Fiction Pick of the Week: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Murial Barbery 2008

A smart, sophisticated, character-driven book that can’t be rushed—its numerous literary, philosophical and psychological references demand time to be pondered and savoured. Alternately narrated by the 54-yer-old concierge of a posh Paris apartment building and the 12-year-old daughter of one of the resident families, both are deeply intelligent and therefore frustrated by the pretentiousness and ignorance of those around them. They have each developed their own coping mechanisms which are often bitingly satirical and offer sharp insight on the class consciousness of modern society. Things change, however, with the arrival of a new tenant in the building who sees through all the personality facades and attempts to bring to the surface the true nature of each character.