Oct 20, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog, barberys second novel was a phenomenon in france, winning the 2007 french booksellers prize and making headlines because at least one psychotherapist. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel by writer muriel barbery. The the elegance of the hedgehog community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. In the passage from which the title is taken, paloma writes madame michel has the elegance of the hedgehog. 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. Detailed summary, analysis and reading guide bright summaries 3. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on. Book club discussion questions on muriel barberys the elegance of the hedgehog discussion questions, the elegance of the hedgehog published on may 16, 2010. May 16, 2011 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. While ms barberys background in philosophy comes through, the humor woven throughout balances things nicely and creates. We are in an elegant hotel particulier in the center of paris.
The elegance of the hedgehog paperback book discussion. Her first book, une gourmandise, has been translated into twelve languages. What the book does explore, albeit in its candy bar way. Review of the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery. When youre done, you can use it for sticking in things like postcards or photos. I would have loved to love the elegance of the hedgehog and truthfully, i dont hate it. The elegance of the hedgehog has been published in 35 languages, in over 25 countries. Despite our best intentions, however, just like most of the characters in this story, we often get it wrong and offend those we live or work with, albeit unintentionally. Some of us liked it more than others, and the best analysis of the book is in a talk by. It is maybe unrealistic to acsribe so much philosophy to a 54 year old conceirge and a 12 year old bourgeois girl in paris. The elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback september 2, 2008. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barberythis book was a huge success in barberys native france and it isnt hard to see why, writes philippa lewis. The elegance of the hedgehog is a moving, funny, atmospheric novel that exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.
The elegance of the hedgehog, barberys second novel was a phenomenon in france, winning the 2007 french booksellers prize and making headlines because at least one psychotherapist. Perhaps the ending worked better in the book, muriel barberys the elegance of the hedgehog. In many other countries, while it may not have made the bestseller lists, it nonetheless has enjoyed considerable success. Spread the word the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barberyage. The elegance of the hedgehog maxs pick september 2016 maxwell. The elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre. A huge bestseller in its native france and elsewhere in europe, now available in english while brimming with audacity and indignation, the elegance of the hedgehog is tempered by a smooth infusion of sophisticated humor and a boundless passion for art. Renee, the concierge, is witness to the lavish but vacuous lives of her numerous employers. Oct 02, 2017 in the elegance of the hedgehog, a lot can happen when a middleaged concierge and a precocious twelveyearold girl connect thanks to the influence of a retired japanese businessman. Sep 07, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog, a best seller in france and several other countries, belongs to a distinct subgenre.
Discussion questions, the elegance of the hedgehog by shelley. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery abebooks. Book hedgehog how to make a piece of book art paper. Buy the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery online at alibris. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book club. Lelegance du herisson is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The elegance of the hedgehog has gone on to sell more than 6 million copies worldwide and has been described by le figaro as the publishing phenomenon of the decade. The the elegance of the hedgehog community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. Muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and the bestselling author of impacshortlisted novel the elegance of the hedgehog. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers. Muriel barbery beautifully translated from french by alison anderson publisher. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery translated by alison anderson europa editions, 2008 isbn 9781933372600 325 pages book 18 of 2011.
The elegance of the hedgehog ebook written by muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog a strange title indeed, but what a gem of a book. The two main characters in muriel barberys novel have a tendency to ponder lofty issues. Aug 18, 2011 the hedgehog goes heavier on the whimsy, but concludes with a capricious melodramatic twist. She has lived in kyoto, amsterdam, and paris, and now lives in the french countryside. The elegance of the hedgehog muriel barbery, 2007 penguin group usa 336 pp. Nov 30, 2012 this book reminds me that were all flawed human beings, trying to make our way as best we can. How do these relate to renee and paloma what is the dilemma of determnism. Shop for sonic the hedgehog books online at target. The elegance of the hedgehog is, by the end, quite.
Fictionset in an upscale apartmentcondo complex in paris, muriel barbery takes us into the lives of two of the buildings residents. The elegance of the hedgehog unlikable protagonists. Renee is the concierge of a grand parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Muriel barbery muriel barbery is the author of the new york times bestseller, the elegance of the hedgehog europa, 2008, gourmet rhapsody europa, 2009, and the life of elves europa, 2016. In this novel, renee michel is a concierge who believes that every concierge is perceived as unintelligent by those for whom they work. The hedgehog goes heavier on the whimsy, but concludes with a capricious melodramatic twist. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery book analysis. Sep 02, 2008 renee is the concierge of a grand parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Read an excerpt by purchasing this digital edition you have been granted right to its private use only. Paloma is the daughter of an upperclass family living in the. The housekeeper and the professor by yoko ogawa labfs39, chrisharpe labfs39. It has enjoyed similar success in italy, spain, germany, and many other countries. Lent to me initially and having read it once, i had to have my own copy, so i purchased it in hodges figgis, dublin.
Discussion questions, the elegance of the hedgehog by. By purchasing this digital edition you have been granted right to its private use only. Published in france in 2006 and in the uk in 2008, it has gone on to sell more than 6 million copies worldwide and has been described by le figaro as the publishing phenomenon of the decade. The elegance of the hedgehog, by muriel barbery, trans. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, 9781906040185, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
As previously mentioned, these parts of the book gave me the impression that barbery perhaps wanted to write a book on philosophy, but chose instead to disguise it thinly, i might add, in a hodgepodge of disturbed characters who need serious therapy. Sep 12, 2008 the elegance of the hedgehog is different from any book i have ever read. The elegance of the hedgehog is a novel by the french novelist and philosophy teacher muriel barbery. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery alibris. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of the novel. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barberry the. 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 life. The fact that both the widow and the girl are well read does nothing to assuage the deep existential angst they suffer from as they pretend they are as shallow. The elegance of the hedgehog is muriel barberys second novel. The international bestseller that has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. In the book the elegance of the hedgehog, explain the philosophies of, husserl,and kants idealism. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery books on.
Sep, 2008 it is a profound but accessible book not quite proust, then, which elegantly treads the line between literary and commercial fiction. The hedgehog of the title is renee michel, a 54yearold widow who is concierge of a swanky parisian apartment block. The book follows events in the life of a concierge. Muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and bestselling author. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery librarything. We generally mean well and have a liveandletlive approach to life. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery books.
We are in the center of paris, in an elegant apartment building inhabited by bourgeois families. The elegance of the hedgehog questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the elegance. All other uses, including those committed without knowledge of these. In france, muriel barberys novel has been a sensation both critical and popular. For this reason, renee goes to great lengths to hide the fact that she often spends her days reading marx and tolstoy. It is a profound but accessible book not quite proust, then, which elegantly treads the line between literary and commercial fiction. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with societys expectations of what a concierge should be. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback elliott bay book. Take our free the elegance of the hedgehog quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the elegance of the hedgehog. 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. In both books i learned things in fields not particularly close to me. It has been a bestseller in france, spain, germany, italy, south korea, and america. May 16, 2010 book club discussion questions on muriel barberys the elegance of the hedgehog discussion questions, the elegance of the hedgehog published on may 16, 2010. She is cantankerous and addicted to television soaps. The elegance of the hedgehog paperback the elliott bay.
Buy the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, alison anderson translator from amazons fiction books store. I love the simplicity and the fact that it looks so cute. For this reason, renee goes to great lengths to hide the. Both have incredibly welldrawn, quirky characters that are lovable in their unique humaness.
Renee, the buildings concierge, is short, ugly, and plump. Buy the elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery 9781906040185 from boomerang books, australias online independent bookstore. May 28, 2009 muriel barbery is a former lecturer in philosophy and bestselling author. The elegance of the hedgehog by barbery, muriel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Start with a book you dont want any more or buy it for a few cents in a charity shop. The woman and the girl who narrate this french novel are closet intellectuals. The elegance of the hedgehog by muriel barbery, paperback. Do you feel this is an accurate characterization of. Its is difficult to really write about it at this distance in time, because it is an extremely intellectual and philosophical book. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with. Perhaps the ending worked better in the book, muriel barberys the elegance of the hedgehog, which. Both have highly intelligent characters that are vulnerable because of their very gift. The authors use of language to describe her characters and story was engaging.
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