Katherine's review
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
by Patrick Süskind
Katherine's review
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Katherine's review
rating:
This is the kind of book that shows up on the recommended reading list for a college creative writing class. The way the writer evokes scent alone makes it worth reading.
For example, we all know what leather smells like, but how would you describe the smell of leather? And once you have to describe more amorphous scents, such as perfume, how can a writer change a sensate experience into words? (The film adaptation ran into the same issue. Trailer here: http://www.perfumemovie.com )
I'm unsure whether Perfume has any deeper meaning beyond being stylistically innovative and fun to read - and oh my, it's fun to read, it's sassy, irreverent, filthy, and gleefully satirical. And yes, the end is bizarre, but can you imagine this one ending any other way?
For example, we all know what leather smells like, but how would you describe the smell of leather? And once you have to describe more amorphous scents, such as perfume, how can a writer change a sensate experience into words? (The film adaptation ran into the same issue. Trailer here: http://www.perfumemovie.com )
I'm unsure whether Perfume has any deeper meaning beyond being stylistically innovative and fun to read - and oh my, it's fun to read, it's sassy, irreverent, filthy, and gleefully satirical. And yes, the end is bizarre, but can you imagine this one ending any other way?
