I read this book with my computer at the ready. Like Umberto Eco's work, it is necessary to complete the context of Barbery's book. Ideas, place names, artists, shops, and pastries were all new, and I felt the necessity to fully explore the references. What drives this work is not only the plot, which is intricate and compelling, but the entire context of the plot. The context is not only the places in which the action (which is largely intellectual) happens, but also the philosophical and esthetic environment which occupies or is occupied by the two main characters. Taking the time with each of these individuals, and especially for me, Reneé, served to fill in the many gaps that I have of French artistic and intellectual life. It surprised me that so much had left me by during my liberal arts education. On that level alone, the book was worth it.

The story itself is one of hope and discovery. At times I wondered if the two characters weren't really two manifestations of one personality - each reflecting a different time and history. I found the older woman more attractive and compelling. The younger one had not yet lived enough life - but certainly had the capacity to do so. It gave me pause to think my own development as an individual ensconced in intellectual and esthetic history. It's not so much what I want to know, as it is what do I want to be? ( )

IMHO-No haters please-

This book was recommended to me so I feel like I had to finish, but its killing me .This book is just awful, it’s pretentious over the top philosophical hogwash. From the blurb on the back I expected quirky characters (which I love) but did not get that instead I got a 12 year old girl who decides she is going to kill herself and set fire to her apartment building on her 13th birthday and why? You say? Pretty much because she can, because she thinks she’s smarter than everyone but can’t show it.
Then there is the concierge who also thinks she’s smarter than everyone but can’t show it. So these two characters rail on and on about other people being snobs when they are the biggest snobs out there.
As of disc 3 I don’t know why I’m wasting my time. I’ve seen some reviews saying the last part of the book is better maybe I’ll skip to disc 8 and see if there is anything that will redeem this book in my eyes.
Nope just can't do it. Life is too short to read bad books. To all of you who liked this one more power to you but IMHO I didn't like it at all.

I wish I had not read this in translation. The friend who recommended it to me read it in the French original, and she was quite enthusiastic. I found the language wasn't always spot on in English. And I think I can put that down to the translator. Most of the times when I found it jarred, the phrasing seemed like something that would sound good in French. But because I haven't read it as it should be read, I find it very hard to pronounce judgement on it.

I enjoyed reading it, though. Tremendously. In part, perhaps because it reminded me of Helen DeWitt's The Last Samurai (which, seriously people, if you haven't read it yet, get to it) without actually being anything like it. It does not have the leaps and gaps and odd narrative technique which seems to put some people off the latter. The closest it gets to adventurousness in that respect is in its having two narrators.

The narrators are interesting, and to me I think the most interesting part of the book. They are both very intelligent, both hiding this fact from the world around them. One as a concierge for wealthy people, the other the (suicidal, for what she considers entirely rational reasons) daughter of one of these wealthy people. Since both provide first person narration, the game of following their voices rather than simply what they say had me quite entertained. People do not always have total understanding of themselves, and I think the awareness of that is something that enriches this book. That does not change the fact that both narrators are unusually intelligent, however. And that they have some interesting observations along the way.

I mentioned Helen DeWitt. Where her book is centred around Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, this book floats around Yasujiro Ozu's films (but without dealing with their plots or treating them directly (much), as far as I can tell). This not only makes itself felt in that the Japanese directors are mentioned in the respective books. More importantly it dictates the feel of the book itself, including its progress. The two books feel distinctly Japan-inspired, but they draw on two very different aspects of Japan as perceived by the West. This may be due to the culture that received it (England and France, respectively).

A rudimentary knowledge of philosophy (Husserl gets a good talking-to -- or, rather, is confronted with pastry and loses), an openness to random epiphanies (regarding rugby, amongst other things) and a receptiveness to Cinderella may help you appreciate this book, but I don't know that it is a prerequisite. I also recommend reading it in calm surroundings with a pot of freshly brewed green jasmine tea. I didn't, but it feels like what should be done.

I liked it. I don't feel confident that all of you will, but I know some of you should read it. And would enjoy it tremendously. ( )

This is a wonderful book. It took awhile for it to grow on me but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. It's a book about questioning the stereotypes we assign to others and about questioning the roles we put ourselves in. I would highly recommend this book. ( )

I waited and waited to obtain this book. Then, when I did receive it, I waited and waited to read it. And, finally, when I did read it, I read it very, very slowly.Conclusion: I liked it very much. Not a disappointment. Not a book overhyped. Thoughtful. Full of wonderful, very human characters. The plot centers on two people: a middle-aged concierge, brilliant but determined to hide her intelligence from her world, and a clever twelve-year-old, who has decided she will commit suicide and burn up her apartment building before her next birthday. Both are deeply lonely people, estranged from almost everyone in their lives. Then a new tenant moves into the apartment building and everything changes. Lovely story. ( )