Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Me sorprendió de principio a fin, me divertí y me encantó. Aunque la mitad del libro se puso un poco lenta y es lo único que me bajo un poco el ánimo que venía construyendo desde el principio, tengo que admitir que la manera en la que escribe Süskind no es para todos, pero a mí fue *chef kiss*

La historia ya la conocía y aún así nad se compara con la experiencia de esta lectura. Muy atmosferica, hubo momentos donde me sorprendí asqueada por DESCRIPCIONES de olores!!

Una aventura de un asesino, unlikeable, tonto pero astuto. Claro que el papel de la mujer en este libro es inexistente, indiferente, ignorado.... Pero es que este no es un libro sobre eso, este es un libro con un narrador omnipresente que nos muestra los pensamientos de los personajes que se entrelazan en la historia, nada de endulzar el personaje, son tal y como son.
Cada fin de capitulo de la primera parte terminaba sonriendo y qué final!!

👏👏👏nada más que decir

Content Warnings

amyjmcd's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

torismazarine's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-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

4.0

Content Warnings

kerrence30's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

So dark it makes your wonder about the author’s inspiration. Beautifully written, and considering it exclusively focusses on the act of smelling and describing different scents it doesn’t read like a thesaurus. Written in such a sophisticated style that even more eccentric descriptors are harmonious. Although there are no likeable characters as such the story is gripping and you’re strangely torn between rooting for the main character and hoping he fails. Nothing else like this.

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savvylit's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Perfume is a beautifully written and enthralling sensual rollercoaster. Süskind masterfully evokes an entire range of both perceptible and imperceptible scents. Many of the lengthy descriptions of 'bad' smells (i.e. people's body odor or the rotten stench of death) are so vivid that they are truly stomach-curdling. At the same time, some of the passages where Grenouille experiences delicate floral scents are so delightful that they made me want to roll around in a wildflower meadow.

Despite the evocative and sensual writing, the story itself was ultimately underwhelming. Being subtitled "The Story of a Murderer" seemed to imply some suspense. However, the plot was predictable more often than not. Grenouille's cave era was the only part of Perfume that truly surprised at every turn. Sadly, the cave era was a short-lived segment of the novel.

Overall, Perfume is a classic horror story that would fit happily on the shelves alongside titles such as Dracula or Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. However, this horror story ultimately was not to my taste. The incredible misogyny - which does fit the monstrous characterization of Grenouille - was something that I personally found incredibly grating. At this point in my life, I am tired of reading "classics" in any genre that are so deeply steeped in hatred for women.

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