irenelpynn's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
larebe's review against another edition
2.0
There were a few engaging moments in this book, namely the later scenes with Paloma and Renee, and Renee and Prof Ozu, but it’s mostly just pretentious. Also, this was written in 2006 but the r- word slur was used multiple times, and it contained very infantilizing and degrading language about someone with Down Syndrome.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Death
camillarossi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Car accident, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infertility, and Alcohol
ayamaro's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Mental illness and Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Cancer
gabgon2597's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Death, Cancer, and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse
baruss666's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
It has, without a doubt, become my favourite book. It has everything. There's no point in trying to describe, it just ticks it all.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Miscarriage
leduyhxxng's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
The Elegance of the Hedgehog is not an easy read for all through the book was heavy prose laced with comprehensive references to philosophy, psychoanalysis, Yasujirō Ozu's The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice, and Leo Tolstoy's fictive works. For me, even with an audiobook, the reading experience, still, was quite painful because the plot only picks up halfway through, the first one hundred and fifty pages spent laboriously on the two main characters Renée and Paloma, fleshing each of them out as thinking individuals. More excitingly, in the other half, readers get to see them, both of whom initially are very reclusive, in action and in growing relation to other people. We see them learn to recognise and welcome love to the point that they themselves begin, but only begin, to give love—and the possibility of such a gesture, the promise of it, is beyond beautiful. However, Muriel Barbery's The Elegance of the Hedgehog is very much an acquired taste, at least for my own preference; I dislike convoluted discourse, a feature from which this book did not shy away, the dreaded act of meandering even embraced into signature. It is furiously hard to love this book, but I find that in the end the effort is worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
emmacspoor'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicidal thoughts
merenguita's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I quite enjoyed this book, although it's a little slow in the beginning, the last third makes it worth it and the last few pages are very emotional. I'm a little bit frustrated with the ending, not what I would've liked to see but it is beautifully written nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Fire/Fire injury
cozjetez's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts