Despite the difficulty of the style, members of my book group found this book beautiful, interesting and even insightful. It is the story of two individuals who leave in a very bourgeois building in the very high end left bank of Paris (7th arrondissement.
Renee, the concierge is in fact an autodidact who hides this side of her as she plays her role of the concierge as it is expected of her. This who she is in the eyes of the rich bourgeois families who leave in the building. That is her existence.
Paloma is the 12 years old daughter of one of a rich family who leaves in the building. She is very bright and also tries very hard not to show this side of her to her family and in school. She wants to commit suicide on her 13th birthday because she doesn't want to end up like her parents who appear to her to be trapped in a fish bowl. Her existence is not worth leaving if she ends up like her parents who's existence she finds very shallow.
But everything will changed when a rich Japanese business man, Kakuro Ozu moves in the building and who, despite the appearances and social barriers, becomes friend with both Renee and Paloma.
Through their appreciation of Art and the definition of Beauty, these characters share with us their emotions, the catalytic element that bring those individuals together.
Yet, this book has more to offer. It is not just about existentialism and the absurdity of life. It is a satire about the "emptiness" and "pretentious" life of the middle class and the educated elite, it is also funny and mouving. It is mainly about the meaning of life and death.
French national and resident in US, I first read the book in english but re-reead it in its original version to see if all the subtilities of the vocabulary were not lost in translation. I did not see a lot of difference in substance. However because of my upbringing in France, I may have feel more connected with the book.
Some of my American friends complained about the difficulty of the vocabulary. Others, who listened to the audio version, did not complain about it, thought it was an amazing book and find the voices of the actors well chosen.
A movie was made of this book but our book group thinks that the book should become a play, because it reads and listens to like a play.