The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

An unusual but very entertaining novel about a concierge in an upmarket apartment block who hides her intelligence and cultural tastes from her employers for fear of breaching social etiquette.  There is lots to enjoy about the writing in this novel, which is humorous and often very powerful without being overbearingly literary.  The characters are depicted very well and are easy to like which really draws you in to the social atmosphere the book creates.  Intelligent and often moving, this is one of those books which is enjoyable as a read but which also has a real substance to it.