Author: Muriel Barbery
Traditional genre: fiction. Actual genre: philosophy. A perceptive and brilliant twelve-year-old French girl, an equally brilliant fifty-four-year-old concierge, and a cultured Japanese man live in the same apartment building in France. The former two narrate their philosophies and interest in Monsieur Ozu, and in each other, and make life-changing discoveries at a critical moment.
What I liked about it: the relationships between each other. References to modern culture without losing philosophical integrity. References to literature, theatre, film, and music that enhanced descriptions and allusions.
What I didn't like about: at times, the florid language felt convoluted and unnecessary. But those may have been times that I was just too lazy to read such writing.
Would I recommend it? Not to just anyone. You have to have patience -- there is not a lot of plot, but more pondering. You have to have commitment -- at times the writing is incredibly dense. You have to have focus. If you are interested in a philosophical book then this is the book for you. Twilight-type readers? Keep looking.
Rating: four stars for writing, three and a half overall.
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