Book Review: The Elegance of the Hedgehog- Muriel Barbery
A 'food for thought' story about life
This is the story of Renee Michel, a concierge for a Parisian apartment building (inhabited by the wealthy) and Paloma Josse, a precocious 12-year-old who lives in one of the apartments with her family. The book is narrated by Renee and Paloma.
Externally Renee fulfils the stereotype for a concierge as someone who is old, poor and blends into the background. In private though, she is well-read, an autodidact who enjoys the finer aspects of movies, music, literature, and philosophy. No one sees her for who she really is, and Renee prefers to keep it that way.
‘Madame Michel has the elegance of the hedgehog: on the outside she is covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is that on the inside, she has the same simple refinement as the hedgehog: a deceptively indolent little creature, fiercely solitary — and terrible elegant’
Paloma is a little girl who is far more intelligent (for her age) and perceptive than most adults around her. She is disillusioned by the shallow; status-driven lives led by her wealthy family and doesn’t see any point in growing old and living the ‘fishbowl existence.
‘People aim for the stars, and they end up like goldfish in a bowl. I wonder if it wouldn’t be simpler just to teach children right from the start that life is absurd.’
She has decided that unless there is something worth living for, she will end her life on her 13th birthday.
Renee and Paloma’s lives are changed by the arrival of a new resident in their building and they revisit their opinions on people and life.
I read the paperback version a few years ago and it was not a book I could read in one sitting, there is so much food for thought about different topics, like time, language, philosophy, class barriers, friendships and so on. The author manages to weave in all this with humour and there are many laugh-out-loud moments.
I heard the audiobook recently and I must admit I enjoyed the narration much more and will recommend the audiobook over the paperback. This will make a good companion as you go for long walks, drives or when you potter about your garden. Not everyone will enjoy this book though, if you are someone who prefers quick reads, and does not have the patience for long meandering narrations with a philosophical touch, then steer clear.
-Anju