This was one of the most clever tales I've had the fortune of reading - but also one of the most contrived.
From the very beginning, the author makes it clear that Grenouille, the antagonist, is nothing to root for - he has no semblance of a conscience, for starters. And while you want to explore such an original character further (a person with a supernatural sense of smell), his character development is diluted in favor of showing the reader how perfumes are made, imitated, and even reverse-engineered - which tends to get on your nerves after a while.
If you can stand a linear narrative, and don't mind reading up on a completely new subject (because let's be honest - who has ever read up on how, exactly, the smell of jasmine flowers is imbibed through oils?), then this book is a must read. The plot idea alone is worthy of praise - the plot is just icing on the cake. ( )

I actually saw the movie first, a few years ago, and loved it enough to get the book! "Perfume" is a banned book. The narrative is uncomfortably intimate and psychologically unnerving. Like "American Psycho", or "We Need to Talk About Kevin", you witness a killer evolve rather than emerge.

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was born in a filthy, fish stall, to a mother who had planned to drown him immediately. She was caught and executed, but Grenouille was "an abomination from the start." He exudes no scent of his own, a trait that those around him notice unconsciously. It terrifies even himself. However, he has the most powerful olfactory abilities to ever exist. He can identify smells that have no name. As such he can wander in the dark, exhibit seemingly prophetic abilities but always wanting more.

One night he smells a scent so unique, that it categorizes all others. It is a 14 year old girl whom he immediately strangles so as "not to lose a trace of her scent." It is not sexual, Grenouille has no need for that. But this act unlocks Grenouille as a "God" of scent. For he realizes that he can control the actions of others through scent, and harness the power of these "rare flowers." From others he learns how to make perfume, transforming and camouflaging himself. Eventually he begins his pursuit to "capture" the most celestial scent, Laure Richis, a marquis' daughter. But such a relentlessly greedy ambition can only end in the most horrific way.

Grenouille as he is, cannot exist in our world. He can only exist in a bygone era of absolutes. 18th century France is the best setting for this. The Esprit of the times, the primary sources describing the perfume industry and the cosmopolitan access to florals and spices previously unknown. A thoroughly dark, unsettling and enthralling read. ( )

It all started so well as well! I think most of this book is very easy to read and interesting as well as intriguing.

However, just a last section doesn’t seem to seems like a shame to tie up the story line. Naturally, some of this is very Macabre. Enjoyable for those with a taste for amusing antiheroes. Who’s foul tastes become somewhat compelling and intriguing. ( )

4.5 ( )

8422620227