Books like elegance of the hedgehog

The elegance of the hedgehog was originally published in the authors native french language. Find books like the elegance of the hedgehog from the worlds largest community of readers. The elegance of the hedgehog is a study in the dichotomy of the hidden inner self versus outer perceptions. Mar 12, 2020 ive read some fine books this past year, but the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery ranks at the top for barberys timeless commentary on life, books, grammar as an editor i couldnt help but laugh out loud at her take on poor punctuation and, of course, relationships of all strip. Sep, 2008 despite its cutesy air of chocolatebox paris, the elegance of the hedgehog is, by the end, quite radical in its stand against french classism and hypocrisy. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel i would probably never have considered reading had it not been selected as part of a bookclub recommendation.

Translated from the french, there were definitely some cultural references that i, as an american, did not understand at all, but there were also common human elements that really came across at the end. An interview with the author on bookbrowse and 25 quotes from the elegance of the hedgehog on goodreads. It reads more like a tract than a novel, but lacks even a tracts certainty of purpose. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery, 2007 penguin group usa 336 pp. The elegance of the hedgehog is a great book, written with stylistically lovely prose and biting wit. In my world i would give one star to something like the twilight books the writing is pretty bad. For muriel barbery, its elves who are elegant now the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Aug 26, 2008 a riveting, potentially redemptive story of modern american suburbia that reads almost like an ancient greek tragedy. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery penguin september 2008 325pp no spoilers the short of it. It is a strange phenomenon for someone who has devoured so many french books.

Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to the elegance of the hedgehog. When schwalbe noted that the elegance of the hedgehog is essentially a. Feb 20, 2016 for hedgehog lovers, the title of muriel barberys 2006 global best seller, the elegance of the hedgehog, was a bit of a tease. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery librarything. For muriel barbery, its elves who are elegant now the new york. When i first saw one of my favorite books, i read the title as the vengeance of the hedgehog, which, like any other person interested in unusual titles, immediately drew me in. I read the translation from the french by alison anderson. The elegance of the hedgehog started slowly for me in fact, i nearly stopped reading it at one point. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of the novel. Goodreads members voted the elegance of the hedgehog into the following lists.

Hailed as the french publishing phenomenon in recent years, the elegance of the hedgehog has maintained 102 weeks straight on frances best seller lists since its publication in 2006, and sold over 1 million hardback copies. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, paperback. Occasionally, i meet someone who shares my taste in books and offers their recommendations to me. Buy the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery online at alibris. Critic and educator robert adams lectures on the elegance of the hedgehog. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery teen ink. For hedgehog lovers, the title of muriel barberys 2006 global best seller, the elegance of the hedgehog, was a bit of a tease.

Paloma is the daughter of an upperclass family living in the. Sep 12, 2008 this story, like all great tales, will break your heart, but it will also make you realizeor rememberthat sometimes the pain is worth it. By the end, the elegance of the hedgehog was both a book of ideas and a book i could relate to on an emotional level. Rene is the concierge of a parisian apartment building. One of the things i love most about my job as a book seller is chatting about my favorite books with customers and coworkers. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Renee, the buildings concierge, is short, ugly, and plump. The elegance of the hedgehog has been published in 35 languages, in over 25 countries. Emilio, a deaf boy, who barely speaks, discovers his world through the ears of his older neighbor and fatherly friend javier. The elegance of the hedgehog is a poignant novel about two characters who feel they must hide who they really are from a world that cant or wont accept them.

The elegance of the hedgehog was frances bestselling book of 2007, but it is pretentious and cynical, with barely any story. I understand that the author is a professor of philosophy. For all the philosophers and philosophical thought barbery shares through renee, this book is approachable because above it, it is a story about people learning and observing other people. About 10 years ago a friend recomended that i read this book.

A story about the love for the sea and the sun, growing up and a friendship, as we wish it for emilio. She is cantankerous and addicted to television soaps. In many other countries, while it may not have made the bestseller lists, it nonetheless has enjoyed considerable success. Ive had this book for nearly two years now, but didnt feel that compelled to read it until after i finished reading will schwalbes the end of your life book club. The titular hedgehog is allegorical and never appears in the. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback september 2, 2008. Review of the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery.

She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam and now lives in the french countryside. The elegance of the hedgehog kindle edition by barbery. The diary of a young girl by anne frank like water for chocolate by laura esquivel. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as. The elegance of the hedgehog, muriel barbery renee michel is, at first glance, a nondescript middleaged concierge of an apartment building in paris. Will americans embrace a heroine who skulks like a spy among the. A lot of cultural references are made in this book to art, tolstoy, sciif and to japanese films which some readers may or may not get. When the whitmans, a nouveau riche white family, move into a sprawling, newly built house next door to valerie alstonholt, a black professor of forestry and ecology, and her musically gifted, biracial 18yearold son, xavier, in a modest, diverse north carolina neighborhood of. Similar books like the elegance of the hedgehog tastedive.

The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery uk cover. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery, author, alison anderson, translator, trans. Renee, paloma and ozu are rich characters that we can like, dislike. I enjoyed this book and really worked at disassembling it, searching out the meanings and complexities.

The elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. The elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read. The book follows events in the life of a concierge, renee michel, whose deliberately concealed intelligence is uncovered by an unstable but intellectually precocious girl named paloma josse. Not enough can be said about the utter genius of the elegance of the hedgehog.

Such was the case with the elegance of the hedgehog. This is my second time enjoying reading the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog has been described as a toolbox one can look into to resolve lifes problems, a lifetransforming read, and a lifeaffirming book. Have you ever noticed how some books seem to drive a wedge between people. Click to read more about the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery.

The elegance of the hedgehog is a moving, funny, atmospheric novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us. Listening to them for 300 pages is not just deliciously fun for like minded readers, but also enlightening and ultimately uplifting. Book reflections the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.

Reviews in the guardian, the new york times, and the washington post. The elegance of the hedgehog by barbery, muriel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Sep 02, 2008 colombe josse isa sort of tall blond leek who dresses like a penniless bohemian. Why i loved the elegance of the hedgehog for whatever reason, im losing my ability to read french books.

The elegance of the hedgehog best books for francophiles. There was a sense very buddhist of being in the moment. The elegance of the hedgehog is a pleasant story with a. Muriel barbery is the author of the international bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog, and gourmet rhapsody europa editions, 2009. When schwalbe noted that the elegance of the hedgehog is essentially a book about characters who love reading books, i knew it was the perfect book to feature given our current reading theme. A critical success in france, muriel barberys 2008 novel, the elegance of the hedgehog, takes place in a posh parisian apartment building. But she cultivates that image, and underneath her purposely plain exterior is a quick, intelligent brain. This shows in the elegance with which she discusses ideas. But i persisted, and i am glad i did because muriel barbery has written an exceptional story about appearance, class, beauty, and the search for meaning in ones life. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery books. This story, like all great tales, will break your heart, but it will also make you realizeor rememberthat sometimes the pain is worth it. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of. Robert adams on the elegance of the hedgehog youtube.

This story, like all great tales, will break your heart, but it will also make you. Books similar to the elegance of the hedgehog the elegance of the hedgehog. It has been a bestseller in france, spain, germany, italy, south korea, and america. The elegance of the hedgehog book by muriel barbery. L l gance du h risson is a novel by the french novelist and professor of philosophy muriel barbery. The customer was so enthusiastic about the novel that i promptly. However, i persevered and finally ended up liking this book. Goodreads members who liked the elegance of the hedgehog also.

For muriel barbery, its elves who are elegant now the new. Goodreads members who liked the elegance of the hedgehog. A moving, funny, triumphant novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us. Books similar to the elegance of the hedgehog goodreads. The elegance of the hedgehog, book by muriel barbery. Why choose a hedgehog and not a skunk or armadillo. This was one of the best books ive read in the last few months definitely one to pick up on your next order. I cried like a baby during the ending, and it was quite awkward crying like a baby on a busy and filled train in europe. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery abebooks. Lists that contain the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery. If you like slow paced books, books that make you think this is a book for you.

The elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other. May 10, 2019 the elegance of the hedgehog is a different book. If there is one thing i despise, its the perverse affectation of rich people who go around dressing as if they were poor. Apr 27, 2018 book reflections the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery alibris. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book club. If you like the elegance of the hedgehog you might like similar books gourmet rhapsody, suite francaise, mr. We are in an elegant hotel particulier in the center of paris. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery uk cover edition muriel barbery on. I couldnt remember the title when i reached the library catalogue but i remembered that the word hedgehog. The elegance of the hedgehog kindle edition by barbery, muriel, anderson, alison. The elegance of the hedgehog entertaining angels bookshelf.

This book will save your life the elegance of the hedgehog has been described as a toolbox one can look into to resolve lifes problems, a lifetransforming read, and a lifeaffirming book. Hedgehogs arent native to america, but you dont have to be french to sniff out at least some of the contradictions in the title of muriel barberys european bestseller. The book and the characters movement happens in little steps like japanese women walking in a kimono. I like smart writing and smart characters, but i dont necessarily care for overly intellectualized books. Lelegance du herisson is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. I dont like to attract attention as a person, she said. Its very much a characterdriven book with little plot, but once the characters begin to grab you, youll be hooked. I read barberys life of elves last year while i was in munich, but found it to be too meandering for my taste, despite the lovely language. Muriel barbery is the author of the new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog europa, 2008, and gourmet rhapsody europa, 2009. We are in the center of paris, in an elegant apartment building inhabited by bourgeois families. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the elegance of the hedgehog. Moderate, for about four uses of strong language and some occasional use of mild and moderate language. Sep 12, 2008 buy the paperback book the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery at indigo. Her novel both depicts and hopes to appeal to the connoisseur of humanity who can appreciate exquisite qualities unacknowledged by others.