Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Elegance of the Hedgehog


My inaugural impression of this opuscule was that it was merely composed of a colossal abundance of perspicacious nonrhythmic literature.
And I was afraid for my loathsome, uneducated self.
But I was wrong!
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery is a clever, witty, effortless book filled with the musings of our two protagonists, Renee and Paloma. The plot is very nearly nonexistent, yet powerfully meaningful. Could it really be that simple?
Through the hilarious observations of these two seemingly different women (I use the term women loosely, as Paloma is only twelve and a half years old), could we really discover the meaning of life?
Again, could it really be that simple?
Love.
Love something!
Love your friend (but choose her well). Love Art and Literature. Love the flowers on a hill, the stars in the sky. Love ... Purple.
Love your dog.
It doesn’t really matter what you love or how, just find something in your life to truly love and you will love yourself.
Look beyond the thunderclouds and see the colors in the sky. Look beyond the flesh and see the beauty in a soul. Look beyond the obvious and see glorious depths that exist.
In everything.
And most of all ...
Laugh!

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