Review of the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, plus backstory and other interesting facts about the book. I hadnt heard of this book before but bought it in an amazon kindle sale ill admit i only bought it because it had hedgehog in the title i love hedgehogs. This book contains two japanophiles, one sarcastic french tween, and zero actual hedgehogs. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery translated by alison anderson gallic books.
Renee, the buildings concierge, is short, ugly, and plump. I have no children, i do not watch television, and i do not believe in god all paths taken by mortals to make their lives easier. A christian science monitor best book of the year a barnes and noble bet book of the year a chicago suntimes favorite book of the year praise for the elegance of the hedgehog gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bitersweet. Paloma is the daughter of an upperclass family living in the. The elegance of the hedgehog is muriel barberys second novel. The elegance of the hedgehog kindle edition by barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery goodreads. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback keplers books.
The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel i would probably never have considered reading had it not been selected as part of a bookclub recommendation. May 28, 2009 muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and bestselling author. The elegance of the hedgehog audiobook by muriel barbery. She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam and now lives in the french countryside. The elegance of the hedgehog is, by the end, quite. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback a room of ones.
The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781933372600, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Sep 02, 2008 renee is the concierge of a grand parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback the elliott bay. The character of ozu was most endearing and interesting so if another barbery book had characters more like ozu but less like renee and paloma, i would be much more interested. Muriel barbery muriel barbery is the author of the new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog europa, 2008, gourmet rhapsody europa, 2009, and the life of elves europa, 2016. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery europa editions. I argue that certain features of these two works dworkins book make it fruitful to read them in tandem and that the comparison may be serendipitous, but is not arbitrary. This is not to say that the book wont be hugely successful in the. The elegance of the hedgehog, book by muriel barbery.
The elegance of the hedgehog is a meaning of life book, but instead of focussing on the child who fears becoming part of the odious adult world it centres on the old woman whom life has largely passed by. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback horizon books. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery reading. Muriel barbery is the author of the new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog europa, 2008, and gourmet rhapsody europa, 2009. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Aug 26, 2008 a riveting, potentially redemptive story of modern american suburbia that reads almost like an ancient greek tragedy. The elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read. However, i persevered and finally ended up liking this book. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback book passage. Do you think the elegance of the hedgehog needs a followup book. Lelegance du herisson is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. When the whitmans, a nouveau riche white family, move into a sprawling, newly built house next door to valerie alstonholt, a black professor of forestry and ecology, and her musically gifted, biracial 18yearold son, xavier, in a modest, diverse north carolina neighborhood of. The tension between paloma and her wealthy parents, and the secret renee the. Justice and elegance for hedgehogs in life, law, and.
Or will muriel barberys studied yet appealing commercial hit be a purely european phenomenon, exposing a cultural fault line. The elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback drury lane books. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery alison. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery alibris. The elegance of the hedgehog is a moving, funny, atmospheric novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us. Its essentially a feelgood book with philosophical aspirations, a. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery penguin september 2008 325pp no spoilers the short of it.
The elegance of the hedgehog is a meaningoflife book, but instead of focussing on the child who fears becoming part of the odious adult world it centres on the old woman whom life has largely passed by. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book analysis. Jun 10, 2010 we had a large group to discuss the elegance of the hedgehog and a fantastic summer feast to share. Review of the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. My alternative way to choosing a book to read paid off though, this is a really wonderful story. Oct 24, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog has apparently sold a million copies in france, where it is a proverbial publishing phenomenon. Sep 12, 2008 however, i persevered and finally ended up liking this book.
Paloma learns her lessons, of course, but the central figure is the concierge. Alison anderson is the author of two novels, hidden latitudes and darwins wink. We are in an elegant hotel particulier in the center of paris. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery telegraph. The international bestseller that has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with societys expectations of what a concierge should be. Find books like the elegance of the hedgehog from the worlds largest community of readers. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback tattered cover. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery books. Muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. A chicago suntimes favorite book of the year praise for the elegance of the hedgehog gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bitersweet. May 14, 2009 muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. My article compares dworkins book with the bestselling novel, the elegance of the hedgehog, by muriel barbery described as a philosophical fable.
A curious look at life, love, philosophy, art and literature as seen through the eyes of a 54yearold concierge and her 12yearold tenant. For all the philosophers and philosophical thought barbery shares through renee, this book is approachable because above it, it is a story about people learning and observing other people. Mar 12, 2020 the elegance of the hedgehog is muriel barberys second novel. Inspired by the beloved new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog, by muriel barbery, the hedgehog is the timely story of paloma garance le guillermic a. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback northwind book. The elegance of the hedgehog, by muriel barbery, trans. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Sep 07, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. Her first book, une gourmandize, has been translated into twelve languages. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback saturn booksellers. The book follows events in the life of a concierge, renee michel, whose deliberately concealed intelligence is uncovered by an unstable but intellectually precocious girl named paloma josse.
This book will save your life the elegance of the hedgehog has been described as a toolbox one can look into to resolve lifes problems, a lifetransforming read, and a lifeaffirming book. She maintains a carefully constructed persona as someone uncultivated but reliable, in keeping with what she feels a concierge should be. This summary of the elegance of the hedgehog includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. And, if the idea is that it is a book that pleases readers but not critics, do you think this could be true. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers. The elegance of the hedgehog has been described as a toolbox one can look into to resolve lifes problems, a lifetransforming read, and a lifeaffirming book. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781906040185, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Download the elegance of the hedgehog muriel barberyalison anderson ebook rene is the concierge of a grand parisian apartment building. Sep, 2008 it is a profound but accessible book not quite proust, then, which elegantly treads the line between literary and commercial fiction.
Goodreads members who liked the elegance of the hedgehog also. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery translated by alison anderson europa editions, 2008 isbn 9781933372600 325 pages book 18 of 2011. Published in france in 2006 and in the uk in 2008, it has gone on to sell more than 6 million copies worldwide and has been described by le figaro as the publishing phenomenon of the decade. She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam, and paris, and now lives in the french countryside. Buy the paperback book the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery at indigo.
The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery, 2007 penguin group usa 336 pp. In this novel, renee michel is a concierge who believes that every concierge is perceived as unintelligent by those for whom they work. This is not to say that the book wont be hugely successful in the englishspeaking world. A lot of cultural references are made in this book to art, tolstoy, sciif and to japanese films which some readers may or may not get. The book follows events in the life of a concierge. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with. The elegance of the hedgehog study guide contains a biography of muriel barbery, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The elegance of the hedgehog has apparently sold a million copies in france, where it is a proverbial publishing phenomenon.
The elegance of the hedgehog cdaudio quail ridge books. Quotes from the elegance of the hedgehog ben casnocha. Critic and educator robert adams lectures on the elegance of the hedgehog. Though barbery adopts the hedgehog as her governing metaphor, the book is a hedgehog turned inside out superficially warm and cuddly. She is cantankerous and addicted to television soaps. Buy the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery online at alibris. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book club. Renee is the concierge of a grand parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Michael dirda, the washington post the elegance of the hedgehog is about love. It is a profound but accessible book not quite proust, then, which elegantly treads the line between literary and commercial fiction. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of the novel. Though we hadnt all finished the book, there were observations we could make connecting the characters personalities and experiences to society, visual art, movement, other literature, and philosophy. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, paperback.