the elegance of the hedgehog - pg. 253-295

good friday evening. i thought i'd post a picture of japan since we've seen a couple images of france... and japan plays kind of a minor role in our story. abigail mentioned that the french are enamored with japanese culture. i think the opposite is true too. they LOVE france in japan.... anyway... onto the book....

i have found this book to be like a plant or a flower. it starts out as a beautiful bud, and then it slowly unfolds and opens for you - layers of petals revealing a depth and an inner life you might not have imagined when you first noticed a little shoot. of course flowers play an important role in the story too [yellow roses and the camilla in particular].

this is the section where your heart starts to swell. finally, finally renee and kakuro and paloma have each other. it feels like all is as it should be. the beautiful outcasts coming together and realizing that they are not alone. that they all are in pursuit of beauty, art, moments and the very small minute details that make life worth living.

i think in many ways i relate to all three of these characters.... and i long for same proximity to people who share my world view. how lucky they are to live in the same building. to have this deep connection. to be able to wittily discuss what the english invented. to learn and grown from one another. each seems to become a better person - more whole, more thoughtful, more complete when they are in one another's presence. isn't that ultimately what we want from all of our true friendships?

it's interesting to me to think about the role of class in this novel. i think we in the states are fooling ourselves if we don't acknowledge there is classism here, but i think it operates quite differently from the classism of europe. this is a whole other discussion in and of itself, but i wonder if as an american reader i interpret the class distinctions differently than a french reader would. [this makes me think about karen's translation question again].

in any case, in this section, paloma brings class up in profound thought 14 [the idea of theo the thai baby perhaps wanted to burn cars in frustration over his confusing conflicted history], and again in profound thought 15 where she truly recognizes how different she is from her family and how she can't heal them. with renee it's so obvious that she has mentally escaped her "class", but can't completely transition. with the bourgeois characters we see the worst of class entitlement [and the blinders that come with it].

this book has also made me think about the act of being clandestine. what do we hide behind - like renee? what do we keep secret from others? and why. tragedy? fear? i also love the idea of healing. of wanting to heal others. of the importance of recognizing how to heal and who can be healed.

favorite quotes:

i just loved the whole passage of Journal of he Movement of the World No. 7 pg. 271 [how funny that paloma thinks of her self as a contemplative esthete with Zen and Rosard tendencies] but the end. oh the end....

Because beauty consists of its own passing, just as we reach for it. It's the ephemeral configuration of things in the moment, when you can see both their beauty and death.

Oh my gosh, I thought, does this mean that this is how we must live our lives? Constantly poised between beauty and death, between movement and its disappearance?

Maybe that's what being alive is all about: so we can track down those moments that are dying

i wonder if i should tatoo this somewhere on my body as a reminder.

renee on her afternoon with kakuro [and the idea of companionship] pg. 277:

This pause in time, within time... When did I first experience the exquisite sense of surrender that is possible only with another person? The peace of mind one experiences on one's own, one's certainty of self in the serenity of solitutde, are nothing in comparison to the release and openness and fluency one shares wth another, in close companionship... When did I first feel so blissfully relaxed in a presence of a man?

Today is the first time.

i'll leave it to shari to to delve further into the importance of the camellia, but what a wonderful note to end on. the idea that a simple flower can bring such hope to another being. the miracle of noticing. "Because a camellia can change fate"

happy holidays to everyone.... i'm sort of sad that we are almost done with this book.

The Elegance Of The Hedgehog p. 198 to 252

Hi Everyone,

I am going to continue on Ash's train of thought about the writing of this book. I have to admit that I have been refraining myself from reading the others' posts until I was completely done with the book... I am not sure whether it's just because personally, I've been "cocooning" or whether like Ash mentioned, this book feels like one is secretly observing these two people's very private lives and thoughts. It's as if I wanted to go through the revelations in the book before seeing what else everyone else saw.

The thing that I love this book are the "moments" that the author captures. Because if you really think about it, our lives are often filled with quiet moments of discovery. And it's not just the moments, it's also the way she can fully form a character and make's the reader think (or at least me) "Yes, I have also encountered a Colombe Jose in my life..."

I love the way she can so fully encapsulate a thought and draw the reader in.

But when we gaze at a still life, when - even though we did not pursue it - we delight in its beauty, a beauty borne away by the magnified and immobile figuration of things, we find pleasure in the fact that there was no need for longing, we may contemplate something we need not want, may cherish something we need not desire. pg 204

In this part of the book, the two protagonist finally meet. Once again, this takes place in such a normal moment and yet the chapter fizzles with delicious anticipation and tension.

Which brings me to this question. It is one that I have asked Lisa S before while reading another translated author (Murakami, who is quite excellent also). Does the strength of a translated work solely lie on the original author or the translator? It's a question, I've often asked myself and would love to know others thoughts on this. On a whole, I am loving this book and am wondering whether it is as good in it's original language. I have begged a friend who lives in France to read it also and will report his findings back (if he ever decides to read it)....

(The picture was taken near the Notre Dame in Paris, earlier this Spring)

Elegance of a Hedgehog- pages 141-198

Hi all,

sorry for the delay on this post. Ash was having some internet woes... and then it was Thanksgiving.... and so... here it is - via email via me.... :) hopefully we'll be back to normal this week!!

... lisa s

from Ash:

As I have been reading this book I have sort of felt like a fly on the wall or snooping through someones diary of thoughts. I have greatly enjoyed that feeling simply because I think all of us have wanted to be a fly on the wall at some point. The other day someone asked me what I thought about this book and the first word that came to my mind was delightful which is interesting because I recently read in another book that the most pure word to describe something enjoyable is "delight". That is just how feel when reading about these characters lives, thoughts, and insights.

I find this book deliciously clever and witty. The author writes in a way that allows anyone reading it to feel a personal connection. We have all felt some of the things these characters are thinking and experiencing. I'm greatly amused by the goldfish bowl theory. I think I'm currently swimming in one myself but this book can remind an adult that change is possible and if you want out of the fishbowl you will need to change the course of your actions and do something different. Also the emphasis on wabi was quite beautiful to me as well. I think most adults are so consumed with the next best thing that they miss out on the intricate details that are so worth living for. That's why Paloma is such a charm. She sees the world in a way most adults never reach. I laughed when Lisa posted that she felt this little girl was probably smarter than her....I feel the same way ;) ha.

So in this section Renee gets her world shook up a bit when the mysterious new tenant figures out she is quite intelligent and invites her to dinner. I laughed out loud at her panic attack over the fact someone caught on to her secrets. She seemed so cozy with her fake appearance to others and than life handed her a twist because clearly if it hadn't she was never going to veer off the path of comfort. I'm excited to see what happens at this dinner party. I'm curious to see who the other guests are.
Paloma lets us into her thoughts and feelings about her classmates and what pathetic sad lives they will lead. Thats when it struck me just how advanced her mind was. For her to know these sad paths grown-ups go down in life because they have bad attitudes or make a few wrongs choices just amazed me. She was dead on to how some people go forth in life.

My favorite quote was quite simple.

Page- 173

" To Madame Michel,
In honor of your cat.
With my warmest regards,
Kakuro Ozu"

Plain and simple it made me smile.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog - pages 95 - 141...

It is in this section of the book that the pace really begins to pick up for me...revealing more depth to, and indeed even difference between, Paloma and Renee.

To begin with though, I also wanted to comment on the lovely choice to use a different type-face for each characters voice, or part...I agree with Lisa, that is hugely helpful to me in keeping the two separate and knowing exactly where I am. I wonder how deeply one could analyse the font....slightly more classic and complex for Renee....more simple, straight-forward {new} for Paloma?

For me, these chapters begin to set the two ladies in our story apart somewhat.....I feel that Renee has a deep appreciation for the beauty in life, for the simplicity....of good food, beautiful tea, films, culture....special moments. In spite of her obvious, and extreme intelligence and ability to appreciate things that pass most her age by {high end literature, music, cross-cultural 'Culture'}, something is revealed to me here about Paloma - that she hasn't really seen the beauty of life, the little things....and that for all her intelligence, she is still young and angry at the world - the same way a lot of young teenagers are. In short....all the intellectualisation in the world cannot give you an emotional maturity that comes with age. It's just something that has occurred to me....creeping in through the voices of each character - I wonder if others feel this too? One is playing at appreciating the finer things, walking the higher plane....and the other really does.....

Perhaps they are the same person at different junctures in life.....how Paloma would be if she grows old...how Renee might have been when she was young?

Another thing I find fascinating about this book is the strong Japanese references. Having spent a lot of time in France - I know how highly Japanese culture is revered there, how highly respected and appreciated it is....not only is it fashionable {sushi, manga, film, art}....it is deeply ingrained in the older established 'France' too......the importance and appreciation of tea, Japonisme ,for example...and so, in the part where we see the introduction of Mr. Ozu - this all falls into place and instantly bolsters his character with an air of interest, and importance. His presence provokes great curiosity within both Paloma and Renee, but for very different reasons. Renee seems almost terrified to be 'found out' as Mr. Ozu seems to be able to read her like a book and see beneath her 'work facade' right away....instantly making her uneasy with the connection between her cat's name {Leo} and his quoting Anna Karenina...he singles out Renee in the same way he goes on to single out Paloma. I feel Mr.Ozu is going to be a wonderful, and very important character as our tale continues...

Old world France...new world France. Bourgeoisie versus the working class.....it's a story, I think, that might only be possible in the place where it is set. It has a uniqueness about it, culturally. I too would love to be able to read this in the native French....it's popularity, despite what the book clearly has a 'pop at' {about a culture and class} says huge amounts for Muriel Barberys' wonderful story telling....

Some favourite quotes from this section ::

The white pearls

Fallen on my sleeves with heart still full

We parted

I take them with me

As a memory of you

{Kokinshu} Page 108

....I am not usually a poetry lover {as many of you know ;)}...but this, I love...this sings to me. So beautiful....

Language is a bountiful gift and it's usage, an elaboration of community and society, is a sacred work. Language and usage evolve over time: elements change, are forgotten or reborn...page 106

I am so intrigued by just how dear Renee holds language and words - her sense of marvel and complete understanding and mastery of grammar and usage is a joy to see be revealed in her character...

I cannot wait to see how this part will lead to the next. How the 'key' that is Mr. Ozu will serve to unlock something in both our heroines......will Mr. Ozu be connected to Ozu the director? Will he manage to capture enough of Paloma to stop her going ahead with her plans....??

I hope you have all enjoyed this section as much as me. There was so much to cover, and I know I have only scratched the surface......what were your favourite parts?? Favourite lines or quotes???

{photo taken one rainy, misty, afternoon in Paris, looking towards the Pantheon.....}

Over to you bookclubbers!

xo

..until Friday!

Hello Shipmates!

...just stopping in briefly to extend my apologies for missing my post on Friday - a combination of being rather sick and having my Internet play dead are to blame...

Normal service shall resume, however, this Friday coming - when I will be back at the helm continuing where Shari left off. Hope you are all still enjoying the book and looking forward to 'seeing' you back here on Friday...

Abigail xo

the elegance of the hedgehog pgs. 46-95

in this section of the novel, paloma and renee still haven't met. however, we begin to see strong connections between the two characters right from the start. in these first chapters, both characters describe pets as totems. renee talks about the poodle as totem, and paloma, the cat.

page by page, we learn more and more as we receive glimpses into their everyday lives. i noticed that renee spends a good deal of time in this section talking about books, philosopy, learning, knowledge. she talks of being an autodidact and how she so desperately wants to understand all that she reads. on the other hand, in paloma's sections, she speaks of feeling or the lack of it in the case of her family. how her mother "cares" for the plants and children...feeding them but not necessarily in a nurturing or loving way. how colombe acts like a soldier...

i loved the quote on pg. 86...

"Don't we all deal with life the way we do our military service? Doing what we can, while we wait either to be demobbed or do battle? Some will clean up the barrack-room, others will shirk, or spend their time playing cards, or trafficking, or plotting something. Officers command, soldiers obey, but no one is fooled by this comedy behind closed doors: one day, you'll have to go out and die, officers and soldiers alike, the morons along with the wise guys..."

i found the section about renee and lucien to be so moving, the description of illness like a web, so poignant.

thinking vs. feeling. it made me immediately think of the meyers briggs profiles. how would paloma's and renee's profiles differ? or would they?

my absolute favorite part of this section was renee's chapter about the importance of ritual on pages 90-91. it is far too long to type here but i found myself reading that section again and again.

a critic for marie claire described the elegance of the hedgehog as a book that grow[s] quietly and then blossoms suddenly", and i have to agree. i finished this book some time ago, and i can speak from experience that this book only gets better.

the elegance of the hedgehog - pg. 1-45

in thinking of an image for my post - salt and pepper came to mind. in this book we meet renee and paloma [although i don't think we learn her name in this section] - one young, one older, one rich, one poor - on the surface perhaps more dissimilar than alike.

and yet... they are both profoundly smart. they both don't fit into their "stations" in life. renee is too smart to be a concierge, but she fools everyone except those close to her. paloma too is living a lie. sickened by her life and wanting people to notice something more important [like the struggles in africa] she plans on committing suicide and lighting her house on fire before her 13th birthday, but no one has a clue.

and under the surface of the lies of lives that they are leading they observe the absurdity of the humans around them. the quirks and the qualms of the over-educated, the elite, the privileged. we also begin to learn what makes their hearts sing and their minds tick [marx, a basho haiku].

and so i thought of salt and pepper - how well they go together and yet how opposite indeed they are [in color, in flavor]. i feel like this section is our introduction. that we are getting to know renee and paloma and how they feel about their surroundings. that somehow these two misfits [or as renee puts it: perpetual traitors to their archetypes] are destined to see through one another's charades - but i can't discern how or why yet.

i find the writing crisp. and age appropriate for each character [even though the 12 year old is probably smarter than i am]. i think this is quite a feat. and i like how the type and tone shift from chapter to chapter. it definitely helps to keep me straight. i do wish i could read french. i always wish when i read a translation that i could read it in the language of origin. i can't help but think there is some nuance i'm not getting.... you???

favorite lines:

p.18 - renee: As always, I am saved by the inability of living creatures to believe anything that might cause the walls of their little mental assumptions to crumble

p. 34 - renee: Some people are incapable of perceiving in the object of their contemplation the very thing that gives it its intrinsic life and breath, and they spend their entire lives conversing about mankind as if they were robots, and about things as though they have no soul and must be reduced to what can be said about them -- all at the whim of their own subjective inspiration [unfortunately i feel like i KNOW people like this].

sorry paloma, i don't have a quote from your sections, but i do find them profound in thought!

happy halloween friends. what did you think of the beginning of our book??