Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

63 reviews

libraryaddict's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

Honestly, at first it was hard to get into this book. It was hard to look past the over-the-top loftiness of the writing. If you feel the same, I encourage you to continue reading—you’ll see why. This was an emotional and beautiful book, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.

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santsu's review against another edition

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5.0

Kirja on ihan täynnä merkintöjäni!! Sieltä voin katsoa, mitä ajattelin. Alkupuolella pidin ihan hirveän teennäisenä ja ihmettelin monia asioita, mutta lopulta tämä oli niin taidokkaasti kirjoitettu, että jokainen asia selvisi ja muuttui ymmärrettäväksi tai oikeutetuksi tarinan edetessä. Oikeastaan pidin siitä, miten paljon tämä sai ajattelemaan silloinkin, kun kyseenalaistin kaiken, mitä teos sanoi. Kävimme jatkuvaa keskustelua kirjan sivuilla.

Loppu järkytti, mutta kai se nyt vaan on osa tätä tarinaa ja ajaa merkitystä sekin. Höh.

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shibaunited's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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ovidinpajamas's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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markitherainbowreader's review against another edition

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3.0

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mandtastic's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad fast-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

3.5

A intertwining tragic tale of caste systems and finding your people. I enjoyed it.

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ang44's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.0

Reading this book, as someone who has both personally experienced and works daily with a population that experiences extreme suicidal ideation, felt like reassurance. Barbery has a beautiful way of being able to describe how life is made up of the most beautiful small moments that make all the rest of them worth living through. The beauty of camellias, the warmth of connection with others, the joy from the enrichment of books and language and culture - all of these are feelings to chase, and reasons to choose to live. These little moments are "an always within never," and the people in our lives who show us this, and who move gracefully through this life, are as refined and elegant as the hedgehog!
It really is a beautiful and enjoyable story that genuinely reminded me why I choose to keep living every day. Some of the language is very complex, but it is written in a way where I was able to skim some paragraphs at times and still glean the deeper meaning without over-analyzing every single word. Very excited to re-read this and have the words be more familiar and to absorb even more of the story. I had mixed feelings about the ending for the main character, but overall the characters are lovable and the story is valuable.

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