Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Vintage International)
An acclaimed bestseller and international sensation, Patrick Suskind’s classic novel provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man’s indulgence in his greatest passion—his sense of smell—leads to murder. Told with dazzling narrative brilliance, Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity.
Translated from German by John E. Woods.
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Readers say "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" is beautifully written, with lyrical, poetic prose that immerses readers in a unique, sensory world. Ma...
I wanted to read this modern classic for a long time and managed to do so this summer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish - it is clever, innovative, lyrically descriptive, beautifully written and possesses that mastery of the written word that I often have cravings for.
I also really enjoy a flawed protagonist that is incredibly self-aware - one that is not loveable in a cuddle sense but one that moves you in a profound way - by their tenacity and obsessiveness, artistry and craft - although macabre and insidious - and yet there is a purity - this search for the "ideal" longing for "perfection" and "beauty" - one cannot help but be completely consumed and enraptured by Jean Baptiste Grenouillle and his personal olfactory quest...
I knew I would enjoy this read and I was absolutely smitten from start to finish...pure pleasure
Holy shit I loved this book. Such good prose. I love it when they make dark shit sound lovely. The giant orgy was just the ending I didn’t realize I needed
"He could have found peace and happiness in his predestination, but he didn't want to."
In three parts, we are told the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man born with an incredibly sensitive and keen sense of smell but no odor of his own. At birth, he is rejected by his mother and is outcast for his lack of body odor. He becomes interested in the art of perfume making and aprentices with a master perfumier before he is killed in an explosion. Armed with his knowledge of scent creation and his natural ability, he becomes obsessed with creating the perfect human scent. His obsession with beauty and perfection, and his unhappiness with life drive him to dubious ends.
"The only pleasure that lasts is gain."
This is probably one of the most bizarre stories I have read in recent times. It's full of melancholy, isolation, obsession, and madness. I still haven't figured out how I feel about it.
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