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guccishoestrings's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-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
2.75
I am not going to do my usual review style for this book because it is very..... unique. This story is about the character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille but it also tells the story of those who come into contact with him throughout his life.
The story begins the day he is born, his mother left him to die and wet nurses are scared to take him in because he emits no smell (meaning he is possessed by the devil). This also leads him to be a social outcast throughout his entire childhood and teenage life while also surviving a deadly illness that scares him making an even bigger outcast. He finds comfort in the scent of small to the point of needing it to be perfect to be able to live in peace. This leads to him eventually becoming an apprentice to a perfume maker and this leads him on the trail of creating the greatest smell to ever be smelt in the world.
This is a story about the obsession and pursuit of perfection at all costs and when achieving said perfection the outcome not being what is expected (if you have read Frankenstein, you know the theme I'm talking about). This leads to everything he had done being meaningless and thus is life being meaningless and at the end allows himself to die because he has no need/drive to live anymore.
This book was interesting but, it was written in the way of literary books in the 80s were written (book was published in 1985). This could lead to the book being boring in sections and really exciting in others. The story itself is great but, like I said, it could get really boring at times which is why it gets such a low score. I would recommend to anybody who likes books written in an old fashion style that like books like Frankenstein.
The story begins the day he is born, his mother left him to die and wet nurses are scared to take him in because he emits no smell (meaning he is possessed by the devil). This also leads him to be a social outcast throughout his entire childhood and teenage life while also surviving a deadly illness that scares him making an even bigger outcast. He finds comfort in the scent of small to the point of needing it to be perfect to be able to live in peace. This leads to him eventually becoming an apprentice to a perfume maker and this leads him on the trail of creating the greatest smell to ever be smelt in the world.
This is a story about the obsession and pursuit of perfection at all costs and when achieving said perfection the outcome not being what is expected (if you have read Frankenstein, you know the theme I'm talking about). This leads to everything he had done being meaningless and thus is life being meaningless and at the end allows himself to die because he has no need/drive to live anymore.
This book was interesting but, it was written in the way of literary books in the 80s were written (book was published in 1985). This could lead to the book being boring in sections and really exciting in others. The story itself is great but, like I said, it could get really boring at times which is why it gets such a low score. I would recommend to anybody who likes books written in an old fashion style that like books like Frankenstein.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Animal death
Minor: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Incest
starzzz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
When we finally got to the actual plot of the book, we were in the last hundred or so pages. I found it extremely slow and painful to truck through the second half.
I can see how it would be enjoyable to others (and it still was a well-written book), it was just not my thing.
I can see how it would be enjoyable to others (and it still was a well-written book), it was just not my thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, and Murder
butchybats's review against another edition
dark
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
4.5
Great book!! Loved the descriptions and imagery. Some parts felt a little slow but it was definitely a page turner and quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, Alcohol, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Torture, and Animal death
nettles's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gore
Minor: Cannibalism
schmetterly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Best book ever!
Though the end was a little bit... macabre. But it fit the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Murder, Addiction, Body horror, Torture, Abandonment, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, and War
sp00kyx's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
*Read in German.
My fiancée showed the movie to me and I really liked it, so I decided to read the book. I loved the way Patrick Süskind describes smell. Every single scent he described was so vivid in my mind. I also loved the way he wrapped up the storylines and guided the reader through the different stages of Grenouilles life. It felt a little dragged on at times and it took me a really long time to read, but it was easy to read and the text flowed and I was interested the entire way through. The book was funny at times and thought provoking. The ending was crazy.
My fiancée showed the movie to me and I really liked it, so I decided to read the book. I loved the way Patrick Süskind describes smell. Every single scent he described was so vivid in my mind. I also loved the way he wrapped up the storylines and guided the reader through the different stages of Grenouilles life. It felt a little dragged on at times and it took me a really long time to read, but it was easy to read and the text flowed and I was interested the entire way through. The book was funny at times and thought provoking. The ending was crazy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Torture, Gore, Physical abuse, and Death
Minor: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
digthewarmth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
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
3.5
It was very bizarre, but fascinating and a Really creative story idea. I recommend everyone read the opening for the interesting take on the senses. The second half got really weird. Maybe this would be fantastic as a short story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
ed_moore's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Süskind’s ‘Perfume’ to no surprise places a lot of emphasis on scent, both in its plot, character and descriptions, and never before when reading have I considered scent so much especially given I have a very limited sense of smell myself. This book was just as brilliant as the pigeon, but in an extremely different way. It was so carefully crafted yet weird, harrowing, uncomfortable and shocking (the series of twists at the ending!)
‘Perfume’ follows a child Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, as he grows into a young man and his super-human nose leads to huge successes in the perfuming business yet he seeks aims beyond profit, to create the perfect scent and also discover his own, for despite the power of his nose he himself lacks smell.
It really made me consider the impact of smell where it’s not played much of a role in my life (as I said earlier) and somehow was conveyed through words which led to the phenomenon of so intimately accessing one scent through the use of another.
The book also had a similar feeling to Dumas’ ‘The Black Tulip’ for some reason which I too thoroughly enjoyed, though was a lot more unsettling.
The book also had a similar feeling to Dumas’ ‘The Black Tulip’ for some reason which I too thoroughly enjoyed, though was a lot more unsettling.
I am quickly falling in love with Süskind as an author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Medical trauma
nmscavotto's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
This book is so weird but I love it so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Murder
woodsybookworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In 18th century Paris, a baby boy is born. Discarded by his mother who believes him to be a demon due to his body's lack of scent, no sweet baby smell, little Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is left to scrounge for himself on the edges of society.
Yet, Grenouille has a unique skill - an uncanny sense of smell - and he uses this ability to become an apprentice perfumer. But as his skill grows Grenouille becomes more and more desperate to create the ultimate perfume. What does one use to bottle the perfect scent? People of course! Hunting the streets at night for his perfect prey, Grenouille uses the essence of young women to create profoundly new concoctions.
I love stories from the perspective of the villain and Grenouille is a great one! His childhood and really his life in general is terrible so he becomes slightly endearing as a character, even with his many flaws...
This book is written in extremely flowery (budum tish 🥁) prose but if you can stick with it then I think it's an enjoyable read. Plus, it's been adapted into a movie and a TV show - though the TV show is set in modern times and references the book rather than directly follows Grenouille's story - and I recommend them both!
Yet, Grenouille has a unique skill - an uncanny sense of smell - and he uses this ability to become an apprentice perfumer. But as his skill grows Grenouille becomes more and more desperate to create the ultimate perfume. What does one use to bottle the perfect scent? People of course! Hunting the streets at night for his perfect prey, Grenouille uses the essence of young women to create profoundly new concoctions.
I love stories from the perspective of the villain and Grenouille is a great one! His childhood and really his life in general is terrible so he becomes slightly endearing as a character, even with his many flaws...
This book is written in extremely flowery (budum tish 🥁) prose but if you can stick with it then I think it's an enjoyable read. Plus, it's been adapted into a movie and a TV show - though the TV show is set in modern times and references the book rather than directly follows Grenouille's story - and I recommend them both!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Bullying