Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Museum Edition

 Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan (2024)

Sir Griffin, a medieval knight, has been trapped as a statue for hundreds of years, cursed by someone he believed to be a friend.  He is brought back to life by Emily, a museum art conservator.  Can the two overcome their differences and find their happily ever after?  Was this book a literary masterpiece?  No.  Was it well-written?  At times.  But, was this a compelling premise that revealed a silly but often romantic story? Yes!  As soon as I heard about this book, I had to read it - a knight brought back to life in the present day?  Sign me up.  It's over the top, it's a bit goofy, but I loved watching Griffin learn about the world he's found himself in, as well as getting to know Emily, who is the perfect match for him with her background in art history.  There were some other elements to the story that I wish had been fleshed out further (particularly with Emily's boss), but ultimately this is the unconventional love story of Griffin and Emily, and it was just the escape I needed.  3.5 stars

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley (2023)

After his brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Patrick Bringley decided he needed a change in his life and so he became a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  He wanted a place of quiet and solitude, where he could be alone with his feelings among beautiful art (yes, even amongst the many daily visitors).  He brings the reader into his world, telling personal stories and ruminating on the role art plays in our lives.  Bringley is a great storyteller, and I loved the behind-the-scenes look at how such a huge institution runs.  We see how Bringley grows over the years, from first wanting to be very solitary in his job to befriending other guards and having conversations with visitors as he works through his grief over his brother.  His love for art comes through clearly, as he brings us to various parts of the museum and introduces us to certain pieces.  I enjoyed his ruminations on art and life, although at times it did feel a bit overwritten.  4 stars

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