[home] [news] [this year's award] [publishers] [libraries] [award archive] [faqs] [dublin city public libraries] [IMPAC] [contact us]

The 2010 Award

 

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

The elegance of the hedgehog

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

by Muriel Barbery

Translated from the original French by Alison Anderson

 

Nominated by:

  • Katona József County Library, Kecskemét, Hungary
  • Veria Central Public Library, Greece
  • Bibliothèque Municipale de Mulhouse, France
  • Bibliothèque Municipale de Lyon, France
  • Dublin City Public Libraries, Ireland
  • Seattle Public Library, USA
  • Biblioteca Demonstrativa de Brasília BDB, Brazil
  • Edmonton Public Library, Canada

 

Publisher of Nominated Edition:


Europe Editions, USA

Gallic Books, England

 

the complete A-Z listing of nominated authors
ABOUT THE BOOK

Renée Michel is the dumpy, nondescript, 54-year-old concierge of a small and exclusive Paris apartment building....

"Paloma Josse also lives in the building. Acutely intelligent, introspective and philosophical, this 12-year-old views the world as absurd and records her observations about it in her journal...

"These two characters provide the double narrative of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and you will -- this is going to sound corny -- fall in love with both....

"Tender and satirical in its overall tone, yet most absorbing because of its reflections on the nature of beauty and art, the meaning of life and death.... The intelligent Muriel Barbery has served readers well by giving us the gently satirical, exceptionally winning and inevitably bittersweet Elegance of the Hedgehog."

(From Publisher).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Muriel Barbery is a French author who lives in Japan with her husband Stéphane. Her novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog is currently in second spot on the IndieBound bestseller list, which calculates book sales at independent bookstores across the county; and is in 13th position on the New York Times bestseller list. It has been a bestseller in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, South Korea, and in many other countries.

LIBRARIANS' COMMENTS

The Elegance of the Hedgehog is a challenged narrative by the voice of the two main characters with lots of knowledge on such different fields such as; cinema, psychoanalysis, philosophy. Despite all this, the reading amuses and surprises with a particular sense of humour, sometimes satirical sometimes tender, but always a pleasure.

An intelligent, humorous, beautiful book artfully translated by Alison Anderson.

This long-seller is a charming book, funny, fine, full of erudition and emotion. A novel that goes in all directions, dealing with the feelings of our society.

A philosophical novel which takes place in a rich area of Paris and involves three characters a concierge, a thirteen-year-old girl and a Japanese business man.

Very touching, humorous with an interesting plot.

This novel is full of allusions to literary works, music, films, paintings etc and incorporates many themes relating to philosophy, Japanese culture, class consciousness and personal conflict which are presented in a close to essay yet very enjoyable style.

Barbery’s winsome, philosophical novel compels and surprises in turn, the fascinating and improbable pairing of the closet-intellectual concierge and the suicidal preadolescent draws us into their jewel of a world.

 

[home] [news] [this year's award] [publishers] [libraries] [award archive] [dublin city public libraries] [IMPAC] [faqs] [contact us]

Copyright © 2010 Dublin City Public Libraries