The Elegance of the Hedgehog

READER RECOMMENDATION

In The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery has invented a beautiful little apartment building in Paris and staffed it with Renée, a prickly yet soul-searching concierge. The story of Renée’s transformation is dependent on precocious teen Paloma, who lives in the building, and a new arrival on the scene – a Japanese businessman/artist. The blossoming of the characters is magical and unpredictably emotional. Read it and weep!