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The Elegance of the Hedgehog
- Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat, Cassandra Morris
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
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Editorial reviews
The Elegance of the Hedgehog tells the story of a life spent in hiding. Madame Michel is the concierge of a luxurious Parisian apartment building, tending to the plants, signing for packages, and polishing the brass, retreating when she can to her rooms on the first floor. She keeps a television blaring where the tenants can hear it; she zealously polices her speech and gestures to keep from giving herself away. What is the secret she hides? Madame Michel is an intellectual. She knows Kant, but she's separated by class from other people who do, so she discusses his work with herself while we listen in. Her musings are voiced by Barbara Rosenblat, who lends an air of theatrical irony an auditory raised eyebrow to her descriptions of class blind spots and philosophical rabbit holes.
The other pole of the story is Paloma Josse, a 12-year-old tenant in the building, voiced by Cassandra Morris with an appropriate measure of sarcasm and outrage. Paloma is a wildly precocious girl raised in privilege who has all the gifts of intellect and all the faults of a pre-adolescent. She's grandiose she favors us with excerpts from a journal titled "Profound Thoughts". She's happy to throw stones at glass houses, and even plans to burn hers down, with the aim of teaching her family a pithy lesson about deprivation. She describes the currently deprived in terms that, while well-intentioned, condescend and distort. She is, in other words, a burgeoning intellect in serious need of the influence of an adult she can respect. An adult, perhaps, like the 54-year-old concierge on the first floor. But it takes more than a ride in an elevator to truly meet a woman who has spent her life in hiding. The novel takes two world views, both meticulously constructed from sound philosophical materials, and happily pulls them apart. Rosalie Knecht
Publisher's summary
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.
Critic reviews
"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)
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Gustav Perle grows up in a small town in Switzerland, where the horrors of the Second World War seem only a distant echo. An only child, he lives alone with Emilie, the mother he adores but who treats him with bitter severity. He begins an intense friendship with a Jewish boy his age, talented and mercurial Anton Zweibel, a budding concert pianist.
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Loyalty and Other Human Foibles
- By Ilana on 10-07-16
By: Rose Tremain
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Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance
- By: Richard Powers
- Narrated by: John Skelley
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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In the spring of 1914, renowned photographer August Sander took a photograph of three young men on their way to a country dance. This haunting image, capturing the last moments of innocence on the brink of World War I, provides the central focus of Powers' brilliant and compelling novel. As the fate of the three farmers is chronicled, two contemporary stories unfold.
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Don't Waste Your Time.
- By Trevor Morris on 08-01-24
By: Richard Powers
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Companion Piece
- A Novel
- By: Ali Smith
- Narrated by: Natalie Simpson
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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With an eye for rendering the timely in a timeless way and enchanting audiences with lyrical prose and grace, Ali Smith's ambitious Seasonal Quartet—a series of four stand-alone novels, separate but interconnected—artfully guided us through #MeToo, Brexit, the refugee crisis, a global pandemic, and more. Now, Smith's highly anticipated Companion Piece looks to the future and builds upon this "time-sensitive project". This new novel stands apart from the Quartet, which remains discrete unto itself.
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She said she said she said
- By Cate on 05-29-22
By: Ali Smith
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A Thousand Miles to Freedom
- My Escape from North Korea
- By: Sebastien Falletti, Eunsun Kim
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Eunsun Kim was born in North Korea, one of the most secretive and oppressive countries in the modern world. As a child, Eunsun loved her country...despite her school field trips to public executions, daily self-criticism sessions, and the increasing gnaw of hunger as the countrywide famine escalated. By the time she was 11 years old, Eunsun's father and grandparents had died of starvation, and Eunsun too was in danger of starving. Finally her mother decided to escape North Korea with Eunsun and her sister.
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Not Much New Here, but Courage and Hope to Spare
- By Gillian on 03-25-16
By: Sebastien Falletti, and others
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Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe
- By: Jodi Thomas
- Narrated by: Julia Gibson
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Piper Kate McKenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won't let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart, or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she calls for reinforcements to find the source of corruption in the sheriff's office - two men recommended by her Texas Ranger brothers....
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Good book
- By Farmer's Wife on 05-28-21
By: Jodi Thomas
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Suite Francaise
- By: Irene Nemirovsky
- Narrated by: Daniel Oreskes, Barbara Rosenblat
- Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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By the early 1940s, when Ukrainian-born Irène Némirovsky began working on what would become Suite Française—the first two parts of a planned five-part novel—she was already a highly successful writer living in Paris.
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One word: Epic
- By Erin on 03-23-15
By: Irene Nemirovsky
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Cashelmara
- By: Susan Howatch
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong, Carly Robins
- Length: 27 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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When Edward de Salis travels to America after the death of his first wife, he is astonished to find himself falling in love with Marguerite, a young woman many years his junior. Full of hope for the future, he returns to his Irish estate, Cashelmara, but in 19th-century Ireland - a country racked by poverty and famine - his family eventually becomes trapped in a sinister spiral of violence that Edward could never have foreseen.
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Wonderful Story
- By Ann Marie Taylor on 07-04-20
By: Susan Howatch
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The Accidental
- By: Ali Smith
- Narrated by: Heather O'Neill, Stina Nielsen, Jeff Woodman, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Barefoot, thirtysomething Amber shows up at the door of a Norfolk cottage that the Smarts are renting for the summer. Amber doesn't know them, but she talks her way in, telling lies, and stays for dinner. Eve, an author, thinks Amber is a student her husband is sleeping with. Michael, an English professor, knows only that her car broke down. Daughter Astrid, age 12, thinks she's her mother's friend. Son Magnus, 17, thinks she's an angel.
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Excellent writing, thought provoking
- By L on 03-20-06
By: Ali Smith
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The Cat's Table
- By: Michael Ondaatje
- Narrated by: Michael Ondaatje
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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In the early 1950s, an 11-year-old boy in Colombo boards a ship bound for England. At mealtimes he is seated at the “cat’s table” - as far from the Captain’s Table as can be - with a ragtag group of “insignificant” adults and two other boys, Cassius and Ramadhin. As the ship makes its way across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, into the Mediterranean, the boys tumble from one adventure to another, bursting all over the place like freed mercury.
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Superb - But Not For All Readers or All Situations
- By Amanda on 11-25-11
By: Michael Ondaatje
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Empress
- The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan
- By: Ruby Lal
- Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1611, 34-year-old Nur Jahan, daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official, became the 20th and favorite wife of Emperor Jahangir, who ruled the vast Mughal Empire. Nur's confident assertion of talent and power is revelatory; it far exceeded the authority of her female contemporaries in Renaissance Europe, including Elizabeth I. Here, she finally receives her due in a deeply researched and evocative biography that awakens us to a fascinating history.
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A Fascinating Life
- By Katie on 09-14-18
By: Ruby Lal
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What Angels Fear
- Sebastian St. Cyr, Book 1
- By: C. S. Harris
- Narrated by: Davina Porter
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. A dueling pistol found at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man - Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experience in the Napoleonic Wars.
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An Addictive Series
- By Bibliophile1963 on 10-17-16
By: C. S. Harris
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Social Crimes
- By: Jane Stanton Hitchcock
- Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Dark secrets lurk beneath the glamour and glitter of New York's high-society life in this riveting tale of murder, obsession, and revenge. Jo Slater, one of the grandest of New York's grande dames, is knocked off her pedestal when her husband of 20 years dies under strange circumstances and leaves his fortune to a mysterious French countess. When Jo discovers she has been the victim of a plot, she decides to set things straight. And nothing is going to get in her way.
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This writing is criminal
- By Katherine Lammers on 03-12-08
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Parisians
- An Adventure History of Paris
- By: Graham Robb
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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This is the Paris you never knew. From the Revolution to the present, Graham Robb has distilled a series of astonishing true narratives, all stranger than fiction. A young artillery lieutenant, strolling through the Palais-Royal, observes disapprovingly the courtesans plying their trade. A particular woman catches his eye; nature takes its course. Later that night, Napoleon Bonaparte writes a meticulous account of his first sexual encounter....
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Difficult....but worth it
- By Myrna Minkoff on 10-11-10
By: Graham Robb
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The Artist in the Machine
- The World of AI-Powered Creativity
- By: Arthur I. Miller
- Narrated by: Adam Lofbomm
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Today's computers are composing music that sounds "more Bach than Bach", turning photographs into paintings in the style of Van Gogh's Starry Night, and even writing screenplays. But are computers truly creative - or are they merely tools to be used by musicians, artists, and writers? Miller, an authority on creativity, identifies the key factors essential to the creative process, from "the need for introspection" to "the ability to discover the key problem." He talks to people on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and explores the riches of computer-created art.
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A.I. is here to stay.
- By Max Dorisca on 02-17-24
By: Arthur I. Miller
What listeners say about The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- txkimmers
- 08-01-10
Well, it's not "The Passage", after all...
This first half of this novel is all about two people who need each other that keep missing each other as they work hard at hiding from everyone else. Paloma and Madame Michel are hard to like at first, both very intelligent but alienated and snobbish in their own way as they judge the people around them. It isn't until the second half of the novel, with the appearance of the wonderful and gracious Mr. Ozu, that they come alive and connect-- and so does the novel for the reader.
I really loved this novel, even as I admit that I mentally checked out during some of intellectual discourses of Paloma and Madame Michel. There is a scene in which Paloma is having tea with Mr. Ozu and blatantly mentions to the reader that she is not even listening to what he is saying, but that being with him, the person, is a wonderful feeling. That is exactly how I felt with this book--I didn't always listen to the lecturing, but I developed a huge amount of affection for the characters. I also loved the sound of Barbara Rosenblat's voice and loved her performance, and that of Cassandra Morris. Highly recommend this book.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Evelyn
- 03-05-15
Thought provoking. Brilliant narrations.
What made the experience of listening to Elegance of the Hedgehog the most enjoyable?
The narrators were brilliant. They both assumed the role of their characters and were emotionally convincing. I thought it was an elegant and smart way to translate the book, in which the dialogue of each character was printed in a different typeface.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Elegance of the Hedgehog?
The juxtaposition of the reality of Renee's death and Paloma's realisation of her will to live.
Which character – as performed by Barbara Rosenblat and Cassandra Morris – was your favorite?
I find them both equally engaging and entertaining.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Made me laugh and, towards the end of the book, cry.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Nameless
- 03-20-22
Annoying voice and narrative
I couldn't listen for long as the young woman's voice is screechy and hard to listen to. I also couldn't get into a story when all the two main characters do is complain about the world and think they are better than everyone else. All in all, very annoying.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-02-18
Simply Stunning
While this novel is not exactly an epic tale with excitement and adventure, it is a beautifully crafted tale that connects deeply with the reader on every page. From the organization of the novel to the text itself, every page is a gorgeous example of perfect literature, and it is most certainly a must read for everyone.
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- AnahitaAnahita
- 08-14-16
absolutely amazing!
one of the best novels I've ever read. you must listen to the audio book more than once. it surely isn't a difficult story to follow but a joy to go back to!
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- Teresa
- 11-30-18
Amazing narration!
It took a good deal of time to get going, but ended up being a very touching story about friendships, both new and old. Barbara Rosenblatt is a phenomenal narrator, and the young girl who narrates Paloma’s part was terrific as well.
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- Sanja
- 11-12-16
Heartwarming story about loneliness and beauty.
As story develops I liked it more and more, especially the inspiring end. Depression gone.
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- Albert Witts
- 03-20-15
Great until the end
Well narrated, and the story is excellent for 98% of the book, but the ending was unnecessary. I understand what she is trying to accomplish, but personally I felt it detracted from an otherwise great novel.
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- Victoria
- 04-13-12
A+, and then some!
For me, this story did not take flight immediately, but that was quickly overcome by the splendid narration, or should I say, enactment, of Barbara Rosenblat and Cassandra Morris. These two ladies added a fine layer of storytelling that would have sorely been missed had I simply bought the hardcopy. I felt like these characters were people I knew personally, and was sad to have the story come to an end. Of course this lovely creation by Muriel Barbery was superb. It is one of the best books I've listened to, and will hold a treasured place in my audible library. Thank you so much for this audible version. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
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- Teresa
- 06-30-19
Interesting "read"
Interesting slice of life from the views of a lonely, imaginative tween and a previously crusty, isolated by choice concierge, Their lives are changed by their accidental relationship.
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