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The Elegance of the Hedgehog

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The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Written by: Muriel Barbery
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat, Cassandra Morris
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About this listen

 An enchanting New York Times and international best seller and award-winner about life, art, literature, philosophy, culture, class, privilege, and power, seen through the eyes of a 54-year-old French concierge and a precocious but troubled 12-year-old girl.

Renee Michel is the 54-year-old concierge of a luxury Paris apartment building. Her exterior (short, ugly,and plump) and demeanor (poor, discreet, and insignificant) belie her keen, questing mind and profound erudition. Paloma Josse is a 12-year-old genius who behaves as everyone expects her to behave: a mediocre pre-teen high on adolescent subculture, a good but not outstanding student, an obedient if obstinate daughter. She plans to kill herself on the 16th of June, her 13th birthday.

Both Renee and Paloma hide their true talents and finest qualities from the bourgeois families around them, until a wealthy Japanese gentleman named Ozu moves into building. Only he sees through them, perceiving the secret that haunts Renee, winning Paloma's trust, and helping the two discover their kindred souls. Moving, funny, tender, and triumphant, Barbery's novel exalts the quiet victories of the inconspicuous among us.

©2006 Editions Gallimard, Paris (P)2009 Highbridge Company Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Feel-Good

What the critics say

"Gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bittersweet." ( The Washington Post )
"An exquisite book in the form of a philosophical fable that has enchanted hundreds of thousands of readers." (Italian Elle)
"Kinetic minds and engaging voices." ( New York Times Book Review)
"By turns very funny and heartbreaking". ( Publishers Weekly)
"Life-affirming." ( Time)
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I happened upon this book in a small, independently owned bookstore. I was so taken by the title that I ordered it as a gift for my niece, who happens to love hedgehogs, and ordered my copy on Audible. I loved this one-of-a-kind novel and recommend it to any readers who are up for a quirky break from their usual genre preferences.

Quirky For Sure

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#Audible1
I wasn't completely sure I was going to like this book when I first started listening to it, but I found myself becoming very fond of the characters as the story went on. This book would appeal to people who like character driven stories, with clever characters who insightfully observe the world around them.

Great Characters

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just a lovely worded book on class love loneliness and beauty. a very enjoyable read

enlightening

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Yes there is philosophy in this book and I do look forward to discussing it with my book club. But also, it is simply a beautiful story. Recommended.

Beautiful story and great 2 voice narration

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After an hour or two I just stopped. Maybe it's not my cup of tea. But it's just showey prose that seems intended to illicit awe that it dare exist. I'm not sure what purpose it serves, so I'm out

Idk, too pretentious for me 🤷‍♀️

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