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nerdese 's review for:
All The Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me
by Patrick Bringley
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This was a lovely meditation not just on the Met itself, but on deeply affecting power of art and wonder to carry us through life's darkest moments. I can definitely respect and understand Bringley's need to step away from a fast-paced life in the wake of his brother's death and the appeal of the steadiness of life as a guard, where he stayed for 10 years — honestly, I've felt the draw to this kind of work myself in tough moments. It was really interesting to hear how such a massive fleet of guards functions, and there are many colorful characters among the ranks who liven up the narrative.
I listened to the audiobook, which is usually my preferences for memoirs/personal accounts, though Bringley's narration had a bit of a stilted quality to it at times, and didn't always sound natural. His website has links to the pieces he mentions so you can look them up later, which is something to keep in mind if having that type of visual reference is important to you.
This is by no means a comprehensive accounting of the museum, so if you're looking for something akin to a walking tour, this may not be the book for you. Nor does it fully grapple with the complicated legacy of places like the Met and the ways in which they acquire their treasures. But overall, Bringley's musings on his favorite pieces and their significance will resonate for anyone who has had an arresting moment of pause in a museum they didn't quite have words for.
I listened to the audiobook, which is usually my preferences for memoirs/personal accounts, though Bringley's narration had a bit of a stilted quality to it at times, and didn't always sound natural. His website has links to the pieces he mentions so you can look them up later, which is something to keep in mind if having that type of visual reference is important to you.
This is by no means a comprehensive accounting of the museum, so if you're looking for something akin to a walking tour, this may not be the book for you. Nor does it fully grapple with the complicated legacy of places like the Met and the ways in which they acquire their treasures. But overall, Bringley's musings on his favorite pieces and their significance will resonate for anyone who has had an arresting moment of pause in a museum they didn't quite have words for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death