The Elegance of the Hedgehog

By: Muriel Barbery

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat, Cassandra Morris

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

An enchanting New York Times and international best seller and award-winner about life, art, literature, philosophy, culture, class, privilege, and power, seen through the eyes of a 54-year-old French concierge and a precocious but troubled 12-year-old girl.

Renee Michel is the 54-year-old concierge of a luxury Paris apartment building. Her exterior (short, ugly,and plump) and demeanor (poor, discreet, and insignificant) belie her keen, questing mind and profound erudition. Paloma Josse is a 12-year-old genius who behaves as everyone expects her to behave: a mediocre pre-teen high on adolescent subculture, a good but not outstanding student, an obedient if obstinate daughter. She plans to kill herself on the 16th of June, her 13th birthday.

Both Renee and Paloma hide their true talents and finest qualities from the bourgeois families around them, until a wealthy Japanese gentleman named Ozu moves into building. Only he sees through them, perceiving the secret that haunts Renee, winning Paloma's trust, and helping the two discover their kindred souls. Moving, funny, tender, and triumphant, Barbery's novel exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.

©2006 Editions Gallimard, Paris (P)2009 Highbridge Company

Critic reviews

"Gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bittersweet." ( The Washington Post )
"An exquisite book in the form of a philosophical fable that has enchanted hundreds of thousands of readers." (Italian Elle)
"Kinetic minds and engaging voices." ( New York Times Book Review)
"By turns very funny and heartbreaking". ( Publishers Weekly)
"Life-affirming." ( Time)

Very French

The last third of this book has insight, flights of joy and pathos . The first two-thirds is so full of selfishness and Ayn Rand-like over philosophizing that it is torturous to wade through. I realize the point may be the metamorphosis of the protagonists,, but it needs a good editor. On a recent trip to Paris, I wondered at the marked absence of smiles on the faces of the passersby. I later read that it is de la mode to be depressed there. if you enjoy hearing how an atheist deals with life and death, this may be for you. People who understand only the smallest part of why we are here and where we are going can only feel around life like three three blind men trying to describe an elephant. Pathetic.

moving and beautiful storytelling

a beautiful tale, well worth the time. I was enraptured stay to finish. thank you.

the 1st half of the book was slow

it was slow and excruciating when in the first half of the book you just had to listen to long diatribes about how awful the audacity of the ultra wealthy misusing commas. and I don't know if it a difference between cultures or if I just haven't had the opportunity to really be introduced to the ultra wealthy, but I did not relate to the idea if dumbing yourself down, and pretending not to understand or like fine literature or art, in order to stay in your station. it wasn't until there was some actual action, that things started getting bearable. a love interest was introduced, there were comedic descriptions of goings on around the apartment building, and the characters really become human. by the end of the book I found I had a real heartfelt emotional connection with the characters. one of the women in my book group said she had to stop and look up the definition of some of the vocabulary that was common in the book. I found that I had to pay attention and look up the French words more often. I believe this book is a translation, and some of the nouns were left untranslated. a lot of them however, I was able to gather an understanding by context.

Merveilleux!

Récit à deux narratrices insolites: une concierge érudite et passionnée d'art et une fille de douze ans aux idées suicidaires. Réflexions sur la vie, la mort, les classes sociales. Dénouement bouleversant.

Wonderful and warm

This book is not for people who prefer action and adventure. For me, it was a quiet exploration of what it means to live a worthy and fulfilled human life, through the eyes of a 12 year old and a 54 year old. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will think back on it often. This one I might even listen to again, because the writing is so skillful that it's almost like poetry.

l loved this book!

The narrators were excellent! They were perfect for the parts they were reading. I did not want the book to end.

A Fabulous Read

What did you love best about Elegance of the Hedgehog?

I loved the humanity and tenderness of it

What did you like best about this story?

The interweaving of characters was brilliantly done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me cry.

Needs Another Listen 👂

It's odd, I have mixed feelings about this novel. I wish I could rate it 2.5 stars. Perhaps I misunderstood but, the protagonists seem to be fighting the stereotypes, hierarchy and culture of the elitist environment they are set in.
Yet, when they describe many of their own personal concepts on items, ideas, or perspectives they sound pretentious and come across as hypocritical.

I'm thankful that I listened to this; if I had read it I would have stumbled over the French names and words. And as the characters try to come across as deep or intense and passionate about a point, I think it would have appeared airy and lofty (if it made it across on paper). 🤔
Listening to the narrators helped me stick with this story, and kept me in it (especially at the end). Yet, at the same time if it sounds stuck up on paper the snobbery of it really comes across in their voices as they imitate airs of the people they mock. However, it also seems to seep in a bit when they speak French.

Personally, I need another listen in the later future. There were a few parts that either intrigued or resonated with me, yet majority of it fell flat. Story wise it gets you into the beginning, then drops you the rest of the way and suddenly grabs you at the very end.
I might consider purchasing it a waste and recommend borrowing it instead if you wish to give it a go.

Strong Ending

The intellectual superiority of the characters was a bit exhausting, even if intentional. However, the author found her stride in the second half and was able to develop a beautiful layering of the plot. The last few chapters were the real highlight, she accurately captures death in a way that is so relatable and visceral.

Can't quite decide about this book

This was a nice story, but somehow, fell a little flat. I couldn't quite grasp the way this character was so much in her shell (even after it was explained).