Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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Summary: William Floyd English Teacher, Bill Pike, Likes This Book
Review: Bill Pike is a complicated man and he likes this book very much. He found it to be very original and interesting. Bill Pike likes other books too, some of which I do not, but that's okay and I'm willing to forgive that.

Rating:
Summary: recommended
Review: This book makes a great read; innovative in the way it focuses on the sense of smell and mesmerizing in its detailed descriptions. However the actual murders came pretty much too late in the story and seemed to be quite rushed in the narrative. Still, the final chapters are quite haunting and make a fine climax. Maybe I can't give this one 5 stars because I was still under the impression of the earth-shattering book I had read just before this (Jose Saramago's <Blindness>, to be specific - a must-read!) but I think most people will enjoy <Perfume> immensely; even if you don't you'll appreciate the innovational aspects.

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Summary: Reeks with talent
Review: Immerse yourself in the 18th century perfumery of this writer who really knows his subject. One of the most unusual books I have ever read in 55 years of reading. Smashing writing. Breaks all the rules of story telling. Engrossing.

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Summary: Una Obra Maestra del suspenso
Review: antes que nada, pensé que hacía falta una reseña de "el Perfume" en español. Este libro es cautivante desde la primera página. La historia de una voluntad sin igual, un ser con una tenacidad asombrosa, carente de falsas moralidades, de remordimientos innecesarios, dispuesto a hacer lo que sea con tal de conseguir sus objetivos. El personaje central, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, es descrito con maestría por Süskind, como un ser frío, mezquino, astuto, extremadamente inteligente, y sin embargo con tintes de crueldad que asemejan su conducta a la de el mejor depredador animal: Calculador, paciente. Añádale a esto el excelente trasfondo del mundo de los olores y perfumes, y el marco siempre atractivo y misterioso de la Francia pre-revolucionaria del siglo XVIII. ¿que se obtiene? una de las mejores novelas de suspenso desde el nombre de la rosa de Umberto Eco.

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Summary: This book stinks! I mean that in a good way.
Review: Suskind has given something to his readers that is not often attempted in literature, stimulation of the sense of smell with the imagination. It is interesting how the sense that conjures up the most memories in the human mind is so often pushed aside in literature, in favor of using sight and sound descriptions. The plot and storyline are not perfect, but for the avid reader, this book is a delight. I felt it was much like finding an old, dusty, slightly marred bottle, but upon opening it, finding a rare, delicious vintage of wine.

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Summary: Horrific
Review: Are you a fan of mystery? Perfume, by Patrick Suskind, is the book for you. The novel is an exposition of the search for identity, individuality, and self in relation to the world. Born onto a pile of fish guts from his ruthless mother, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille grew up to become a villainous murderer. His lack of scent had made him the outcast of the society but his strong will let him survive through hardship; from changing different wet nurses or having to eat one meal a day to catching a deadly disease that paralyzed him and left him with scars. One day, he was heading home, "the wind brought him something, a tiny, hardly noticeable something, a crumb, an atom of scent; no, even less than that..." it was a scent of a young virgin, which stuck in his heart... To find out more, read the book!

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Summary: the best thriller I've ever read!
Review: I never thought human beings coulld have such a desirable perfume

Rating:
Summary: Well..kinda unique!
Review: Well..Suskind did find a unique subject to write a book on with one man..or shall I say a monster's quest for the ultimate scent. I felt that there was something lacking in this novel as to the series of crimes were somewhat summarised as they should have been well narrated. The story was non directional or irrelevant in midstreams but it did have a short and I must say an unexpected end to it! But all the more it was an OK read.

Rating:
Summary: Niet slecht, maar het kan toch nog stukken beter
Review: Het Parfum is geen slecht boek, maar fantastisch zou ik het toch niet noemen. Dit boek is redelijk saai in het begin en komt slechts zeer traag op gang. Eens dat het een beetje spannender wordt, begint het boek mee te vallen en dankzij een spannend einde groeit dit boek toch uit tot een goed boek. Dit boek moet het toch vooral hebben van de goede recensies op het boek zelf, zodat ook niet-geïnteresseerde personen dit boek gaan lezen. Toch is dit geen aanrader van mijn kant

Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally well written, but exceptionally twisted!
Review: I had no idea that this novel was so well received when I chose to read it for a sociology class on deviance. Granted, the author did choose a very unique subject, the search for the ultimate "smell", and wrote in a very realistic and vivid way for his audience, but.... I thought the story line to be very tiresome midway through the novel, and the plot, frankly, disgusting. The ending was so unexpected, twisted, and out of the blue, that even the author seemed to be tired of the un-ending storyline. I did NOT like this book. I did not identify with any of the characters, nor did I discover any paticularly meaningful "hidden message about life" from its pages.