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disguisedposer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tigertheory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest and Stalking
thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
mme_carton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
robinainthood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I struggled at first with describing this book and why I adore it so much. I'd seen it categorized as a horror novel on many occasions, and while the book certainly does have elements of horrific morbidity, I wouldn't call it a bonafide horror (especially when recommending it, because that title is misleading). It's also not really a fantasy either, nor a mystery, nor is it merely historical fiction.
Then it hit me. If this book is anything, it's a philosophical exploration of a strange young man's obsession with scent in pursuit of self; it's a character study.
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that character studies are my bread and butter, so I was bound to love this novel. If you go into Perfume expecting graphic depictions of murder from beginning to end, a cat-and-mouse chase to uncover and apprehend a murderer, or endless descriptions of a sick man's twisted thoughts, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Instead, understand that this is about obsession, identity, desire, indulgence, morbid curiosity, humanity; but understand it's about all of these in small, understated doses.
Understand, above all, that it's about Jean-Baptiste Grenouille and scent. Only then can you begin to appreciate the lyrical genius taking place within these odd 260 pages.
This won't be for everyone; some will find it offputting or dull, and that's fair enough, but those whose taste is acquired to what Perfume has to offer will soak it up until they've had too much, and will still want more and more until they're sick with it. Read it, and discover precisely what that's like.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
sp00kyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My fiancée showed the movie to me and I really liked it, so I decided to read the book. I loved the way Patrick Süskind describes smell. Every single scent he described was so vivid in my mind. I also loved the way he wrapped up the storylines and guided the reader through the different stages of Grenouilles life. It felt a little dragged on at times and it took me a really long time to read, but it was easy to read and the text flowed and I was interested the entire way through. The book was funny at times and thought provoking. The ending was crazy.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
thefriendlydragon's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
CWs: the n word and g word are used in the text!
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
renorsomethin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
lesemaus2303's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
asimpson7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism