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meganemily's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
cedrisc's review against another edition
DNF 53% I just couldn't continue. The beginning was interesting and then it just became so boring that it put me to sleep every time I tried to read it.
lainsbasement's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
lostinfrance's review against another edition
2.0
A beloved student...who I never taught gave this book to me a couple of years ago....and I left it on a shelf while I traveled so I would not leave it behind. Now that I am finally in the States, I finally picked it up and delved into it. Before starting to read the book, I thought this book was a murder mystery....about a serial killer who was in search of a perfect smell.
But....this book was not so much a mystery....more the story of a tale of woe. How a boy who was unloved and born to a street prostitute--- grows up and searches for the greatest scent. He does not have an odor, so he is in search of the perfect perfume. I enjoyed the character study, but I also felt disgusted--- not only for the way the character acts, but also because some of the descriptions of different perfumes ended up causing me to cringe from the idea of the heavy perfumes....you might say the descriptions were persuasive.
I have to say, don't kill me, I was disappointed by the book....I wanted more thrill, more adventure...the book was well written and I enjoyed parts, but in the end it is not something I would read again.
Read if you enjoy books that take place in late 18th century France....or books about the senses.
But....this book was not so much a mystery....more the story of a tale of woe. How a boy who was unloved and born to a street prostitute--- grows up and searches for the greatest scent. He does not have an odor, so he is in search of the perfect perfume. I enjoyed the character study, but I also felt disgusted--- not only for the way the character acts, but also because some of the descriptions of different perfumes ended up causing me to cringe from the idea of the heavy perfumes....you might say the descriptions were persuasive.
I have to say, don't kill me, I was disappointed by the book....I wanted more thrill, more adventure...the book was well written and I enjoyed parts, but in the end it is not something I would read again.
Read if you enjoy books that take place in late 18th century France....or books about the senses.
oliverbennett's review against another edition
4.0
Not my first choice of story, but the books was one of quality - a dark but interesting story.
zwischenzeilen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
genevievegenie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
_first_but_not_foremost's review against another edition
3.0
As you read this review, you should know that it comes with two prerequisites:
- My first review on Goodreads! (And online)
- My first finished book of this year
I am attempting to establish the specific questions I'd like to answer about the progression of this story, and so this might be rocky for a while?
I also do not know how to rate books, and if this is truly a five-star read.
Expect change and improvement!
Also what is to be expected: Lots more reviews! I've established a chaotic goal of 200 books that comfortably orients my views of reading as much as possible.
my task is to discover if that is possible or not, and learn much on the way!
Perfume as a story is a mixed serving of glorious disgustful rotten mold on a platinum plate of indigestible philosophical amazement.
Because I still need to establish a research plan for these authors, the only knowledge I have about every dreadful circumstance I've witnessed (Half over a period of late December and early January and half on a pleasant afternoon on January 15th, 2023), most of my knowledge comes from the unchanging fact that a German author named Süskind published the 263 paged abomination in 1985.
- My first review on Goodreads! (And online)
- My first finished book of this year
I am attempting to establish the specific questions I'd like to answer about the progression of this story, and so this might be rocky for a while?
I also do not know how to rate books, and if this is truly a five-star read.
Expect change and improvement!
Also what is to be expected: Lots more reviews! I've established a chaotic goal of 200 books that comfortably orients my views of reading as much as possible.
my task is to discover if that is possible or not, and learn much on the way!
Perfume as a story is a mixed serving of glorious disgustful rotten mold on a platinum plate of indigestible philosophical amazement.
Because I still need to establish a research plan for these authors, the only knowledge I have about every dreadful circumstance I've witnessed (Half over a period of late December and early January and half on a pleasant afternoon on January 15th, 2023), most of my knowledge comes from the unchanging fact that a German author named Süskind published the 263 paged abomination in 1985.
fowadijaz's review against another edition
4.5
A man is born in 18th century france not smelling of anything, but having a most powerful sense of smell. He gets shunned by his fellow orphans, becomes a tanners servant, and eventually finagles himself into being a perfumer's apprentice. Disaster follows everywhere he touches. When he leaves the perfumer to pursue his next goal, the perfumer's house falls into the river. This trend continues, and at the same time this man is desiring to make a perfume that is of desire itself. He gets the essence of womanhood, and because he has no smell he is able to sneak up on people and murder them. So he goes on a killing spree of young women, preserving their scents to make the most desirable perfume known to man.
Enjoyed the english translation thoroughly. Unfortunately read it too long ago to make an informed writeup, but I do remember enjoying the detail of scents that the author was able to capture. A master of prose.
Enjoyed the english translation thoroughly. Unfortunately read it too long ago to make an informed writeup, but I do remember enjoying the detail of scents that the author was able to capture. A master of prose.