Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

76 reviews

gingervandorsten's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I have rarely read a book as weird and gross and generally unpleasant as this one, but I also think this book is so, so good. The writing, the descriptions, the tension, the ingenuity of everything in here is striking and so impressive.
And then

he murders a dog. And then there's a detailed description of a young girl's breasts. And then there's a father borderline lusting over his daughter. And then there's a huge orgy.

And I think I understand the reason that Süskind put in these things, made these choices; they clearly have the desired effect of making the reader uncomfortable, and showcasing just how f-ed up Grenouille really is, but some of this was a little too messed up to me to be pleasantly disturbing in the way that horror can be, you know?
Regardless - I don't think you should avoid this book because of the amount of disturbing things that happen in it, because if you appreciate the weirdness (to an extent) it's honestly a really masterful tale of hubris and humanity and gross and beautiful olfactory imagery. And the last line. Good lord.

Side note: it's very amusing to me that most people who read this book seem to consider it with a kind of "What in the actual fuck is going on here this is sick"-view but also see it as one of the best books out there. Mainly because I agree. I guess Süskind enamoured us with this gross little book through the perfume of his gorgeous, ironic and self-aware prose. 

Also, the Dutch translation by Ronald Jonkers is very good! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Excrement, and Cannibalism

Minor: Pedophilia

disguisedposer's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

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

atalea's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Pedophilia, and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Incest, Suicide, Torture, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy

emmaaa_umbrella's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.0

literally what

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Murder

satanstan's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

I interpret this book as a fictional and symbolic case study of sociopathy. I didn’t have many expectations going into this but was surprised that it leaned more toward the Horror genre than anything else. There are definitely moments that disturbed me. The unique writing grew on me and I just kept coming back to this strange story. I can only imagine recommending this book to perfume enthusiasts or people who are fascinated by the development and inner world of sociopaths. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Incest and Pedophilia

mme_carton's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

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

jennyspencer's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Stalking, and Abandonment

onceupon_longago's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.5

Rating this book is difficult. I despised the main character and the ending, and the whole story is rather disturbing. But it’s also very well written, and I found the descriptions of scents and perfumery really interesting.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicide, Cannibalism, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

evelynmb_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Pedophilia

megsspookysanctuary's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Torture, Excrement, Cannibalism, Murder, and Abandonment