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The Elegance of the Hedgehog
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Opera Has Charms to Soothe the Savage Guerillas
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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)
More from the same
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars1,467
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4 Stars1,067
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3 Stars661
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2 Stars360
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1 Stars333
Performance
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars1,519
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4 Stars647
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3 Stars306
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2 Stars97
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1 Stars117
Story
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars1,097
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4 Stars693
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3 Stars477
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2 Stars225
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1 Stars219
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Pyles
- Cushing, OK United States
- 04-21-10
It surprised me
I would not have had the patience to read this book with my eyes. I used it as a companion for pulling weeds and I must report that the garden and I are both the better for it. It was a very good listen. I'll not forget these characters anytime soon.
60 of 62 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Regan
- 07-23-09
Fantastic!
This is an absolutely charming and wonderful book that I'll be recommending to lots of people. It is told in the first person by two narrators, both of whom are very intelligent intellectuals who are constantly evaluating the psychological and philosophical nuances of everything. While that sounds like it could be unbelievable dull, it isn't. I laughed so hard at one point, I had to stop the recording.
Cassandra Morris is very good, but Barbara Rosenblatt gives an award winning performance. It is one of the best narrations I have heard not just from Rosenblatt, but from anyone.
50 of 53 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Lynn
- LYNCH STATION, VA, USA
- 06-17-09
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.
31 of 33 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- A.
- 06-19-09
An " Elegent" Novel
I'll admit at first I was frustrated by The Elegance of Hedgehogs. The plot took a long time developing and the two main characters spent a lot of time pontificating on heavy themes. I love philosophy as reflected by fiction, but I felt the author spent much too much time on heady intellectual theories and not nearly enough time in the forward action of the story. However this was all absolved as I learned to understand them. One is an older woman in her 50s, a concierge in a rich apartment building who has been stunted by class expectations of her childhood and tries to hide the fact that she is an intellectual so as not be seen as putting on "airs". The other is a 12 year old girl of parents who pretend to have socialist aspirations but are really bourgeois, aloof and unfeeling. The girl is of extraordinary intelligence and can see through the facades maintained by her parents, older sister and adult society at large. She is disenchanted with the idea of growing up and living a "fish bowl" existence. Thus she has resolved to kill herself on her 13th birthday. As the story progressed I realized that to truly understand these characters and the boxes they put themselves it was important for the reader to endure the various wonderings, profound thoughts and journal exaltations, otherwise the resolution when they discover that their fates are not predetermined would not have been nearly as satisfying. It is an all together "elegant" novel filled with minute perceptions and sensory satisfactions.
46 of 51 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Michael
- Walnut Creek, CA, United States
- 08-15-10
This book is not what you think...
I liked this book quite a bit. The book, the story, and the characters are all simple, yet satisfying. The writing and language are superior. The meaning was, in my opinion, the key and was not overt. This seems to lead to strong feelings, both positive and negative about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration and the humor, but mostly I enjoyed the spirit.
26 of 29 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Pamela J. Lassiter
- 06-23-09
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!!!
26 of 29 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sara
- 10-12-16
Stuck In A Quandary
If you read the reviews here you will notice a strong divide between lovers and haters of this book. I find myself in the odd position of agreeing with both of these extreme ends of the review spectrum. On one hand I thought the first part of the book was lecturing and posing in tone and that the narrators mispronounced many words. Then as the book progressed the whole feeling changed and I found myself really liking the story and thinking the narrators were good.
I know this isn't much of a help if you are trying to decide on whether or not to try the book. I'm afraid that I am of two minds and will have to give it all three stars and stand right in the middle. Parts of the book and narration are excellent and deserve 5 stars and parts are just dreadful. I will say that in the end I was glad I gave it a try and stuck with it, but I'm also glad the book was on sale and that I didn't spend a credit.
31 of 35 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jan
- 01-11-12
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.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth
- 03-15-15
Must be a Philosophy Major
The summary of this book had potential. The audible reviews I read were good but boy was I mislead. I didn't like this book. I'm just not intellectual enough. I don't like philosophy and 45% of this book is philosophy. 15" rambling on the meaning of a kitchen table. Pretentious people. Trick ending. Good narration but would have been better if they had French accents as it takes place in Paris. Not for my average mind.
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 03-16-10
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.
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kimberley Julius
- 10-22-14
Awful narration
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
The book is fabulous - it was read abysmally
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Barbara Rosenblat and Cassandra Morris ?
Someone who can do a French accent
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Colin Murphy
- 02-06-11
Elegance of the Hedgehog
Lovely book but it's set in Paris, so why not have French readers, instead we have the most awful screechy voiced American child that ruined the story - ugh.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Anonyme
- 03-15-10
Cannot have enough of it!
There are books we enjoy, but also ones that we learn from and re-discover time after time.
I have this book in print, bought the film and also in audio format. Never got bored of it and always want to read some parts over and over again.
Simply great!!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Coco the Coo
- 05-16-15
Wonderful wonderful book
This book came highly recommended and it exceeded my high expectations.
The story went right into me and I was very moved by it.
Yes, it is a great book.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- the typist
- 02-27-10
Exquisite
Wonderfully narrated, The Elegance of the Hedgehog took my breath away. Funny, charming, sad & poignant all at once. The story is simple but profound and the characters are delectable.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Derek Lally
- 02-06-19
easy going
Beautifully narrated story almost about nothing but wonderfull woven with deep understanding of the characters
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M. MARTINEZ
- 09-29-18
A Camelia
The book is funny, well written, illuminating, surprising and sometimes you wander but Rene brings you straight back.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-02-18
A Masterpiece!
Reading literature in translation is so rewarding, because so often we don't read outside our own language. So often books in other languages are especially sweet and unique! This novel is beautiful, and bittersweet and a wonderful depiction of philosophy, love, tragedy and life. Both Barbery and the narrators perfectly capture the different mindsets of the characters and the ending is so unexpected! This is a short but very poetic novel, which everyone should read!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Martin Georgiev
- 07-02-18
Pretentious and poorly thought-out story.
Good stuff: Very well read by the two narrators. No problem giving a 5/5 for performance.
Bad stuff: Author seems to regurgitate the skimmed summaries of a few philosophy books in a bid to "sound smart," but the book only comes off as pretentious and shallow. The author is a philosophy teacher, and she is using the book as a vehicle to trash-talk psychology to the detriment to the plot. The book format is just abused throughout by the author who uses it as a soapbox.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms AC Blundy-Mortimer
- 04-08-18
Best book I've read for years
What made the experience of listening to The Elegance of the Hedgehog the most enjoyable?
It's perfect, subtle, sublime
What did you like best about this story?
Loved the setting.
What does Barbara Rosenblat and Cassandra Morris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
The readers, especially Rosenblat are perfectly cast and Rosenblat breaks your (well, my) heart with her reading. Fabulous.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Inkshed Press
- 03-05-16
Wonderful if you love philosophy.
The only irritation with the US performance is that the English translation has been Americanised, to the detriment of the book. I do not believe that Americans are so dense that they cannot read any book that is not translated for them into their own idiom, yet US publishers insist on going to great lengths to say (e.g.) "can" rather than "loo" , and even omit bits that US readers might find unfamiliar or puzzling. Can't a US reader work out that a "bright" child is clever? Does 'reductionist' have to be changed to ' simplistic'? The meaning is changed, and the UK English translation was perfectly fine. Parochial mollycoddling is silly --over-protective--these are adult readers. This (standard practice) US publishing chauvinism always astonishes and disappoints me. The UK, Canada and Australia seem to cope with US usage OK, as do the many other former British colonies. Why can't the USA listen to UK English once in a while?
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Annette
- 04-24-16
Accent spoils this book.
[{ "answer" : "The narrators are French because the book is set in Paris and involves French characters. Unfortunately, the producers of this fabulous story for some obscure reason decided the reader would be American. Completely fails.", "type" : "Overall", "question" : "What disappointed you about The Elegance of the Hedgehog?", "id" : 35, "typeString" : "overall" }, { "answer" : "", "type" : "Story", "question" : "What was one of the most memorable moments of The Elegance of the Hedgehog?", "id" : 7, "typeString" : "story" }, { "answer" : "Use an English speaking French narrator!!", "type" : "Performance", "question" : "How could the performance have been better?", "id" : 32, "typeString" : "performance" }, { "answer" : "could not get pass the first chapter. I ended up buying the hardback.", "type" : "Genre", "question" : "What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment? ", "id" : 54, "typeString" : "genre" }, { "answer" : "", "type" : "Misc", "question" : "Any additional comments?", "id" : -1, "typeString" : "misc" } ]
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lyn Bender
- 08-09-18
Well worth the effort.
Seems to struggle ponderously towards a meaning. Seen through the eyes of an ageing concierge in Paris and the. Wisdom of a struggling twelve year old .Stunning in its final discovery. Keep going . It’s worth it.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 08-08-18
Don’t bother
Tried & tried to listen to this book. Sorry but was very disappointing to even try and listen to it.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Ros
- 03-27-18
Duped
I thought I’d be hearing French accents, not American. So disappointed. Returned book without finishing.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Meena Kadri
- 05-16-17
For something a bit different
Fascinating and entertaining. I sometimes found the younger voice a bit over-bearing while the older voice was superb. At times a bit too introspective but overall this is a great listen.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Diana
- 03-19-16
Beautiful world, irritating characters
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I might recommend it to someone who wants a little "peek" into this type of world, but truly, I don't know what kind of person would like to read this. There was nothing particularly incredible or refreshing about the story and as such little to recommend.
Would you ever listen to anything by Muriel Barbery again?
Probably. The story had its good parts. 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.
Do you think The Elegance of the Hedgehog needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No, as there was nothing left to explore at the end of the story.