Archived: Elegance

Here’s another installment (the second!) of archived reviews from my time as a bookseller and marketing manager at Watermark Books and Cafe.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, translated from French by Alison Anderson, is perhaps one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. I don’t make this statement lightly, for I’ve read some glorious purple prose in months past. Not only is the writing florid, but the story is touching; the reader can’t help but be drawn in to the lives of two, reclusive women.

 

Renee Michel is a quintessential concierge in a high-end apartment building in Paris; she claims to fit every stereotype for her position: plump, unattractive, penniless, and, on the surface, not so bright. But this book isn’t about surface appearances, it’s about what lies beneath. Madame Michel, despite appearances, is a well-read, deep-thinking woman who ponders life’s big questions in the seclusion of her loge. While the residents of number 7, rue de Grenelle assume that Madame Michel sits thoughtlessly at her television, waiting for them to call upon her, she contemplates the nature of Beauty and Art; she reads voraciously and attacks the residents’ use of grammar viciously. According to Madame Michel, the well-to-do have a responsibility to Beauty and Art, even to grammar. She notices everything. Madame Michel even notices Paloma, the twelve year old daughter of a Parliamentarian and socialite; Paloma hides from her parents and sister whom she despises, but she can’t hide from the concierge’s gaze.

 

Through each woman’s narrative, the reader sees deep into their inner musings, and surprisingly, their observations reveal a similar passion for knowledge and the quest for Beauty. They each despise the haughty nature of the neighbors, and the pretenses class and society play in their lives.

When a mysterious man moves into their building, both Madame Michel & Paloma experience a great change. Not only does Monsieur Ozu compliment each woman’s understanding of Beauty and Art, but he helps foster a friendship between the two, a friendship no one would have anticipated.

 

If you’re looking for beautiful prose, contemplation of the big questions in life, and a lovely story about unsuspecting friendships, The Elegance of the Hedgehog should be moved to the top of your reading list. And if you’re looking for a taste of what this novel has to offer, read pages 105-106. And finally, for those of you who participated in the War and Peace Challenge last summer, this novel is an even more delightful treat; there are several nods to Tolstoy throughout!