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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
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
atalea'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? No
3.5
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
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Murder
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
caroline2'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
0.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
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
ssummar'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
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Excrement, and Abandonment
katushka'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Gore, and Mental illness
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