Muriel Barbery - Böcker

An entertaining and gorgeously illustrated portrait of a writer's life avec chats from the acclaimed author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog.

Like so many writers, Muriel Barbery is a lover of cats. Grey-furred and amber-eyed, Barbery's four Chartreux cats keep her company as she works from her house in the French countryside, entertaining her with their quirks and foibles.

But that's not all. For Kirin, Ocha, Mizu and Petrus are no ordinary felines. These intelligent creatures have taken it upon themselves to guide their owner's writing - flicking aside sections of her manuscript with a disdainful tail, pointing an approving paw at others. And it's time these mischievous literary consultants get the recognition they deserve.

With delicious wit and irony, and delightful illustrations by Maria Guitart, the beloved author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog gives an insight into her writing life - and the paws behind the pen.

THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING SENSATION WITH OVER 10 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

'Witty and touching' - Gillian Anderson

'Wins over its fans with a life-affirming message, a generous portion of heart and Barbery's frequently wicked sense of humor' - Time Magazine

'Clever, informative and moving' - Observer

Renée is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building. To the snobbish residents she is all they expect from a caretaker - hard working, dowdy and unsophisticated. But Renée has a secret. Beneath this façade she is a self-taught intellectual, devoted to Japanese arthouse cinema and her cat, Leo Tolstoy.

Meanwhile, several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma has also learned to conceal her gifts. The precocious and lonely daughter of pampered parents, Paloma is convinced that life is meaningless and plans to end it all on her next birthday. But the arrival of a charismatic new resident will bring dramatic change to 7, Rue de Grenelle, altering the course of both their lives forever.

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'Resistance is futile . . . you might as well buy it before someone recommends it for your book group' - Guardian

'A book of great charm and grace' - Metro

'The book's attractive, Amélie-esque Parisian setting and cast of eccentrics will appeal to many' - Sunday Telegraph

'Breathtakingly singular novel . . . totally French yet completely universal' - Good Housekeeping

'A user's guide to life which is a delight on every level' - Elle

'A beguiling and human tale that sweeps us through the years' Daily Mail

'Exquisite. . . Readers will be rapt' Publishers Weekly

Haru, a successful Japanese art dealer, appreciates beauty, harmony, balance and good saké.

One evening at a party he meets Maud, an enigmatic Frenchwoman, and after a brief, intense romance he learns that she is pregnant with his child. But Maud issues him a heartbreaking warning: if he ever tries to see her or the child, she will take her own life.

Quietly devastated, Haru resigns himself to loving his daughter from afar, and Rose grows up on the other side of the world, without ever knowing her father. Is it too late to change things?

From international bestseller Muriel Barbery, this is a stunning tale of friendship, secrets and a father's enduring love.

From the author of the international bestseller The Elegance of The Hedgehog comes a mouth-watering tale delving into the life of a monstrous food critic.

'A foodie's delight; just don't read it when you're hungry'Daily Mail

'The exquisite descriptions of eating are like nothing you've read before' Good Housekeeping

After a lifetime of presiding over cowering chefs and pursuing sensual delights, France's greatest food critic is dying. Given just forty-eight hours to live, Pierre Arthens has one last ambition - to recall the most delicious food to ever pass his lips, an elusive taste from his childhood.

From his luxury penthouse at 7 Rue de Grenelle, Pierre casts his mind back over a lifetime of flavour: eating barbequed sardines with his grandfather; the warm, crumbly pastry of an apple tart; his first taste of velvety sashimi. But orbiting around him are a cast of family and acquaintances, each with their own story to tell about the greed and ruthlessness that has paved the way to Pierre's search for the perfect meal.

From the author of the international bestseller The Elegance of The Hedgehog comes a life-affirming novel about unexpected second chances set against the temples and teahouses of Tokyo.

'A moving tale of emotional awakening and blossoming love' Woman's Own

'An enjoyable, immersive read' The Lady

Rose has just turned forty when she is unexpectedly summoned to Japan for the reading of her father Haru's will, who seemingly abandoned her when she was a baby.

Leaving behind her life as a botanist in Paris, Rose travels to Kyoto and is led around its enchanting tea houses, temples and zen gardens by Paul, Haru's former assistant. Initially a reluctant tourist, Rose comes to discover her father's legacy through the itinerary he set for her, finding gifts greater than she had ever imagined and connecting with gentle widower Paul.

This is a mesmerising story of second chances, of beauty born out of grief and roses grown from ashes.

'Barbery explores the mystical connections between nature, art and the human heart with vivid clarity'

'A mix of J.R.R. Tolkien and Hayao Miyazaki, epic in scope yet grounded by humour' Publishers Weekly

One cold November night, in the sixth year of a devastating war, Alejandro de Yepes and his loyal lieutenant, Jesús Rocamora, discover intruders in the castillo's cellars. Leaving no footprints in the snow, these curious visitors come seeking peace and friendship-and perhaps a glass or two of wine. Yet behind their cheerful exterior lies a mission of the gravest urgency: to save a dying realm.

Soon, Alejandro and Jesús abandon their posts, crossing a magical bridge into a land of lingering fog and extraordinary beauty, where the fate of all living creatures hangs in the balance. From the bestselling author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog comes a bewitching, witty, and timely meditation on the interconnectedness of peoples, of the human and natural worlds, and a call to destiny unlike any other.

'A beguiling fairy tale' New York Times

'A truly enchanting story, beautifully told and rich in meaning' Irish Times

The villagers had never seen anything like it: dense white curtains of snow transforming the landscape in an instant. Not in autumn, not in Burgundy. And on that same night, a baby was found - dark-eyed little Maria, who would go on to transform all their lives.

Hundreds of miles away, in the mountains of Abruzzo, another foundling, Clara, astonishes everyone with her extraordinary talent for piano-playing. But her gifts reach far beyond mere musicianship.

As a time of great danger looms, the girls, though unaware of each other's existence, are bound by a hidden connection. And it is this bond, shared with others like them, that may offer the only chance for good to prevail in the world.