Reviews

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

yettasoukup's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

babyjillysmom's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It takes a really long time to figure out what the connections are between the characters.  There is a lot of philosophical reflection from both main characters 12 year old suicidal Paloma and 54 year old Renee.  They both lament about all sorts of things but both seem to have negative attitudes about class and others in general.  I had a really hard time getting into the book.  Then once I finally had invested myself Into the characters the ending is just tragic. 

kristenesantos's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

eamcmahon3's review against another edition

2.0

Hot takes incoming.

This is the kind of book that people say is their favorite book so they can seem worldly and feel superior. The writing style was... hard to swallow. The ellipses are intention because there were so many in this book!!! Too many!! The second half was much better but still I really didn't like it.

Way too erudite for some casual fiction reading for my taste

alittle99's review against another edition

2.0

don’t think i enjoyed this. 100 pages in and i genuinely didn’t think i would be able to finish it but it does pick up about halfway through. an impressive read but think that takes away from its ability to be enjoyed. 

rosiev425's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

caylaelon's review against another edition

There was no real plot and i am sure inevitably we would have gotten to a point where there was a great moral of the story… but i was tired of reading the complaints about life from these two characters

sophiegs's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident and Death

lesbiangrandpa's review against another edition

5.0

This book made me chuckle more than I think any other has. Ultimately, this felt like a narrative of how friendship saves your life, which is very wholesome and beautiful and something I agree with wholeheartedly.

dido's review against another edition

Exhausting characters