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A review by corporal_bookish
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
4.0
One of the greatest books ever written, and one of the greatest I've ever read.
One star short of five because of the end - I really wanted Grenouille to win :(
The book is like no other, using endless amounts of olfactory imagery which is surprisingly underused in mainstream literature these days. Too much attention is given to visual imagery, that the other senses are simply forgotten.
Characterization: Absolutely phenomenal. You can barely muster pity for this character as the writer takes every opportunity to degrade him, yet I felt pity for him. Grenouille is a character with many MANY layers. It's not simple hatred or desire that drives him. Lust for scent and nothing else - the way Suskind brought out these motives behind every one of Grenouille's actions was amazing. Not forced or overbearing but simply stated. As if it was simply impossible to comprehend another way.
The other characters were described well enough, and you actually feel bad for them after the misfortune that befalls them because of Grenouille.
OVERALL: Fantastic although quite strange and morbid. Nothing like anything you've ever read.
One star short of five because of the end - I really wanted Grenouille to win :(
The book is like no other, using endless amounts of olfactory imagery which is surprisingly underused in mainstream literature these days. Too much attention is given to visual imagery, that the other senses are simply forgotten.
Characterization: Absolutely phenomenal. You can barely muster pity for this character as the writer takes every opportunity to degrade him, yet I felt pity for him. Grenouille is a character with many MANY layers. It's not simple hatred or desire that drives him. Lust for scent and nothing else - the way Suskind brought out these motives behind every one of Grenouille's actions was amazing. Not forced or overbearing but simply stated. As if it was simply impossible to comprehend another way.
The other characters were described well enough, and you actually feel bad for them after the misfortune that befalls them because of Grenouille.
OVERALL: Fantastic although quite strange and morbid. Nothing like anything you've ever read.