.

Part truth part fiction. The book is superbly researched and Natasha Solomons writes with an engaging style. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight.

This books tells the story of the Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous painting in the world, by the Mona Lisa herself. She tells her own story; from the beloved home of Leonardo, to surviving the French Revolution, being stolen from the Louvre and then hidden from the Nazis. I thought it was an interesting concept, particularly as she is able to converse with people, and it may not work for everyone, but for me it absolutely does
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Mona Lisa is a wonderful character, she’s loyal to her creator and she can be wickedly funny, but she’s also incredibly lonely and vulnerable as the centuries pass. And the fact that the author is able to make you feel for an inanimate object shows how well this was written. The writing flows well, is full of historical detail and imagery, and includes some brilliant characters, such as Machiavelli, the de Medicis and the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV. There is a lot of humour in the book, but also darkness and greed, as everybody wants to get their hands on the Mona Lisa
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The book is showing the vibrancy and importance of art and the artist. The link between Leonardo and Mona Lisa is never broken, they made each other immortal. The only people to hear her are those touched with artistic genius, such as Michaelangelo and Picasso; those who find the life and power in art. And I really liked how much focus was put onto this, that the Mona Lisa outgrew her original subject, and became something bigger than what she was made to be. Yet she still spends her life being passed around thanks to the whims and ambitions of men, mirroring the other female characters of the book and of the time
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I, Mona Lisa moves through the centuries, and less time is spent in the 20th Century, which made the ending feel a little rushed, but I really enjoyed the book. It was paced well, had some great characters and beautiful settings, and brings to life one of the most well known faces in history in such a brilliant and unique way
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Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Solomons and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

A very interesting concept, but I'm afraid I found it rather too dull in the end. Not for me, although I did learn a little about Da Vinci that i didn't know before.

I was immediately grabbed by the words on the cover of this one..."You've seen my smile, now hear my voice".

The entire story is told from the point of view of Mona Lisa which just works so well! She is still very much a painting, she can't move her arms, she is constrained by the frame, she feels the paint brush strokes and no one can hear her speak except very gifted artists....but she can feel emotions. Through her, we travel from Leonardo da Vinci's studio, to French courts, to Versailles and all the way through to the twentieth century.

At a few points in the story I was looking up whether the events had taken place and they had, such as the theft of Mona Lisa by an art thief which I never knew,

I loved how Natasha Solomon brings history to life and most importantly breathes life into the famous names from history that we all learn about. For example, how Leonardo da Vinci felt when Michelangelo's David was being unveiled in the town square and how their rivalry developed. The emotion, the politics and the relationships between those working in the studios...it's all there.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the opportunity to review.

Released in the UK on 10th February 2022.

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This is the story of the painting, Mona Lisa from the perspective of the picture itself.. Solomons had obviously done a lot of research but, unfortunately, I found too much of a romantic fantasy. I usually enjoy factual historical novels but this wasn't for me. I am sure many readers will enjoy this book.

I love the idea of this book - that Da Vinci's Mona Lisa was so beautiful and realistic that she became sentient (if you were artistic enough to be able to hear her).
The story is all about the life of the painting and thus partly about Da Vinci and his model Lisa Gioconda but also includes what happened to the painting after his death.

The Lisa of the painting is deeply in love with Da Vince and much of the story tells of his life in Renaissance Italy and France as she remembers the good times but also touches on her experiences in France prior to the Revolution and just after, and then the story of her 'kidnap' and recovery at the start of the 20th Century and her survival during the Nazi occupation of France.

I loved how the details of real life were merged with Lisa's emotions and thoughts and once I'd bought into the idea I loved the book - I just wish perhaps that we'd learned more of the Wartime adventures but as the painting was in a dark case and couldn't see anything I can understand why a book all about her viewpoint couldn't include this.

I have a liking for art, although my taste is for the more modern variety. Well, not very modern; Impressionist to just before I was born! But I have seen the Mona Lisa, when I was a teenager. I don’t remember being impressed. I’d go back now, but the Louvre has encased her in bullet-proof glass, from what she says in this book. But oh, what a story! What a history! And at last I have some sort of handle on Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, who all feature, larger than life, in this tale from Mona Lisa’s point of view.

She also has plenty to say about Mona Lisa del Giocondo, the woman Leonardo painted. But he turned her into his own muse, and never let her go.

I am taking it for granted that Natasha Solomons has got her history right. I haven’t checked, but it feels right. The weather, for a start. Renaissance Italy was a turbulent time for weather. There’s a great deal of rain and mud that ruins the maestro’s paintings, especially his more experimental works, and all up against the pressure of completion before the powerful ruler of Florence (brother of Pope Leo) loses patience. I am so glad I don’t have to toady to people like that in order to make a living–not just for myself, but for all my acolytes. They come to learn at Leonardo’s feet, but really to do all the boring bits that need to be done in an artist’s studio.

Solomons makes this more than a history, though. She traces the picture’s life through the centuries, to the horrible conditions within the king of France’s bathing suite–like a Roman baths, with rooms at different humidity and temperature. And the naked observers. It’s very funny at times, but pulls no punches, so if you take offence at nude men (even if they are kings) playing with themselves, look away now.

I really liked the way she skipped forward to make some point about her later existence, and the dangers she endured, but then returned to the narrative of life with Leonardo. It’s akin to time travel, since she’s travelling while Leonardo is just ageing. Several dangers she endured were unknown to me, but her World War 2 experience is very well handled.

Altogether I found this a gripping story, told with a real woman’s voice, even if she was a work of art. Totally believable. I loved it.

The idea of a novel written from the perspective of one of the world's most famous paintings is a good one - and when it's executed by an excellent writer like Natasha Solomons you know you're in for a treat. In Solomons' novel, the artwork is conscious, somehow imbued with life by Da Vinci through the exquisite brilliance of his art. She can even communicate, but only with artists of great genius - of whom she encounters only four in the course of the five hundred years covered by the novel.

Much of the story focuses on her time with Da Vinci, the artist who created her and whom she loves. The Renaissance in Florence is a wonderful setting for literature, full of figures from history worthy of fiction, and as much intrigue and drama as any story. Over the centuries, the painting is a first hand witness to more fascinating history - the daily life in France's royal palaces, a brief stint in the bedroom of an art thief, and fleeing greedy Nazis during World War II. The basis for the story is all fact, at least based on my internet search - to my surprise, there are actually even more interesting incidents that could have been included and weren't.

I've read all of Solomons' novels to date and know she is a reliably good writer. Her style is easy to read and flowing, and draws you in straight away. Mona Lisa may be made up only of paint, but the character Solomons creates for her lives and breathes. What the novel claims Da Vinci could do through painting, Solomons can do through art. I will never look at images of that painting in the same way again. The human characters that she meets are also well drawn, fascinating and generally likeable. It's quite extraordinary to realise how much of the backdrop is based on real events - of course, it is fictionalised, but when I looked it up there was less embellishment than I had expected.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good story. I can't find any criticism - if you enjoy reading, this is book to treat yourself with. In fact, I'd go as far as saying this is my favourite of her books to date - the concept elevates it even higher than her other (excellent) novels. It's great when an established author can continue to surprise and delight rather than getting stuck in a groove. I look forwards to what she comes up with next.

What an original idea for historical fiction, describing events through the eyes of an iconic painting. The painting even dislikes the sitter that becomes the painting. And the painting endures through the centuries, observing and commenting as history evolves. Totally different.

Many of us will, on a trip to Paris, have stood in the Louvre in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. We may also know some of the details of the painting’s history – its creation in Renaissance Italy, its theft from the Louvre in 1911. However, this new novel by Natasha Solomons adds a whole new dimension to the Mona Lisa story, taking us inside the mind of the painting itself and showing us the world through the eyes that look out from the portrait. Whether or not you enjoy this book will probably depend on whether you can accept that a painting is narrating the story. If you’re happy with that idea, then I think you’ll find I, Mona Lisa an interesting and entertaining read.

Most of the novel is set in 16th century Florence, during the period when Leonardo is working on his most famous masterpiece. From the painting’s own perspective, we get to know some real historical figures such as Lisa del Giocondo, the noblewoman who sits for the portrait; Michelangelo and Raphael, da Vinci’s rivals; Niccolò Machiavelli, who approaches da Vinci with a scheme to divert the Arno River; and Salaì, a student in Leonardo’s workshop who is jealous of his master’s relationship with Mona Lisa. Although Mona is an inanimate object, she is portrayed in the novel as having the thoughts and feelings of a real woman, with an emotional attachment to her creator Leonardo.

When Leonardo eventually dies, leaving her vulnerable and unprotected, Mona embarks on the journey that will lead her to France. As the centuries go by, she spends time at the court of the Sun King in Fontainebleau and then at Versailles during the French Revolution, before finding her way to the Louvre where, as the 20th century dawns, she forms a new friendship with another great artist.

I, Mona Lisa is an unusual novel and a unique way of exploring some key moments in history. However, because so much time is spent in Renaissance Italy, the parts of the novel set in France feel more rushed and the characters less well developed. This was maybe the author’s intention, as Mona finds it difficult to bond with the people she meets after Leonardo’s death and makes it clear that her heart will always be in Florence, but it also meant that I felt less engaged with these sections of the book.

I do think that if you’re going to write a book about a painting with human emotions, the Mona Lisa is a perfect choice as it’s such a realistic and iconic portrait. The Mona of the novel is obviously very limited in what she can see and experience (and with whom she can communicate – just Leonardo and a handful of other painters and paintings), but Natasha Solomons does a great job of bringing Mona and her world to life. This is the third of her books I’ve read – the others are The Novel in the Viola and House of Gold. Three very different books, but I would recommend any or all of them.