Perfume:The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind
June 14th, 2007 . by Jilly
This book was an amazing olfactory experience – seriously such a good book. Taking place in 18th century Paris, everything is described through scents and smells. Our main character is born into a putrid smelling city, he has no smell to him, and at the same time has a very acute sense of smell. From the time he is born nobody wants him, he grows up unloved and unwanted. As he grows up he realized how subtly attuned his nose is, he’s able to breathe people in and know things about them based on their smell. He starts learning the trade of perfuming. He wants to learn how to bottle the scent of a young beautiful virgin – which to him is perfection.
This book has been described as a psychololgical thriller, you are taken into the mind of the killer. It made me think about how sensual and animal some smells are. While its a thriller, there is no graphic violence. This story, especially the ending really stays with you.
This book is so well written. Put this on your summer reading list, it’ll be better than watching re-runs of Heroes, I promise. This book has also been made into a movie, directed by the guy that did Run Lola Run.
If you’ve read this book, please feel free to share your thoughts on it. I’d love to hear it.
