This was a book with a pretty unusual perspective: the memoirs of a security guard who was paid to stand around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, killing time and protecting countless works of art for around ten years.
With all that time on his hands, the author had the opportunity to really appreciate the art that surrounded him, from the old masters, to the Egyptian gallery, and each chapter focuses on some area of the gigantic museum combined with some aspect of his life experiences – his relationship with his family, the loss of his brother to cancer, meeting his eventual wife, having kids.
While I really enjoyed the art analysis from a layman’s viewpoint, I didn’t get a cohesive feeling from the way the book was structured. I understand what the author was trying to do, but it felt a little awkward sometimes.
I also experienced a strange jarring feeling when hearing his thoughts on New Yorkers and their behavior – it has been a long time since I’ve been exposed to the sort of brusque NY attitude and it was interesting to see that he preferred that kind of interaction. Living in Japan so long I’ve gotten used to the careful, calculated and polite conversations that are necessary here.
In this book there are a few sketches of some of the art that he is describing, but the best way to read this book is with Google Images ready to go and to load up the artworks that he is talking about while reading each passage. This book made me take the time to really look deeply into the artwork, and also made me want to visit a museum to try it out in person. In this aspect at least the author hit the mark.
Next I am reading Figuring by Maria Popova.
