Reviews

Το Άρωμα by Patrick Süskind

corporal_bookish's review against another edition

4.0

One of the greatest books ever written, and one of the greatest I've ever read.

One star short of five because of the end - I really wanted Grenouille to win :(

The book is like no other, using endless amounts of olfactory imagery which is surprisingly underused in mainstream literature these days. Too much attention is given to visual imagery, that the other senses are simply forgotten.

Characterization: Absolutely phenomenal. You can barely muster pity for this character as the writer takes every opportunity to degrade him, yet I felt pity for him. Grenouille is a character with many MANY layers. It's not simple hatred or desire that drives him. Lust for scent and nothing else - the way Suskind brought out these motives behind every one of Grenouille's actions was amazing. Not forced or overbearing but simply stated. As if it was simply impossible to comprehend another way.

The other characters were described well enough, and you actually feel bad for them after the misfortune that befalls them because of Grenouille.

OVERALL: Fantastic although quite strange and morbid. Nothing like anything you've ever read.

flora_3138's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• 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

3.75

theosaccount's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

greg_cantin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

aruraa's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• 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

3.5

monsty's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

alex2222's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hiimkayte's review against another edition

5.0

I read this book about 20 years ago, and often remember fragments of it, but couldn’t remember the whole, so I wanted to reread it because it is so unique, and has just stayed with me so much.
Re-read it as an audiobook. The narrator was fine, not exceptional. But the story was still great. So weird. I am glad to have read this again as an adult with more sophisticated reading skills, so I could enjoy it again.

mabi29's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

thepinkheather's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75