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)

SUPERB!!!!

This book was simply beautiful, (3) unlikely friends who equally moved me from laughter to tears in the most pleasantly surprising way!!! I absolutely loved this book!!

Enjoyed the book, barely tolerated the narrator

I evidently didn't pay attention when choosing this book, to whom was narrating. I never would have chosen to listen to Barbara Rosenblat. She sounds like a 50 year smoker and I find her voice very unpleasant. However, I stuck through it and enjoyed the book.

Introspective- helps you to appreciate the daily flowers

This book was just what I needed to get back to things after the pandemic.
I wasn’t sure about it at first but then without knowing it - I was hooked.
Madame Michel and Paloma became “real” and I was rooting for them the entire time.
Lovely, poignant and heart warming. Although it didn’t end how I expected it to - it’s end had meaning and hope.
My new favorite novel.
I can’t wait to read the sequel.

I loved this book!

I picked this book to listen to because I had started reading it years ago but didn’t finish it. This was before I listened to audio books. I saw it and thought why not. I really fell in love with both characters. They seemed so different. I loved how they both valued language and the way it should be properly spoken. I loved all the discussions going on in their heads about how they felt about their daily encounters with the world around them. It was so wonderful to see each of them open up to a new way of looking at their worlds and begin appreciating living for the moment. There are lots of heady discussions that may not be to everyone’s liking but they just endeared these characters even more to me. It is such a well written book and the excellent narration makes you appreciate it more than if you had just read it, in my opinion.

Great story

I like how the writer talks about two different characters that are supposedly so different, but the same in a way. I highly recommend this book.

Characters to Love

Delightful rendering of a wonderful set of characters. Provocative in its reflection of literature, art and the meaning of life. Fun, though, and not too heavy. Full of fantastic language even though a translated work. In fact, I have ordered a print copy to review in addition to this pleasant listen.

Enchanting

Although it took a bit of time, perhaps one hour of listening, to "get into" the personalities of the story, I found this to be a completely beautiful and thought-provoking novel. Barbara Rosenblat is a genius storyteller. She is funny, sublime, and absolutely perfect in her role. Honestly, this is one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading (listening) and I highly recommend it. It is a literature that makes you think about it for days as well as cry when you think about the characters. If I could give this 6 stars, I would!!!

Touching and Moving

I did not want to like this book, selected by book club. 15 minutes into it, I was hooked - it made me laugh and cry. I wanted to know these characters more and will listen to this audiobook again and again.

Keep Listening

Put me to sleep repeatedly as I started the book... only Moby Dick has worked better. I wondered how it had ever been published considering the initial lack of plot and endless mental tangents. The characters however, do grow on you and I stayed up late in order to finish the charming and unexpected 2nd part. Came away with some delightful insights. Those who might find even more joy in the book would be lovers of: Russian literature, still life paintings, Japanese cuisine, complex minds, tea and of course, all things French.

Interesting book with a troubling ending

I very much enjoyed this book, and I thought that the narration was fantastic. It was very philosphical and - to me - had meaning beyond the language on the pages. However, the ending caught me by surprise. Was the author's intent to show that someone like Mme. Michel really could not break out of her class, or ??? It keeps me thinking. How very French.