About the Book: In The Elegance of the Hedgehogby Muriel Barbery, the lives of two residents in a Parisian apartment building intertwine in unexpected ways. Renée Michel, the 54-year-old concierge, outwardly conforms to every stereotype of her role—unpolished, cantankerous, and addicted to television. However, she is a self-taught intellectual with a deep appreciation for art, philosophy, music, and Japanese culture. Twelve-year-old Paloma Josse, a precocious and disillusioned girl from a wealthy family, has decided to end her life on her thirteenth birthday, disheartened by the superficiality she perceives around her. Both women conceal their true selves from the world, but their paths cross when a cultured Japanese tenant named Kakuro Ozu moves into the building. Ozu sees through their facades, forming connections that lead Renée and Paloma to discover beauty and meaning in life, challenging their previous perceptions.
