evevallarta'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? Yes
4.75
La historia ya la conocía y aún así nad se compara con la experiencia de esta lectura. Muy atmosferica, hubo momentos donde me sorprendí asqueada por DESCRIPCIONES de olores!!
Una aventura de un asesino, unlikeable, tonto pero astuto. Claro que el papel de la mujer en este libro es inexistente, indiferente, ignorado.... Pero es que este no es un libro sobre eso, este es un libro con un narrador omnipresente que nos muestra los pensamientos de los personajes que se entrelazan en la historia, nada de endulzar el personaje, son tal y como son.
Cada fin de capitulo de la primera parte terminaba sonriendo y qué final!!
👏👏👏nada más que decir
Graphic: Pregnancy, Excrement, Murder, Animal cruelty, and Death
Minor: Cannibalism
winsomefish's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Sexual violence, Blood, and Excrement
Moderate: Murder and Vomit
emmacartlidge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Murder, Torture, Death, and Gore
Minor: Animal death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Excrement, and Pedophilia
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The description throughout the novel is almost nauseatingly vivid, with each character we come across thoroughly examined not only in terms of their scent but also in terms of their character, with their flaws brought to the foreground. Every character and setting is primarily described olfactorily as this is the way Grenouille perceives the world, and by focusing on smell over the other more common senses, it is as if one were to look at the world through an entirely different lens. Süskind even laments about the difficulty of describing scents in words, which is comically meta.
In particular, I love the use of foreshadowing laced throughout the novel, and spotting the clues pointing towards certain characters’ demises make this book a great reread. Furthermore, the biblical imagery is also a fantastic addition to the vivid descriptions throughout, and this is especially clear during Grenouille’s dream sequence - one of the most entertaining parts of the novel for me.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to everyone due to some of the topics it deals with being sensitive and/or pretty gross, and I find that much like Marmite people either love it or hate it. But if you’re looking for a book that will stay with you for years and you’re okay with the content warnings, I’d give it a go.
Graphic: Death, Murder, Alcohol, Animal death, Gore, Suicide, Pedophilia, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Cannibalism
Minor: Incest, Torture, Excrement, Misogyny, War, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
torismazarine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Pedophilia, Cannibalism, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Excrement, War, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
meaghanelizabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Body horror
maess'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Excrement, Murder, Violence, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Classism, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, and Torture
sofipitch'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? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Cannibalism, and Stalking
Moderate: Excrement and Misogyny
Minor: Racial slurs and Antisemitism
jaiari12's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
Graphic: Torture, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Excrement and Misogyny
emmaslibrary'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? No
2.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Violence