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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Patrick Süskind

Start date: August 1, 2015

Finish date: August 31, 2015

Discussion: New School Classics- 1915-2005

Why we're reading this: August 2015 New School Group Read
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New School Classics- 1915-2005

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What Members Thought

May 06, 2017 Adrienne rated it it was ok

This was a library borrow but I'm fairly certain it 's the copy I donated to them about 10 years ago. Anyway I managed to get further along with it this time than I have done in the past. My main gripe is that it has serious inconsistencies..... people who live in smelly places by default become immune to the revolting stench around them, they tune out... so, how is it possible that these same people can identify that Grenouille does not smell? Grenouille himself wouldn't know that he didn't sme ...more

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Apr 26, 2011 AmberBug com* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, horror, 1001-books-read-before-you-die, european, historical-fiction, horrorchallenge2015

www.shelfnotes.com review
Dear Reader,

This was fantastic, another book I've read this year that will be placed into my favorites. The author did an amazing job making you believe you were reading something written in that time period, and kudos to the translator for keeping it that way! This book was really dark and disturbing, the way I like it. Jean Baptiste Grenouille, a child born into a pile of trash (literally - under a gutting table), grows up with the talent of an extreme sense of smell ( www.shelfnotes.com review
Dear Reader,

This was fantastic, another book I've read this year that will be placed into my favorites. The author did an amazing job making you believe you were reading something written in that time period, and kudos to the translator for keeping it that way! This book was really dark and disturbing, the way I like it. Jean Baptiste Grenouille, a child born into a pile of trash (literally - under a gutting table), grows up with the talent of an extreme sense of smell (and I mean EXTREME). He is obsessed with smells, wants to experience the unusual, bottle them up, discover them. The writing is so descriptive that you can almost smell the words on the page. I still can't get over the writing... it was so freakin' good.

I'll tell you this much, I learned sooo much more about the perfume industry and history than I ever would have thought. Yes, there is a proper way to smell it... in a gaseous state (never as a concentrate). Or even:

"The second rule is: perfume lives in time; it has its youth, its maturity, and its old age. And only if it gives off a scent equally pleasant at all three different stages of its life, can it be called successful."

It almost reminds me of wine tastings and all the complexity that goes with it. After reading about the process, I wanted to set up my very own perfume laboratory in my basement, such a romantic art form. However, don't let Grenouille and the subject matter of perfume fool you! This book is sinister and at times painful to read (due to the descriptive nature of the Author). I felt bad for Grenouille, the author really brings out the sympathy in his character (even with his ghastly side). As beautiful as it is reading about France in the olden days, the reality also creeps in with a force. Grenouille realizes the power of scent:

"Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it."

That was one of my favorite lines in the book, and overall gives you a pretty good idea of what you'll find if you decide to read this one. I would suggest this to fans of "Les Miserables" or "Zombie" by Joyce Carol Oates.

Happy Reading,
AmberBug ...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Debra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, historical-fiction

A dark but daring journey. The author does a brilliant job of taking you to a place you never expected to go - kept me in its grip the entire read!

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 RebeccaErGlad MegetGlad rated it liked it

First thing: don't take the rating too seriously.
Second thing: I'm open to grammar Nazis (I'm actually not sure how you spell that). I want to improve my english.
Let's get started.

I’m not feeling very eloquent at the moment:
Good things:
1. Cool, different story. Not seen before.
2. WAY better than the movie. (The movie was really bad. Do not waste your life on it. (Even though it’s the only movie other that Skyfall that I remember seeing (new) Q in.))
3. Nice descriptions of smells.
4. Quite funny ...more

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