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Muriel Barbery

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

"The Elegance of the Hedgehog" by Muriel Barbery is a thought-provoking and poignant novel that explores the hidden depths of its characters and the beauty of the everyday. The story is told from the perspectives of two protagonists: Renée, a middle-aged concierge in a Parisian apartment building who hides her intelligence and love of art and literature from the residents; and Paloma, a precocious twelve-year-old girl who lives in the building and has decided to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. The novel is a meditation on the themes of beauty, class, and the complexity of human nature. Renée and Paloma are both outwardly ordinary, but inwardly extraordinary, and their stories intersect in unexpected ways. When a new resident moves into the building, a wealthy Japanese businessman named Kakuro Ozu, he quickly sees through Renée's facade and befriends her. Through their friendship, Renée begins to embrace her true self and discover the beauty in the world around her. Barbery's writing is rich and evocative, bringing the characters and setting to life in vivid detail. She has a keen eye for the small moments that make up a life, and the novel is filled with insightful observations about art, literature, and the human condition. "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is a novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with depth and substance. It is a book that encourages readers to look beyond appearances and to find the beauty and complexity in the world around them. With its unique perspective and thought-provoking themes, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is a novel that will stay with readers long after they have turned the final page...