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goldenlake's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Classism
winsomefish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Sexual violence, Blood, and Excrement
Moderate: Vomit and Murder
anhedonia_n_anomie's review against another edition
It had a very interesting start, and is absolutely very well-written, but it just became an unpleasant read—for me—after a certain point.
The book is a slow-burner—so takes a while to get to the meat of the plot—and with the main character being this inhuman creature (so to speak) who doesn't engage with anyone else in the story, doesn't speak, doesn't have much of an inner life (outside of what his superpowered olfactory sense brings to him), and who is just constantly behaving incredibly revoltingly—I just couldn't stick it out until things started going somewhere.
The book is a slow-burner—so takes a while to get to the meat of the plot—and with the main character being this inhuman creature (so to speak) who doesn't engage with anyone else in the story, doesn't speak, doesn't have much of an inner life (outside of what his superpowered olfactory sense brings to him), and who is just constantly behaving incredibly revoltingly—I just couldn't stick it out until things started going somewhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
pascalthehoff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
Sehr witzig, dass einer der größten deutschen modernen Klassiker sich anfühlt wie ein Buch aus dem 18. Jahrhundert – das sagt sehr viel über die deutsche Literaturszene. Dennoch verdient Das Parfüm natürlich seine Lorbeeren, denn so muss man erstmal schreiben können. Schließlich bietet der Roman nicht nur eine unkonventionelle stilistische Richtung, sondern auch beeindruckende Stilsicherheit.
Das Parfüm ist maximalistisch und maßlos in seiner Darstellung eines äußerst extravaganten Charakters. Dass der Protagonist keine tiefen Sympathien wecken soll, ist mehr als deutlich. Dennoch geht das Parfüm schon SEHR auf Nummer sicher, dass die Verkommenheit der Figur bei den Leser*innen ankommt.
Einige der Schandtaten sind sehr dick aufgetragen und driften in ihrem Überschreiten von Geschmacksgrenzen vom Zweckgemäßen ins Sensationalistische. Durch diese Überspitzung entstehen prägnante Momente, die sicherlich für immer im Kopf bleiben. Dennoch kann ich Das Parfüm nicht vollends respektieren, wenn die Werkzeuge, derer es sich für seinen Effekt bemüht, so große Löcher schlagen – wenn auch mit beeindruckender Präzision.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Murder
maxire's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Perfume is a beautifully written and enthralling sensual rollercoaster. Süskind masterfully evokes an entire range of both perceptible and imperceptible scents. Many of the lengthy descriptions of 'bad' smells (i.e. people's body odor or the rotten stench of death) are so vivid that they are truly stomach-curdling. At the same time, some of the passages where Grenouille experiences delicate floral scents are so delightful that they made me want to roll around in a wildflower meadow.
Despite the evocative and sensual writing, the story itself was ultimately underwhelming. Being subtitled "The Story of a Murderer" seemed to imply some suspense. However, the plot was predictable more often than not. Grenouille's cave era was the only part of Perfume that truly surprised at every turn. Sadly, the cave era was a short-lived segment of the novel.
Overall, Perfume is a classic horror story that would fit happily on the shelves alongside titles such as Dracula or Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. However, this horror story ultimately was not to my taste. The incredible misogyny - which does fit the monstrous characterization of Grenouille - was something that I personally found incredibly grating. At this point in my life, I am tired of reading "classics" in any genre that are so deeply steeped in hatred for women.
Despite the evocative and sensual writing, the story itself was ultimately underwhelming. Being subtitled "The Story of a Murderer" seemed to imply some suspense. However, the plot was predictable more often than not. Grenouille's cave era was the only part of Perfume that truly surprised at every turn. Sadly, the cave era was a short-lived segment of the novel.
Overall, Perfume is a classic horror story that would fit happily on the shelves alongside titles such as Dracula or Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. However, this horror story ultimately was not to my taste. The incredible misogyny - which does fit the monstrous characterization of Grenouille - was something that I personally found incredibly grating. At this point in my life, I am tired of reading "classics" in any genre that are so deeply steeped in hatred for women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
pigro's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
poloniumblood's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
liilykke'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
4.25
I really liked this book!
From other reviews I realized most people read it out of school obligation, and that kinda ruins it, it's definitely not a book for everyone, but I wouldn't consider it a "bad" book.
I think it's similar to a) Narcissus and Goldmund - Hermann Hesse b) A Certain Hunger- Chelsea Summers and c) My Year of Rest and Relaxation- Ottessa Moshfegh
It contains long descriptions of olfactory stimuli, 18th century France in a beautiful and enchanting way.
It deals with the mind of the ultimate sociopath, whose killings are not out of moralistic obligation, to prove a point, nor because he liked the killing itself...but because he sees people in such a way that he is able to kill them in order to get what he needs- a scent.
I think you can read this book again and again and always find something unique. The prose is beautiful, it contrasts the gore descriptions that are presented.
Süskind has done immersive research into perfumes, everything is articulated in such detail...
I really really enjoyed the descriptions inside the cave, his intense need to be away from everyone, how he described how much he wanted to empty himself.... I don't know how I feel about the ending yet, it was captivating and unexpected but part of me feels robbed of what it could have been, in a way...if that makes sense
I think if you enjoy dark and gore themes, but would also appreciate a discussion about humanity and death, this book is for u <3
From other reviews I realized most people read it out of school obligation, and that kinda ruins it, it's definitely not a book for everyone, but I wouldn't consider it a "bad" book.
I think it's similar to a) Narcissus and Goldmund - Hermann Hesse b) A Certain Hunger- Chelsea Summers and c) My Year of Rest and Relaxation- Ottessa Moshfegh
It contains long descriptions of olfactory stimuli, 18th century France in a beautiful and enchanting way.
I think you can read this book again and again and always find something unique. The prose is beautiful, it contrasts the gore descriptions that are presented.
Süskind has done immersive research into perfumes, everything is articulated in such detail...
I think if you enjoy dark and gore themes, but would also appreciate a discussion about humanity and death, this book is for u <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Cannibalism, and Stalking
laurapeirs's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Stalking, Alcohol, and War