Off-Topic Fall Reading

[toaster]

Originally Posted by lreidgreen

I just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I loved this book. Disclaimer: You need to skim(or skip) the portions where one the main characters philosophizes ad nauseum, unless you are into such things of course. There are quite a few of these sections but they do not necessarily add to the story except to highlight that the character (the concierge) is intelligent, well read and self taught. This is important to the story, how someone many dismiss as uneducated can be misunderstood but was overdone IMO.

The book is narrated by the two main characters a writing technique that I usually do not like but works well here. It is both funny and sad and the characters were sympathetic if grumpy. It is translated well from the original French. I recommend it highly.

I read this book a few years ago after my MIL gave it to me. I found the first 1/3 or so rather plodding, but after the third main character was introduced, things changed for me, and I wound up really enjoying it.

I am currently reading The Queen of Palmyra about race relations in the early 60s--actually, it's another book from my MIL! I couldn't find any Joe Hill at the book sale this past week, but I picked up a few other novels, several nice non-fiction books, and a complete PiYO set for just $2! (Had to throw that one in here!)