This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“I have read so many books… And yet, like most autodidacts, I am never quite sure what I have gained from them. There are days when I feel I have been able to grasp all there is to know in one single gaze, as if invisible branches suddenly spring out of nowhere, weaving together all the disparate strands of my reading – and then suddenly the meaning escapes, the essence evaporates, and no matter how often I reread the same lines, they seem to flee ever further with each subsequent reading, and I see myself as some mad old fool who thinks her stomach is full because she’s been attentively reading the menu.” – Muriel Barbery, Chapter 4: Refusing the Fight, Page 43
“Antoine Pallières looked at me with the expression of someone who wonders if he has really seen what he thinks he has seen. But as he has been conditioned to imagine that only what must happen does happen, in the way that rich people convince themselves that their lives run along a heavenly track that the power of money has quite naturally laid for them, Antoine decided to believe me. I find this a fascinating phenomenon: the ability we have to manipulate ourselves so that the foundation of our beliefs is never shaken.” – Muriel Barbery, Chapter 15: The Rich Man’s Burden, Page 99
“Yes, our eyes may perceive, yet they do not observe; they may believe, yet they do not question; they may receive yet they do not search: they are emptied of desire, with neither hunger not passion.” – Muriel Barbery, Chapter 18: Flowing Water, Page 293
Overview:
Renée is a concierge at the rue de Grenelle. A building for the affluent. Paloma is an occupant. They are from different generations, and
different ways of seeing the world. Both
see a path for their life, and death.
Both are forced to change their minds about how they choose to
live. Finding meaning in life. For this book has a philosophical theme. As the characters express their thoughts and
critiques on philosophy, and various aspects of life. They see the façades that people put on, and
then proceed to describe the people without the façades. While others might have illusions about their
lives and avoid reality, Renée and Paloma want to engage with reality. That means many of life’s aspirations will be
disillusioned. But they have
intellectual aspirations, to enrich their life.
Caveats?
The philosophy can be a bit random. Some of the philosophical thoughts and
critiques might be more for those who already know the philosophy described and
can add their own understanding to the ideas.
