The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
325 pages
Published September 2008 by Europa Editions
Synopsis:
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 sixteenth of June, her thirteenth 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.
My Thoughts:
This felt like two books to me and it wasn't because the story alternates between narration by Renee and narration by Paloma. The first one-third plus of this book is Barbery introducing us to our two narrators by means of philosophical musings. It is very obvious that Barbery is a professor of philosophy. It is difficult going and, although it serves to give us a feel for Renee and Paloma, it is so slow moving I seriously considered giving up on this one before I hit the halfway mark.
That would have been a mistake because after that point, the story got going. I finally began to care for Renee and Paloma. Prior to that, I really didn't care for either of them--Renee goes to great pains to be the very person she feels the owners in the building will look down on then despises them for looking down on her.
Once Mr. Ozu arrives, things start happening and we really start to understand some of the things that Paloma and Renee have been discussing earlier in the book. I'm glad I stuck with this one. In the end, I really loved the book and got, let's be honest, a little emotional.
This one has been on my list since I heard the author speak at the L.A. Times Festival of Books back in April.
ReplyDeleteI have a problem with slowness though but as long as it picks up and is worthwhile in the end I guess it will stay in my pile.
Ti, you may just find yourself skimming through the first half quite a bit. But it is worth reading.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Hiya! This has got to be one of my fave books this year. I agree with you that in the beginning the book is a bit hard going, but once you slowly progress you begin to become attached to the characters and wonder where the story will lead you. I will admit that the ending was not what I had hoped for, but I can understand why it ended as such. Definitely a must read.
ReplyDeleteWow - you have such a great list of recent reads!!!!
ReplyDelete"The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is for sure in my list of top ten 21th century books. I really love it.
ReplyDelete