Reviews

Koku by Patrick Süskind

natireads12's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

gilmargirl's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jessicajessica's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

katetandy's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

It’s amazing writing and extremely creative but so so boring 

ilonakhl's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kristinamv's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rainjrop's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

decorrookie's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kellygoesgeocaching's review against another edition

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1.0

I chose this book as it seems to pop up on so many must-read lists but honestly, it's the worst book I've ever forced myself to finish. I usually give up on a book once I reach chapter 5/page 70 if it's not taking me places but for some reason, I made myself finish this one.

I am taken by the idea of a protagonist whose sense of smell is so developed that he can navigate in the dark using his nose, he can identify individuals through walls and detect the individual components of complicated perfumes. I also enjoyed learning about the various scents and procedures in perfumery, however this is the point where my enjoyment of the book ceased.

The grotesque murdering to make perfumes from virgins, the constant doom, gloom and death and the cannibalistic ending all make this book an uncomfortable read. Not in that make-you-think kind of discomfort, just the disgusted kind. I found the segment where the protagonist lives in a cave in a high mountain for seven years to be far-fetched, boring and ridiculous.

Not a book I would be recommending.

jasyyyy's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75