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A concierge and a young girl in a Paris apartment building hide how much they think
2006Slow paceThoughtful
What it is about
Renée is the concierge of a wealthy Paris building and secretly loves books, art and philosophy. Paloma is a gifted twelve-year-old who lives upstairs and keeps her intelligence hidden. When a cultured Japanese man moves in, he sees both of them for who they are.
Who will enjoy it
Readers who like French literary fiction and ideas.
What you will get
A bestseller in France that was translated into many languages. It is more about thoughts than plot.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Literary Fiction · Paris · Class · Friendship
Length
325 pages · ≈ 9 h
More about this book
Characters
Renée Michel, Paloma Josse and Kakuro Ozu.
Setting
A grand apartment building in Paris.
What makes it different
Two narrators who both hide their intelligence, in a gentle comedy about class.
Feel
Witty, quiet and philosophical.
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