Book Report: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

For far too long, I have been plodding my way through The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, translated from the French by Alison Anderson. I read a good bit about the book, which centered around the idea that beauty and intelligence transcends class. The cover was lovely, and I thought it would be an easy read. It was not. Up until the last 100 pages of this 325 page book, it dragged and was rather dark. The book consists of diary entries of the two principal characters.

These first of these characters is Madame Renee' Michel, the concierge at an upscale apartment building in Paris. The second is Paloma Josse. Paloma is a brilliant thirteen year old girl, who is so frustrated by the bourgeoisie comings and goings of her family that she decides that when she is thirteen she will set her family's apartment on fire and kill herself.

So, it sounds dark right. Madame Michel comes from poverty and feels that the is so fated to her class, that she hides her intelligence and pretends to be very dull and uneducated. Paloma functions in a world alone, more intelligent than her family and classmates. She is continually frustrated by the minor prejudices of class and the overlooking of intelligence, art and beauty based on class.

The tone of the apartment building changes when the mysterious Kakuro moves into the building. Immediately, he recognizes that Madame Michel is intelligent based on the fact that her cat is named Leo, after Leo Tolstoy, and see a few upper level library books fall from her pack. Kakuro also recognizes the intelligence and sensitivity of Paloma and invites her to tea. At tea, they talk about the possibility of the distinct intelligence of Madame Michel.

Kakuro and Madame Michel develop a relationship that is supported by Paloma. Kakuro and Madame Michel become closer and closer, hit a snag, work though it and that is all I can tell you.

Overall, I found this book to be a real struggle for a while, but I loved the last 100 pages. I enjoyed the debates on culture and art. For instance, the book debated the superiority of British and French culture. Of course, being a French novel, it felt that French culture was superior. I feel that the idea of cultural superiority comes in far second to that of British resolve and determination, and fear that I judge both countries on their response to Nazi Germany. The British win!!! This book votes the French as culturally superior based on cheese and language.

Anyway, I guess I encourage this book. You will learn many new vocabulary words, and it is quite well written. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is not a light read, which is what I was expecting. It made me wish that my soul-mate would find me based on the fact that I named my cat after an illustrious Russian author. It is rather romantic in the nerdiest sort of way. On to American Lion!!!