The Elegance of the Hedgehog

The Elegance of the Hedgehog  By Muriel Barbery  Renee Michel is a 54 yr old concierge in a luxury building in Paris. She grew up in poverty with little education, little nurturing and rarely a loving relationship. She is a secret autodidact and finds comfort in learning, art, music, and philosophy. One of the tenants is a 12 yr old girl named Paloma Josse. She is brilliant beyond comprehension and also hides this intellect to keep herself distant from any attention. She can see intense detail in people and the world itself. She has decided she may have to kill herself because the world will continue to be cruel. These 2 ladies form an unlikely friendship. Elegance is translated from French. The characters are lovable and this simplistic story is packed with lifes most important lessons.