Book Review: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

"Pity the poor in spirit who know neither the enchantment nor the beauty of language."

I just finished a wonderful novel by French author, Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog. It was an intellectual, bordering philosophical read that often had me questioning my own ways of life. Barbery's words stimulate the mind. She is able to take a single, often overlooked concept, and lift a transparent veil in order for the reader to perceive it in a different way. There was one short chapter in particular that I read over again just because the concept was so simplistically brilliant. It was about the beauty of sliding doors and how it is much more thoughtful of space than traditional swinging doors that destroy the unity of a space.

"When movement has been banished from a nature that seeks its continuity, when it becomes renegade and remarkable by virtue of its very discontinuity, it attains the level of aesthetic creation. Because art is life, playing to other rhythms."

I don't want to give anything away, but the over-arching message of the novel is to try to be a less self-consumed, perceptive human being in order to really get to know others. It's also a novel about how looks can be deceiving. The two main characters are a fifty four year old woman, Renee, and a twelve year old girl, Paloma, who are extremely intelligent but try to hide it from others. Although there are parts in the novel that are rather melancholy, like the fact that the twelve year old wants to commit suicide because she can't stand her elitist family and has no one she can really be herself around, there are other uplifting moments that inspire hope. It's hard to imagine having many profound thoughts racing through your head everyday and not being able to share your feelings and insights. But the beauty of this novel is that just when Paloma thinks there is no other way she can go on living her life, an unexpected door opens and she realizes that she, in fact, is not alone in the world. Sometimes it takes a really long time to find out what/who you need, but once it's found it all becomes worth the wait and you feel more appreciative of what you have.


I don't recommend this book to anyone who wants a fluffy, light novel. It does require a bit of thinking, not only because the rich use of vocabulary but also because there are a lot of French references to places/history/etc. that I did not know. The brief summary on the back cover of the novel does not do it justice. It was when I was almost half way in The Elegance of the Hedgehog that it finally clicked and I began really connecting with the novel and its characters. This is a novel that I would definitely consider re-reading in the future. If anything, this book reminded me not to underestimate someone simply based on their profession, age, or looks, and to take in my surroundings each and every day. As the title suggests, a "hedgehog" may look rough on the outside but may be a beautiful creature underneath all of the spikes.

My novel rating: 4.5/5 stars

You're Right, Chivalry is Dead

I literally laughed out loud today when I read a blog on Yahoo about a guy who took his girlfriend to a Houston Astros game and ducked when a foul ball came towards his girl, letting her get hit instead. I watched the video and at least it was only her arm, not face, that got hit, but still her boy leaped out of his seat leaving her to fend for herself. Only after the damage was done did he come back grinning while holding the foul ball to see if she was okay. Haha, this is just another example of how big of a tool some guys can be.

Beau Monde Style for Glamorous Gossip Girl

I was having a serious fashiongasm while checking out InStyle.com the other day. I went through dozens upon dozens of Gossip Girl wardrobe photos from the "Get the Look" section. Out of all the characters, my style is most like Blair's--polished and put-together. I like Serena's wardrobe as well but it's not my personal style. She wears more provocative dresses, but hey, she has the body to pull it off, so I say go for it. Blair dresses a bit more conservatively but all of her outfits are still enviously cute and stylish. I think her sophisticated style carries an essence of respectability that may be attributed to Blair's capability to command a room with confidence.

After looking at the noted outfits from each of the seasons, I've decided that the third season was definitely not my favorite. I miss Blair's headbands! She loses the hair accessories as a sign of maturing and letting go of her "queen bee" ways as she enters college, but I think that the hairbands were an essential part of her outfits that really made them stand out. Most of the headbands Blair wears throughout the show are by hair accessory guru Jennifer Behr.

Although the character is only supposed to be in her late teens, she definitely dresses sophisticated with a little "Blair flair" as I'd like to call it. For example, another notable trend of Blair's is to wear tights under articles that one normally wouldn't, like tights with shorts or an orange pair of tights with a fancy dress seen in the picture on the left. The surprising thing is that she can actually pull it off.

Looking at all of the pictures of fabulous clothing made me ache to go shopping. InStyle is launching a new site theinstyleboutique.com in mid-August, so I'm curious to see what kind of goods will be offered. Also, season 4 of Gossip Girl will be starting this Fall on CW tv. Can't wait!

Rent-a-Cat?

My roommate and I have been discussing getting an addition to our apartment-- a kitty, but we're having a difficult time agreeing on what kind of cat to get. My roommate has his heart set on a black Persian, but I've had a Persian before, and those long-haired purebreds are not easy to maintain. If you don't brush them thoroughly at least once a day their hair will become a tangled mat, and taking them to the groomer to get shaved becomes quite costly after several visits.

My recommendation is to adopt a cat or kitten from a nearby shelter. My roommate really wants a kitten that we can watch grow though. Choosing a cat based on every ones' desires in the household has become a little challenge, but I'm hoping we can figure things out soon. I started to wonder if getting a cat for our small NYC apartment would even be a good idea. After all, I don't want the whole apartment to smell like a giant litter box. Therefore, I thought it might be a good idea to do a trial run with having a cat in the apartment. I did a little online research and found a site that rents out cats. I'm not sure if this blogger who is pimping out his cats is for real or not but...that's actually not that bad of an idea.

Then as if it were a sign from the kitty heaven above, I stumbled upon another blog, Sea of Shoes, that describes a popular trend in Tokyo--Kitty Cafes. It's basically a cafe where you can pet and play with cats. Now why don't we have those in America? Best.Idea.Ever! (For those who like cats at least). The cats are treated like royalty too; you must wash your hands before petting them, you can't disturb them if they're sleeping, and you can feed them treats. This is the perfect place to go if one wants the companionship of a furry friend without having to take on the responsibility of housing and feeding them.

Unfortunately, there are no cat cafes in New York that I know of. Therefore, I may have to make a visit to a nearby shelter to get my feline fix. The only problem is that it's so hard seeing all of the kitties in their small cages meowing to be let out. I always leave wishing I could take a few of them home. Maybe my next business adventure will be opening New York's first cat cafe, and I can adopt several cats from shelters to live there.

(The ridiculously awesome picture at the top is compliments of Sea of Shoes blogger, Jane.)

A Keen Eye for Quality

"Rather than rely on obvious logos, expensive products use more discreet markers, such as distinctive design or detailing. High-end consumers prefer markers of status that are not decipherable by the mainstream." - Teddy Wayne, The New York Times

Apparently for those who can distinguish the work of a well-known designer, apparel bearing the logo of that designer is not necessary in order for them to purchase it. On the contrary, those who have a trained eye for spotting designer wear tend to be more interested in the goods that have the details and sophistication of the designer without the logo that makes it apparent to others, according to an article I read on NYTimes online.

I can kind of relate to this information. For example, when I was fifteen and bought my first Coach purse (which was like a whole paycheck's worth after a month of lifeguarding ha) I made sure it was littered with the Coach "C's" so that all my friends would know I was rocking a designer purse. Now, after having developed a more sophisticated taste and being able to afford a little better than Coach, I have found that I look more for the design and material used rather than how conspicuous the brand logo is.

While this Coach purse above is cute, it's very mainstream. Sometimes being too identifiable and too easily attainable takes away from prestige of the product.

I think it's nice when people can appreciate something nice based on little details that usually go unnoticed by the general public. If you're buying something designer, you're going to pay a pretty penny for it no matter if it boldly displays the logo or not, so I agree that I'd rather base my purchase on the uniqueness of the product rather than trying to show off the fact that it's designer and that I have the money to afford it. It becomes another way of differentiating between those who know something about style and someone who simply has the money to afford it.

Logos aren't something that someone who knows anything about fashion needs to show off. Just take Ed Hardy for example. Hardy clothes are not cheap but, in my opinion, they are tacky as hell. Money can't buy someone style (unless they pay for a stylist). Wearing a designer logo doesn't make one stylish.

I absolutely love this Coach purse on the right. I think the color would be great for the Fall. I also like the fact that I haven't seen a hundred people on the street with it.

Tegan and Sara

"Build a wall of books between us in our bed

Repeat, repeat the words that I know we both said

Relax into the need

We get so comfortable

Remember when I was so strange and likeable

I just want back in your head

I just want back in your head

I'm not unfaithful

But I'll stray"

I was casually listening to Pandora one day when my ears perked up when I heard the song "Back In Your Head" by Tegan and Sara. They are a Canadian indie pop/indie rock band. I liked it so much that I immediately found it on YouTube so that I could listen to it again. It surprised me that the image of the thin, pale, scrawny twins with short black hair on the screen were the faces behind the music. I suppose that I shouldn't had been surprised that the sound could come from a unique bunch like those two. I immediately developed a "girl crush"on the two short little rockers with tattoos covering their translucently white arms. They are so --I hate to use this word but--cute, yet edgy and intriguing at the same time. Something about their image just works, simply put. They're cute without seeming to try. It's refreshing that they're not trying to fit a mold. They're almost like misfits, but they seem to make it work in a laid-back, non-aggressive way. And although the hipster look isn't exactly my style, it suits them well and I dig it. Although their image is a positive addition to their music, it was their songwriting skills and beats that stood out to me in the first place.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has taken a liking to their music; they are one of the four bands in the Honda Civic Tour, traveling with well-known bands like Paramore and New Found Glory. If you're interested and would like to learn more about these artists, check out their website and listen to some of their songs (especially "Back in Your Head" and "Feel It In My Bones"). These young 30-year-olds are very talented, and I plan on following their music career and maybe one day even catch one of their performances. Watch out, they are going to blow up overnight, you just wait.

Film Review: Inception

Inception is a brilliantly complex movie that kept me interested the whole three hours in length. Leonardo is probably my favorite actor (although Joseph Gordon-Levitt was looking pretty hot in this movie as Leo's partner too). I was waiting in anticipation for several months for the release of Shutter Island, and although it wasn't a bad movie by any means, it didn't blow me away either. While the plot for Shutter Island was pretty good, Inception seems to have been better produced. I liked the combination of action and thriller in Inception. Thank god there wasn't a corny love triangle thing going on. I am so tired of those kind of movies. Therefore, all the unexpected gun action that took place was a pleasant alternative as odd as it sounds.

What I found most unique about this film is that every time the characters went into a dream, into a dream, into a dream, I felt my own mind layering the details and trying to sort out what was actually happening and what was just a dream. I find films that make you think throughout the entire film to be the most rewarding.

**Spoiler Alert**

My take on the ending is that Cobb, Leo's character, gets out of the dream in time and is actually reunited with his kids in the real world. I believe this because:
1. The look on his face when he woke up on the plane after barely escaping alive. He could hardly even believe it himself that he made it back.
2. What would have been the point of Cobb traveling through time and dreams in order to find Saito (the Japanese man who was going to clear his record so he could go home to his family) and bring him back to reality if he wasn't going to actually see his kids in real life?
3. Cobb never looked at his kids' faces when he was under because he didn't want to mistake his dream for reality like his wife did. At the end of the movie, his own father takes him to his kids and he and the audience see their faces for the first time, thus supporting my belief that he wasn't dreaming anymore.
4. I think that Director, Christopher Nolan, only made the ending ambiguous as a shock factor to get his audience members talking about the movie and speculating about whether Cobb did or did not escape the dreamworld. The outcome is up to each individual audience member's own interpretation, but I choose to be optimistic.

Lastly, I loved all of the casts' polished style of dress. Although the movie takes place in present-day, their clothing, which consists of business formal suits and ties, button-down shirts, dressy vests, and leather jackets coupled with their well-groomed, slicked back hair, had a flair of the bourgeois 30s or 40s.

Overall, Inception was an excellent film and I recommend it to those who enjoy a multi-layered storyline that forces you to pay attention in order to keep up.

My Film Rating: 9.5/10