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mona lisas lacheln
Based on the screenplay for Columbia Pictures' motion picture, this novelization tells the story of a free-spirit from Berkeley who takes a teaching position at Wellesley in 1953. Starring Academy Award( winners Julia Roberts and Marcia Gay Harden, the film is scheduled to be released December 19. Original.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 13, 2013
I can't even express my love for this story. This is the novelization of one of my favourite movies 'Mona Lisa Smile'. I love it to bits. Sometimes movie-to-novel adaptions can be quite predictable or boring - but this certainly wasn't. Not only because I love these characters and this story so much; but also because they included alot of information, scenes and thoughts that weren't in the movie. I love personality of the main characters. They're so amazing. I love the progressive ideals and views on art. The struggle in the traditions and expectations for women of that time. The need to pave your own path and do that the way you want it. Choose the life that makes you happy even though others may not agree or society may not agree of you and your life. It's a truly inspiring story. I also especially love the setting in that era and the teacher-students setting. They learned from each other and they changed each others views. Ugh, I really cannot put into words why I think this is story is so amazing. I'm trying. I admire the strength of those women. Not only the women who took a stand against the traditions and expectations of society and the people near to them, but also the women who didn't. The world had a long way to go. It was progressive and amazing enough that women could actually get a college eduaction. Yet, even now the world still isn't equal for both men and women. I love Katherine's aspiration to change things. I love Joan's power to choose for the life that makes her happy even though it in fact fits in the tradition. I love Connie's loving heart and dreams. I love Giselle's boldness, freedom and here ability to do what she wants to do even though other people disapprove of her ways. I love Betty's strength and mind to see that if she wants to be happy she has to break free of her chains and pave the path she really wants. I especially love reading how they ended up, something that they don't show in the movie. I liked how they ended up with the succesful career or happy family they wanted. Also that Katherine is breaking down new walls in Europe, finding new inspiration. They changed each others lives and they will never forget each other. I felt so proud of the characters because they deserve the best and they're became and were such intelligent and open-minded women. I'm going to end this review still not feeling like I've fully expressed my love, but it'll have to do.
May 27, 2014
Still reading and almost done! Just like the movie, very hard to put down. Love it!
I finished the book and this was a great book, made me feel great and a very easy read. I highly recommend this book to every woman!
I finished the book and this was a great book, made me feel great and a very easy read. I highly recommend this book to every woman!
June 6, 2015
Στην δεκαετία του 1950 μια προοδευτική καθηγήτρια Ιστορίας της Τέχνης ταξιδεύει από την Δυτική Ακτή για να προσληφθεί σε ένα αυστηρό, παραδοσιακό κολλέγιο θηλέων της Βοστώνης. Εκεί θα προσπαθήσει να παροτρύνει της νέες μαθήτριες της να αγαπήσουν την μοντέρνα ζωγραφική και να δουν την ζωή με άλλα μάτια. Παρωχημένο το θέμα πλέον, δεν πρόκειται περί μυθιστορήματος αλλά αποτελεί διασκευή σεναρίου, γεγονός που φαίνεται, η γραφή στερείται συναισθήματος και απαραίτητων περιγραφών.
January 25, 2018
Just stick to the movie.
July 10, 2019
I think I ruined the novel seeing the movie first.
January 10, 2022
Katherine Watson, a new professor at Wellesley College, teaching the ‘History of Art. Katherine starts to receive first stress when the Head of College, President Jocelyn Carr, knows this, she asks Katherine to stop teaching modern art, because Wellesley College is unadventurous and conventional, so she has to teach based on materials that are given in the syllabus.
Then Mrs. Carr intimidates her, if she keep doing that, she was afraid if Katherine cannot continue teaching in that College anymore. This, makes Katherine oppressed because she feels like there is a wall that is built to blocks her thoughts.
The actions that Katherine does as an effort to change her students’ mindset from conservative thinkers to the open-minded women like what she wants…..
The most well-known effort that she does in Wellesley College is teaching modern art that is very evidently outlawed. She leaves the material that is provided in the syllabus, and she asks her students to look new art that they never seen before.
Another small effort to break the rule, she give the application form of Yale Law School for Joan in secret. The effects of Katherine’s actions of changing her student’s mindset and summarizing if she can make it and get what she wants or even fail….
At first her effort seems like changes Joan mind to enter Yale Law School because when she applied for it, she is accepted. But then Joan married her boyfriend and forgets her dream to be a lawyer. Actually Joan wants to continue her study to Yale, but then she have to surrender because as a woman, she has to give priority to build new family, as the culture ask her to.
After analyzing the Mona Lisa Smile novel written by Deborah Chiel, it can be concluded that changing the tradition is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand. Katherine’s eager wish to change the mindset of her female students is not yet strong enough to penetrate the walls of tradition that is so strongly attached at Wellesley College community for hundreds of years.
On the other hand, the students of Wellesley College also faced the same difficult choices. Most of them are intelligent women who want to learn things as high as they could, but they also want to continue the tradition of their institution to be housewives immediately after the graduation.
Mona Lisa Smile also depicts other imperative issues of the 1950s, namely the post war situation when a lot of families, like Giselle Levy’s, have been broken because of the growing apart after war and like Katherine herself, who broke up with her boyfriend, a Hollywood star, after the war
as he, essentially both, changed.
Giselle represents an attractive character, with her liberated way of life, not opposing who does not obey the rules of the society, like Katherine, but unlike her she is just leading her own life without trying to “make a difference”.
Remember words of Betty Warren, exclusively depicting Katherine’s character?
My teacher, Katherine Watson, lived by her own definition, and would not compromise that. Not even for Wellesley. I dedicate this, my last editorial, to an extraordinary woman who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. By the time you read this, she’ll be sailing to Europe, where I know she’ll find new walls to break down and new ideas to replace them with. I’ve heard her called a quitter for leaving, an aimless wanderer. But not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition; beyond definition; beyond the image….
Katherine achieved her goal, she made a difference.
Women like her, and normally people like her, representing the “minorities”, made a difference and prepared a sturdy base for the new social order that started after the tumultuous 1960s, the order that benefits from the autonomy and fairness of gender and race.
Finally, we can wrap up saying that any changes necessitate an extended process that could not happen instantaneously, moreover, to change a culture that has been run for many generations.
In this case, we should be more sensible, and say that Katherine did it well by deciding to resign from Wellesley College.
At least, she left a deep impression on her students’ mind by getting them to see things widely and out of the box.
Then Mrs. Carr intimidates her, if she keep doing that, she was afraid if Katherine cannot continue teaching in that College anymore. This, makes Katherine oppressed because she feels like there is a wall that is built to blocks her thoughts.
The actions that Katherine does as an effort to change her students’ mindset from conservative thinkers to the open-minded women like what she wants…..
The most well-known effort that she does in Wellesley College is teaching modern art that is very evidently outlawed. She leaves the material that is provided in the syllabus, and she asks her students to look new art that they never seen before.
Another small effort to break the rule, she give the application form of Yale Law School for Joan in secret. The effects of Katherine’s actions of changing her student’s mindset and summarizing if she can make it and get what she wants or even fail….
At first her effort seems like changes Joan mind to enter Yale Law School because when she applied for it, she is accepted. But then Joan married her boyfriend and forgets her dream to be a lawyer. Actually Joan wants to continue her study to Yale, but then she have to surrender because as a woman, she has to give priority to build new family, as the culture ask her to.
After analyzing the Mona Lisa Smile novel written by Deborah Chiel, it can be concluded that changing the tradition is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand. Katherine’s eager wish to change the mindset of her female students is not yet strong enough to penetrate the walls of tradition that is so strongly attached at Wellesley College community for hundreds of years.
On the other hand, the students of Wellesley College also faced the same difficult choices. Most of them are intelligent women who want to learn things as high as they could, but they also want to continue the tradition of their institution to be housewives immediately after the graduation.
Mona Lisa Smile also depicts other imperative issues of the 1950s, namely the post war situation when a lot of families, like Giselle Levy’s, have been broken because of the growing apart after war and like Katherine herself, who broke up with her boyfriend, a Hollywood star, after the war
as he, essentially both, changed.
Giselle represents an attractive character, with her liberated way of life, not opposing who does not obey the rules of the society, like Katherine, but unlike her she is just leading her own life without trying to “make a difference”.
Remember words of Betty Warren, exclusively depicting Katherine’s character?
My teacher, Katherine Watson, lived by her own definition, and would not compromise that. Not even for Wellesley. I dedicate this, my last editorial, to an extraordinary woman who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. By the time you read this, she’ll be sailing to Europe, where I know she’ll find new walls to break down and new ideas to replace them with. I’ve heard her called a quitter for leaving, an aimless wanderer. But not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition; beyond definition; beyond the image….
Katherine achieved her goal, she made a difference.
Women like her, and normally people like her, representing the “minorities”, made a difference and prepared a sturdy base for the new social order that started after the tumultuous 1960s, the order that benefits from the autonomy and fairness of gender and race.
Finally, we can wrap up saying that any changes necessitate an extended process that could not happen instantaneously, moreover, to change a culture that has been run for many generations.
In this case, we should be more sensible, and say that Katherine did it well by deciding to resign from Wellesley College.
At least, she left a deep impression on her students’ mind by getting them to see things widely and out of the box.
September 30, 2023
I loved this film so much, so when I found the novel in my school's library I instantly wanted to read it.
However, this is the first time that I've read a book that was written AFTER the film. Usually when you read the book you get lots of little details, or outright alterations that make reading the book a special experience. But this book was almost word for word, scene for scene, the film.
The film I would give 5 stars; so many brilliant actresses, and it is so charming. But the book fell flat because we don't get the performances that bring these characters to life.
It also struck me how important it is to me that a book has beautiful prose. I powered through this book in a couple hours because it didn't require any contemplation. It is a movie, all action and conversation. While the story is compelling, the actual writing leaves a lot to be desired.
However, this is the first time that I've read a book that was written AFTER the film. Usually when you read the book you get lots of little details, or outright alterations that make reading the book a special experience. But this book was almost word for word, scene for scene, the film.
The film I would give 5 stars; so many brilliant actresses, and it is so charming. But the book fell flat because we don't get the performances that bring these characters to life.
It also struck me how important it is to me that a book has beautiful prose. I powered through this book in a couple hours because it didn't require any contemplation. It is a movie, all action and conversation. While the story is compelling, the actual writing leaves a lot to be desired.
February 3, 2023
Very good book.
March 7, 2019
This book based on the major motion picture, written by Deborah Chiel, is a compelling story about finding oneself. In the 1950's the cultural norm was for a woman to be a housewife and do whatever the man of the house wanted. Katherine Watson, a woman in her early 30's, was still trying to find herself when she was accepted as the art history professor, to the prestigious, all girl Wellesey College. The moral of the story was to look deeper into not just art, but life. Go against the grains and find who they truly are.
I loved the movie from the first time I saw it, and when I found out that it was written into a book, I had to get my hands on it. Although it was written very similarly to the movie, the book put a new perspective of the overall story. Woman can be anything. We can do anything we set our minds to. Katherine Watson, although fictional, is a woman I strive to be. She doesn't follow the social norms or the womanly standards that everyone else expected from her. This book has taught me to be my true self. To be mysterious and different, just like the Mona Lisa smile. I highly recommend this book to everyone, boy or girl. It can change they way everyone looks at themselves.
I loved the movie from the first time I saw it, and when I found out that it was written into a book, I had to get my hands on it. Although it was written very similarly to the movie, the book put a new perspective of the overall story. Woman can be anything. We can do anything we set our minds to. Katherine Watson, although fictional, is a woman I strive to be. She doesn't follow the social norms or the womanly standards that everyone else expected from her. This book has taught me to be my true self. To be mysterious and different, just like the Mona Lisa smile. I highly recommend this book to everyone, boy or girl. It can change they way everyone looks at themselves.
June 8, 2019
Katherine Watson is a UCLA grad and she has just made a decision to change her way of life. Katherine has a boyfriend but feels its time to make her move and has accepted a position as an art history professor at Wellesley College. In 1953 things are very different and tradition must stand. The way young women are taught to be proper and prepare themselves for marriage and a "Mrs" degree. Once you are married there is no moving on for further education or a career. Katherine has very different ideas for the curriculum but finds herself being told to teach "the course". Katherine is determined to show these young women there is another side to art - to explore and use your mind.
Of course the administration does not see the reasoning behind changing tradition but Katherine becomes a favorite of the young women and change begins to happen in their young minds.
Of course the administration does not see the reasoning behind changing tradition but Katherine becomes a favorite of the young women and change begins to happen in their young minds.
July 27, 2016
Miss Watson: a bohemian, a progressive, a liberal. Wrong in so many ways, yet right to not cower to anyone. Determined to "open minds" got her own mind opened. Student Joan said it best speaking about putting her all into her family instead of only part of her effort into law school and part into her family. Then set the record straight. "...You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image. But you never take the time to look beyond it. To you, a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center-hall Colonial. She has no depth. She has no intellect. She has no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want. Why can't that be enough?"
Many truths are learned here.
Many truths are learned here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2016
The book is basically the movie so I liked the movie. This is the 2nd book I've read that was based on the movie and I don't really understand the point because there aren't enough details for you to get the full picture unless you've seen the movie. I haven't seen the movie in years so I was trying to remember a scene while I'm reading and I couldn't always recall it because the book just glosses over it. Easy read but pretty boring on the details.
February 5, 2018
A movie-tie-in book written based on the screenplay, and it follows it pretty well. But it's also written quite well, so that you can read it without having seen the movie before and still get all that's going on. Of course, me having seen the movie (long, long time ago) I always had the respective actors in mind when the characters interacted. Nice trip +60years back into the past. Have also re-watched the movie yesterday.
October 19, 2009
I liked it. It was an easy read which I really needed. Of course I saw the movie first so as I was reading it I could see the faces of Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles, Ginnifer Goodwin, etc. and it was kind of nice.
Read
July 30, 2011Not a bad story - a very quick read, I think I finished it in 2 hours. The story seemed to be lacking in the kind of descriptive detail you get from a real novel versus a screenplay adapted into a book, which is what this was.
February 23, 2013
There was so much hype about this movie that I didn't expect to enjoy the book. I was delightfully surprised. The characters came alive as the story deepened and I found myself routing for the least likely. Loved it. It's aa keeper. I will want to reread it in the near future.
May 25, 2014
A thoughtful read that is a really interesting look into the female culture of the 1950s, as well as introducing personal beliefs into the beliefs of others and what that really means. I really liked the flowing narrative from one character to another.
October 10, 2017
What an amazing story! The teacher students relationship is so beautiful and heart felt. I did cry while reading it. Keep your tissues safe :)
\nOh... and watch the movie afterwards. I LOVE IT!
\nOh... and watch the movie afterwards. I LOVE IT!
July 10, 2008
easy and fun read. i liked the look into the past to see how far the woman's movement has come.
June 21, 2009
A book every elite debutante needed to read in 1948.
August 20, 2009
I really liked this book, More than I had expected.. I just need to watch the movie now.
January 2, 2010
It followed the movie slightly differently than I expected it to. Not a very good novelization, but a good book by itself.
September 4, 2010
Read cover-to-cover on a rainy day in the Caribbean. Light, fluffy brain candy. Exactly what I needed right after Madame Bovary.
November 21, 2011
so good,really opens your eyes to the difficulty's faced by women in that era. makes you realise how lucky you are to be around to day and to know it's becuase of women like katherine watson.
May 13, 2012
A must read for all women.
June 12, 2017
A cover to cover read! Be prepared to be up all night. You wont want to put it down. Great book!
October 2, 2013
Based on the screen play so it was a simple easy read.
December 5, 2014
Četla jsem až po shlédnutí filmu, ale stejně mě to moc bavilo. Celé to bylo takové příjemné, mám ráda téma umění v beletrii.
January 28, 2023
"La vida es compleja. Eso es lo que la hace tan interesante. En algunas ocasiones los placeres más simples son los más satisfactorios. Y las preguntas más obvias son las más difíciles de responder."
"La sonrisa de Mona Lisa" de Deborah Chiel.
Katherine Watson es una joven profesora de universidad que llegando a la treintena es contratada en el Wellesley College para enseñar historia del Arte a jovenes universitarias. Ambientada en el año 1953, Katherine, una soltera librepensadora, se enfrenta a una institución tradicional que sigue las costumbres conservadoras machistas que alimentan y limitan el destino de la mujer: casarse, tener hijos, atender al marido, etc.
Limitada en el curriculum en el que se debe sostener enseñando Arte del Renacimiento a la época romántica, Katherine sobrepasa las barreras que le imponen y arriesgando su carrera le enseña a las alumnas sobre artistas contemporáneos del siglo XX. En sus clases, la profesora Watson hace que las alumnas piensen sobre su destino, sus metas, y sobre lo que ellas quieren lograr en la vida. Ayudando a sus alumnas, a la par Katherine se ayuda así misma sobre lo que ella quiere en su vida.
Conozcámos a Betty, la sarcástica privilegiada; a Joan, la inteligente y curiosa; Giselle, la sofisticada y exótica; Connie, la cellista que se comporta como payaso y por supuesto a su líder Katherine Watson, sus anhelos, metas, y destinos.
"La sonrisa de Mona Lisa" de Deborah Chiel.
Katherine Watson es una joven profesora de universidad que llegando a la treintena es contratada en el Wellesley College para enseñar historia del Arte a jovenes universitarias. Ambientada en el año 1953, Katherine, una soltera librepensadora, se enfrenta a una institución tradicional que sigue las costumbres conservadoras machistas que alimentan y limitan el destino de la mujer: casarse, tener hijos, atender al marido, etc.
Limitada en el curriculum en el que se debe sostener enseñando Arte del Renacimiento a la época romántica, Katherine sobrepasa las barreras que le imponen y arriesgando su carrera le enseña a las alumnas sobre artistas contemporáneos del siglo XX. En sus clases, la profesora Watson hace que las alumnas piensen sobre su destino, sus metas, y sobre lo que ellas quieren lograr en la vida. Ayudando a sus alumnas, a la par Katherine se ayuda así misma sobre lo que ella quiere en su vida.
Conozcámos a Betty, la sarcástica privilegiada; a Joan, la inteligente y curiosa; Giselle, la sofisticada y exótica; Connie, la cellista que se comporta como payaso y por supuesto a su líder Katherine Watson, sus anhelos, metas, y destinos.
March 8, 2025
I watched this movie a few years back, and when I saw a book with the same title, I was compelled to pick it up. Almost halfway through the book, I realised that this book is written after the movie was made which is pretty rare.
The book Mona Lisa Smile is a strong exploration of the cultural role of women after World War II. It is a story of Janie trying to find a balance between her desires and the pressures placed on her (women) by society. How education for women is a means to cater to the role of being a good wife, the one who is capable of being well read to intrigue a man, but not have opinions.
And the title Mona Lisa Smile may not be explicitly explained, but to me is simply a metaphor to the mysterious, often misunderstood nature of the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.
The book Mona Lisa Smile is a strong exploration of the cultural role of women after World War II. It is a story of Janie trying to find a balance between her desires and the pressures placed on her (women) by society. How education for women is a means to cater to the role of being a good wife, the one who is capable of being well read to intrigue a man, but not have opinions.
And the title Mona Lisa Smile may not be explicitly explained, but to me is simply a metaphor to the mysterious, often misunderstood nature of the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews