Perfume by Patrick SuskindThis is a featured page

PerfumeAn 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.

In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift; an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odours of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and fresh-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume"; the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brilliance, Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity.

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Anonymous Serious 0 Sep 27 2007, 5:49 PM EDT by Anonymous
 
Thread started: Sep 27 2007, 5:49 PM EDT  Watch
This book is not for the light hearted. No spoilers, but the end has no real sense of justice or closure to it. This alone marks it apart from the norm.

Furthermore, the subject matter can, quite frankly, be disturbing at several junctures. An extremely unusual style and subject, but brilliantly engaging, though not always well crafted. This can, sadly, cause the plot to drag a fair bit.

Well worth a read, but as i said, not for the faint hearted.


From the Portsmouth Teen Reading Group.
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patgarrett A review from Cosham Reading Group 1 Jul 3 2007, 9:51 AM EDT by thechildrenoftherevo
Thread started: Jun 25 2007, 4:50 AM EDT  Watch
We are a group that quite often have violently differing opinions concerning the books that we read together. Perfume was different. We were all entranced by the sensual yet pungent prose, but felt that the subject matter was repellent; this is a book about murder after all. We all felt sorry for the 'Gollum' like protagonist Grenouille, but couldn't condone him. When discussing structure, we enjoyed the witty Part One, but felt that Part 2 was a disaster in terms of narrative drive; the action slowed to a crawl. This was a book that the group would not recommend, despite the fact that it was Kurt Cobain's favourite book of all time! Quite possibly a book for the alienated to identify with?
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Anonymous Patrick Suskind Perfume 1 Jul 3 2007, 8:53 AM EDT by portsmouthlibraries
 
Thread started: Jun 14 2007, 3:28 PM EDT  Watch
I found comments on this book yesterday, unable to find today!
Perfume conjures an image of a lovely slowly paced book in a romantice area where perfume is created.

What surprise, the book begins with an evocative description of stinking, 18th century Paris and the terrible birth of the odious Grenouille! A man of vile character, a creator of wonderful perfume. The book is pacy, horrible but strangely intriguing making you want to read on. I have not yet finished it but will post another comment when I have.
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