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What are readers saying about The Elegance of the Hedgehog?
| Reviews of The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Page 1 of 2 |
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-11-20 04:36:23.
(Language: English)
 
charming premise and language although irritating structure
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-03 03:50:09.
(Language: English)
moving and very French
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Irene posted a review at 2010-06-27 03:16:16.
(Language: English)
Fabulous! This book has a wonderful array of characters and is a really touching story of a wonderfully intelligent and witty woman who hides behind her job as a concierge and a child with suicidal thoughts. With lots of laugh out loud moments and an ending that was unexpected and moving, this book is superbly written.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-06 04:19:43.
(Language: English)
This is a book about life in Paris told from the viewpoint of a middle aged Concierge and a school girl. This is a translation of a French book and really gives a flavour of life in Paris. The first few chapters were a bit heavy going but I persevered and was glad that I did because it got better when a Japanese man moves into one of the flats. I was completely unprepared for the ending and actually cried as I read it!
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VeraSeline posted a review at 2010-10-15 02:59:06.
(Language: English)
This book is amazing. This will go on record as my favorite book for 2010! Perhaps one of the top 5 of all time. It's that good. Intelligently written . Philosophical and,existential essays on "time, beauty and the meaning of life." I absolutely fell in love with the two primary characters. Rene'e: short, plump, cantankerous and brilliant. Paloma: an extraordinary 12 year old who has incredible insight and, a sensitivity about life. This is a blazing story about True love and, redemption.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-24 01:45:34.
(Language: Finnish)
Ihana.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-02-28 04:58:13.
(Language: English)
Took a while to get into, enjoyed it but crushed with the ending!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-09-07 06:49:52.
(Language: English)
I loved the introspective narratives on the meaning of life...but really did not like the surprise ending...all in all tho, I'm glad I read it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-02 09:19:10.
(Language: English)
super....
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-24 01:19:37.
(Language: English)
This is an awesome read which really spoke to my heart. It is truly well written and eloquent. A good read for all those at a loss and evaluating new dreams.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-09-22 01:34:04.
(Language: English)
Best book I've read in the last year. Awesome, beautiful, full of allusions to other things I want to read/see/experience.
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Karin posted a review at 2010-08-22 10:34:01.
(Language: English)
Completely unexpected ending! At times I felt all that intellectual waffling was a bit pretentious.. Paloma (the 12 year old) was not a convincing character. Even though she was extremely bright, she should have been more 'immature' or child-like. Loved Renee and Ozu though. Recommended reading.
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Dan posted a review at 2009-04-09 11:20:15.
(Language: English)
I'm not exactly positive what millions of French readers found so enthralling in Muriel Barbery's pretty standard tale about the residents of a upscale city apartment building. The story alternates between an aging concierge and a budding pyromaniac introvert, the former of which takes a long time to get going and ends pretty lamely, and the latter who I found far more compelling but whose story never actually gets going at all. Brief chapters make it a quick read but all in all I think something may have gotten lost in translation.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-25 12:49:53.
(Language: English)
Have had this on the to read pile for some time, its a translation from french and something of a word of mouth book that gets passed on, an enjoyable read, was a little disappointed with the ending which made the story all the more surreal, but a great in-flight read, nice short chapters and an interesting perspective, always refreshing to read works generated within another culture or language.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-02 03:53:23.
(Language: English)
Seriously one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. It's worth it for Muriel Barbery's use of language alone. Granted, the original was written in French, so I'm sure it would be incredible to read that... but I've honestly never read anything as perfectly written as this. The book is told through the narratives of a 54 year old concierge of a luxury building in Paris, and a 12 year old named Paloma who lives on the fifth floor. The two are kindred souls who spend a great deal of time not knowing the other exists, yet ponder the same philosophical and intellectual questions and meanings of life, society, class, relationships, etc. They are brought together by an astute Japanese man who moves into the building and learn so much from one another that they could not have learned had they not opened themselves to a new experience. It is one of the best, most fulfilling stories I have ever read. Barbery gives us comedy, tragedy, and literary brilliance with this novel. I laughed out loud at times, and at other times I was sobbing. I think after reading this book, I will always be spoiled for perfection and never find another as good.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-07 06:00:07.
(Language: English)
At first I found this a bit hard work. But with the introduction of the Japanese guy upstairs, it all came alive. Great look at snobbery and how we are so satisfied to take people at face value without thinking there may be more to a person than meets the eye! I was so sad at the ending....why did it have to be that way???!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-29 02:04:23.
(Language: English)
Not an easy read - a book that deals with philosophy, the meaning of life, the beauty of art and nature and lots of other things. Narrated by two women - a 54 year old concierge and a 12 year old school girl, this story really got interesting for me halfway through when a new tenant moves into their apartment building and the story unfolds. At times I found it a little pretentious but after reading that the author is a professor of philosophy it made sense.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-15 04:41:03.
(Language: English)
This book is certainly different to other books I've read. Art, history, culture and philosophy is heavily explored in this book, and it is very interesting....and intriguing. Although, in general I avoid books with a strong dose of philosophy....I really enjoyed this. In one word: ENCHANTING!! One problem....I did require the use of a dictionary several times....althoguh the language is simple enough to understand the general paragraph...some words were beyond my own vocabulary. I absolutely adored Renee and Ozu's character in this book. But, what I enjoyed reading the most is little Paloma's passages on movement and profounds thoughts. They certainly made an interesting read. However, the finale was totally unexpected!!
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A Reader posted a review at 2012-01-10 04:11:51.
(Language: English)
Slow at the start. I found Paloma's character unconvincing and annoying. Must say i only completed it because I loved Mr Ozu's character. Thank goodness he was introduced in the later part of the book.
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Janice posted a review at 2009-12-06 05:59:17.
(Language: English)
Well - I managed to finish this before book club - had huge expectations as everyone loved it, but was apparently setting myself up to be disappointed. It is a clever book by a clever author. So many allusions to things beyond my understanding - like, what is phrenology exactly? - and so very 'French.'It seemed tough to translate - the language often stilted - and I think the translation could have been better.I usually books translated from the French ut this book felt fractured.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-28 09:47:54.
(Language: English)
WOW! The narratives of a precocious 12-year old and a matronly concierge of one of Paris’ upscale apartment buildings, reverberate in this delightful, intellectually stimulating book. Both secret intellectuals, their thoughts radiate amidst the banality of the people they live with and the class-conscious “cultured” milieu. When a rich Japanese man moves in upstairs, and recognizes their brilliant minds, both are released of some of their hidden frustrations. With his astute but discreet attention, they are able to cross class lines and reach a level of meaning and pleasure that neither before thought possible. If you find the first few chapters difficult, confusing, too intellectual, stay with it. It's worth it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-09-01 04:13:12.
(Language: English)
A great read...Clever, entertaining and quirky story with an unlikely pair of main characters. A wry glimpse of Paris that all Francofiles will enjoy..And many others as well.
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Patrick posted a review at 2010-01-31 10:01:17.
(Language: English)
Just marvelous! It’s not often a book lives up to the hyped reviews on the cover but this one did. A clever deeply thoughtful novel on all sorts of levels, it’s a somewhat introspective story but the prose construction and language used make it completely enthralling to read. I’m sure it won’t suit everyone but it was definitely “my sort of book”. It sent me to the dictionary over a dozen times to clarify definitions but that may be partially as a result of it’s translation from the French and my lack of a classical education. Despite it’s erudite nature I believe it’s an accessible book and a well told story. The tale encompasses both the mundane hilarity and pathos of ordinary lives that are also extraordinary when understood from within the character’s perception and experiences.
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Kokila posted a review at 2010-10-21 09:30:33.
(Language: English)
Well, anybody would agree that the end was what gets your real attention but for me it was not just the end because I was expecting a tragedy..it was the perspective in which the last experience was narrated. It felt like most of the living was done in the those moments. Other than that, of course, I had to make more than a few trips to the dictionary turning me into somewhat of an autodidact!!
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Christine posted a review at 2009-05-26 09:16:41.
(Language: English)
Wonderful and engaging book on aesthetics and the will to live told from the perspective of a 12 year-old daughter of privilege and a 54 year-old guardienne in the tony 7th Arrondissment of Paris. At first I thought the language of the 12 year-old Paloma could have been more vernacular and her outlook less mature and worldly, but then was reminded of the same criticism given to Harper Lee over her rendition of Scout, the precocious and observant heroine of To Kill A Mockingbird. A good read.
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| Reviews of The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Page 1 of 2 |
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