Whenever I travel to a new city, I always try to visit a museum, a bookstore, and a great local restaurant. Even at home, I visit our local museums and First Friday gallery nights when I can. I daydream of working among works of art, and even considered returning to school to study art history or curation. In the meantime, I’ve done some “research” about art museum life in the world of books. These are some of my favorites.
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All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley
My favorite book of 2024. I wrote on Goodreads, “I loved this book. It might be because I love museums, but really, I think it’s much more than that.” When I lived in New York, I escaped to the Met when I could, in good times and bad. Its vastness allowed me to get lost amid the beauty of paintings and sculptures across time and place. Bringley, a Met security guard, invites the reader into his unique experiences with visitors and fellow staff, while interweaving his personal story of navigating grief.
Other good books with a Met connection: Metropolitan Stories and The Goldfinch.
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
This is the first book I’ve read by Brooks, and her writing made me want to read everything she has written. She won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for her book March, which tells the story of the father in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. People of the Book follows a rare book conservator as she examines an ancient Jewish text. It reminded me a bit of the film, The Red Violin. The story takes the reader on the book’s journey across time and regimes, providing a glimpse of life through the eyes of a variety of characters. It made me wonder about all ancient art and what stories are held within.
House of Honor by Margaret Ann Philbrick
My fellow Redbud Writers Guild sister wrote this thrilling book that “…weaves the threads of history, the ruthless allure of the mafia, the enigmatic power of the Vatican, and the timeless brilliance of Caravaggio.” It’s won MANY awards! As a Catholic, I always find it interesting to read about the Vatican and all the power dynamics that surround the “home” of my faith. The focus on the heist of Caravaggio’s Nativity and other precious works made it a must-read.
Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart by Russ Ramsey
I first learned of Russ Ramsey through this Makers & Mystics podcast. I so enjoyed learning the backstory of famous artwork and artists, like Picasso being questioned about the theft of the Mona Lisa. More than that, though, I appreciated Ramsey’s encouragement to make great works of art a part of your own life story.
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
I read Shopgirl years ago and enjoy the characters and settings that Steve Martin creates in his books. Maybe it’s his acting background, but he writes scenes that I can imagine watching – the auction house floor, the aesthetic of new galleries, sitting at a dinner table with collectors. I enjoyed this BTS look into the gallery world in New York City in the 90s through the ‘coming-of-age’ story of an up-and-coming self-made art dealer.
The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle
I spontaneously picked this book up while walking through the library. Like the main character, Jess, I’ve always wanted to be a curator. Her idea of creating and collecting things that people didn’t want to throw away but couldn’t keep had both utility and sweetness. It made me look at the things passed down to me in a different way. I wish we could all have a home for the physical representations of our precious memories. She created a community through an experience many people relate to and share. Isn’t that a gift museums and galleries give?
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I am always up for checking out books with art-related themes, so please leave any recommendations in the comments!