Scan barcode
bookishevy's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.25
I added this book to my TBR when I learned that it was one of Kurt Cobain's favorite reads. When I saw that it was included in my Audible, I downloaded it immediately and was introduced to my most-hated character yet.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born in the slums of 18th-century France with a superhuman sense of smell. As a boy, he lives for the odors of Paris. He apprentices himself to prominent perfumer Baldini, who teaches him how to mix precious herbs and oils. The first chapter of the book focuses on how everyone stinks in France during this time, so perfume sales are at an all-time high. He makes Baldini a lot of money.
But that's not enough for Grenouille. He wants to capture the smells of everyday objects. His obsession graduates to wanting to create the "ultimate perfume"βthe scent of a beautiful young virgin.
I added this to my list of creepy reads because Grenouille heebied TF outta my jeebies. He's a hateful, little man, capable of doing depraved things as he seeks to preserve the virgins' odors in a bottle. Odors that inspire love, something his repulsive self has never felt. He experiments with animals before going on a killing spree to maintain these young women's scents.
My biggest concern was that Grenouille would get away with it. Hell, he doesn't even want to get away with it. He's sick of people. He welcomes death. But one must never underestimate the power of a good scent. It could make you do things you wouldn't normally do. Like, have an orgy in the town square π₯΄
I wanted Grenouille to hang, but the ending was far more poetic.
Nigel Patterson's voice was made for narration. So crisp. π€πΎ
I recommend this disturbing read to anyone interested in the origins of serial killers and can appreciate how scents transport us.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born in the slums of 18th-century France with a superhuman sense of smell. As a boy, he lives for the odors of Paris. He apprentices himself to prominent perfumer Baldini, who teaches him how to mix precious herbs and oils. The first chapter of the book focuses on how everyone stinks in France during this time, so perfume sales are at an all-time high. He makes Baldini a lot of money.
But that's not enough for Grenouille. He wants to capture the smells of everyday objects. His obsession graduates to wanting to create the "ultimate perfume"βthe scent of a beautiful young virgin.
I added this to my list of creepy reads because Grenouille heebied TF outta my jeebies. He's a hateful, little man, capable of doing depraved things as he seeks to preserve the virgins' odors in a bottle. Odors that inspire love, something his repulsive self has never felt. He experiments with animals before going on a killing spree to maintain these young women's scents.
My biggest concern was that Grenouille would get away with it. Hell, he doesn't even want to get away with it. He's sick of people. He welcomes death. But one must never underestimate the power of a good scent. It could make you do things you wouldn't normally do. Like, have an orgy in the town square π₯΄
I wanted Grenouille to hang, but the ending was far more poetic.
Nigel Patterson's voice was made for narration. So crisp. π€πΎ
I recommend this disturbing read to anyone interested in the origins of serial killers and can appreciate how scents transport us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
olivesinpain's review against another edition
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
4.0
ireadlots18's review against another edition
2.0
It was beautifully written but, also beautifully boring. So many times while reading I thought to myself, "Is this over yet?" I loved the descriptions for using all the senses but, also felt like isn't this enough? I will say the way the main character; Grenouille, died was the best death I've read ever. All in all it was ok but, I probably will never reread or try and pick up a book like this again.
jenntucci2's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very interesting. i did have a few issues, but it was overall a decent read.
Pros:
-story moves quickly
-i found it interesting we get to explore other characters innermost thoughts
-the author clearly researched a lot for this book and it shows in the descriptions of perfumes and the process of perfuming.
-very unique and interesting story
cons:
-author spends too much time describing menial things like the landscape, and especially scents
-murder was not as much part of the story as the cover claims, not until the last 75 or so pages
-this is a good story, though i feel it couldβve been trimmed down to be more interesting. i skipped random pages here and there because the author went on and on about each scent and the process of creating perfume. although this was interesting and gave depth to the story, it also was very repetitive and boring.
both:
-the disconnect between reader and characters is beneficial as it helps characterize Jean-Baptiste Grenouille as a strange, apathetic, careless person, but it also leaves the reader unfocused and detached from the story.
Pros:
-story moves quickly
-i found it interesting we get to explore other characters innermost thoughts
-the author clearly researched a lot for this book and it shows in the descriptions of perfumes and the process of perfuming.
-very unique and interesting story
cons:
-author spends too much time describing menial things like the landscape, and especially scents
-murder was not as much part of the story as the cover claims, not until the last 75 or so pages
-this is a good story, though i feel it couldβve been trimmed down to be more interesting. i skipped random pages here and there because the author went on and on about each scent and the process of creating perfume. although this was interesting and gave depth to the story, it also was very repetitive and boring.
both:
-the disconnect between reader and characters is beneficial as it helps characterize Jean-Baptiste Grenouille as a strange, apathetic, careless person, but it also leaves the reader unfocused and detached from the story.
vadslittlecrow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
[ A classic historical fiction about a passionate perfumer with an extraordinary sense of smell, who seeks to create the perfect scene by any means necessary. Even one that includes murder. ]
ππ©π¬π± ββ
Plot driven. This book offers you the obsession of our mc, Jean, or often called in this book as Grenouille, towards scent, or literally anything that correlates to it that it drives him to murder people that carry the most exquisite scents so that he can produce the absolute perfect perfume. Godly perfume, if you will. One that brings people to their knees, andβ¦.some other questionable stuff that made my jaw dropped not only to the floor, but to the earthβs core. CENTER of the earth. This book is fascinating, disturbing, weird, amazing, and disgusting all at the same time. Going into this book blind would be a brave and interesting move because none of what happened in this book could be easily predicted, not even at all.
π π₯ππ―ππ π±π’π― ββ
The way the characters were written is so interesting to me. I can agree that the side characters in this book were so boring and bland because there were absolutely zero depths in them and may have made some parts a little bit boring in this book when Grenouille isnβt there, but the contrast between Grenouille and other characters really highlights not only his role as a main character, but also shows how passionate and in depth his obsession is, that we get to experience each and every moment of his journey. Yes, by everything, I mean everything. TMI does not exist whatsoever in this book. You will see EVERYTHING.
π΄π―π¦π±π¦π«π€ ββ
The writing is very unique andβ¦.peculiar. It is atmospheric and very immersive in my opinion. Very descriptive and vivid that I can almost smell what the author was describing, which was both pleasant and unpleasant. The catshit perfumeβ¦.??? No<3 While reading this book, I really felt like I was in the book, smelling the premises with our mc and I felt like I was a ghost following him around. Other than that, some things in this book that are most definitely not casual were written and discussed in this book as if they were normal and not at all bizarre. Like I said, nothing in this book is predictable. You canβt even try to imagine, just save yourself the hussle, because you WILL be wrong. Lastly, the combination of beautiful lyrical writing with the horrible abysmal violence made this book one of the most unique books I have ever read. Loved the writing.
π°π²πͺπͺππ―πΆ/π π¬π«π π©π²π°π¦π¬π« ββ
Definitely one of my favourites. I need to read more classics to be able to say this is one of the best, but as of now, it is one of the best to me. The hype is justified.
ππ©π¬π± ββ
Plot driven. This book offers you the obsession of our mc, Jean, or often called in this book as Grenouille, towards scent, or literally anything that correlates to it that it drives him to murder people that carry the most exquisite scents so that he can produce the absolute perfect perfume. Godly perfume, if you will. One that brings people to their knees, andβ¦.some other questionable stuff that made my jaw dropped not only to the floor, but to the earthβs core. CENTER of the earth. This book is fascinating, disturbing, weird, amazing, and disgusting all at the same time. Going into this book blind would be a brave and interesting move because none of what happened in this book could be easily predicted, not even at all.
π π₯ππ―ππ π±π’π― ββ
The way the characters were written is so interesting to me. I can agree that the side characters in this book were so boring and bland because there were absolutely zero depths in them and may have made some parts a little bit boring in this book when Grenouille isnβt there, but the contrast between Grenouille and other characters really highlights not only his role as a main character, but also shows how passionate and in depth his obsession is, that we get to experience each and every moment of his journey. Yes, by everything, I mean everything. TMI does not exist whatsoever in this book. You will see EVERYTHING.
π΄π―π¦π±π¦π«π€ ββ
The writing is very unique andβ¦.peculiar. It is atmospheric and very immersive in my opinion. Very descriptive and vivid that I can almost smell what the author was describing, which was both pleasant and unpleasant. The catshit perfumeβ¦.??? No<3 While reading this book, I really felt like I was in the book, smelling the premises with our mc and I felt like I was a ghost following him around. Other than that, some things in this book that are most definitely not casual were written and discussed in this book as if they were normal and not at all bizarre. Like I said, nothing in this book is predictable. You canβt even try to imagine, just save yourself the hussle, because you WILL be wrong. Lastly, the combination of beautiful lyrical writing with the horrible abysmal violence made this book one of the most unique books I have ever read. Loved the writing.
π°π²πͺπͺππ―πΆ/π π¬π«π π©π²π°π¦π¬π« ββ
Definitely one of my favourites. I need to read more classics to be able to say this is one of the best, but as of now, it is one of the best to me. The hype is justified.
vhgunter's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
xman1x's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 would be more accurate. Easily one of the most descriptive books I've read. Fits the definition of weird. But I finished just thinking there would be something else.