Discussion of the Book for March 2011
Posted by bangkokbookclub on July 8, 2011
“The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery
Most of the group throughly enjoyed this book, though some thought it was pretentious and superficial. Several commented that it was beautifully written. Some thought it was an accurate critique of French society, but could also see the existence of this class consciousness (to varying degrees) displayed in other cultures. Someone else made the observation that this is true in so many societies, and that there are people that do essential things for us in everyday life that we don’t notice or acknowledge. One member liked the way profound and serious ideas were presented in a light way, making it an easy book to read.
Suzana, a member who has lived in Paris, and is familiar with the street where the novel is set, absolutely loved this book, and found it completely believable and in line with the French sense of humour and the ability to make fun of themselves. She explained the attraction of the Japanese businessman, and how true it was that people would be enthralled by him as he was so different to anything they had experienced, and presented something new and fresh.
Almost everyone thought the ending was unsatisfying, but no-one could come up with something better.
A couple of members did not like this book at all. Buzz passed on his blog entry about it:
Superficial and Pretentious.
I know that many readers adulate this book, but for me, it was superficial and pretentious. It was as if Irving Berlin, a very great song writer, had tried to write an opera, or as if a daytime soap opera had aspirations of great drama. I don’t think that Muriel Barbery has anything much to say about art and beauty, and her story line, while sometimes charming, and her characters, while sometimes interesting, would be better engaged in something other than trying to explain the meaning of life to us all. This book belongs on the shelf with the numerous motivational books and tapes of the self-actualization movement, the “you can do and be anything if you put your mind to it” folks.
THE BOOK FOR APRIL 27th IS “NEVER LET ME GO” BY KAZUO ISHIGURO
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