Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

63 reviews

taylasreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ninocapipoca's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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? Yes

4.5

Wow. What the fuck did I just read. It’s disturbing on so many levels, but in a self-aware way. It makes you think a fair bit about how humans interact & develop relationships and the human psyche in general. The ending left me with my chin on the floor at how gruesome it was. The main character is despicable, by no means lovable and does not draw sympathy from the reader, which I think is the point. I also found it quite well written. Would recommend, but only if you’re ready for a story in which there is truly no hope, no happy ending, just a narcissistic desire taken to the extreme.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jo35_21's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

"Perfume" follows a serial killer who develops an obsession with scents. Upon discovering that he himself has no natural odor, he creates perfumes using grotesque ingredients including deceased animal remains, rotting food, and horrifically, body parts from murdered young girls. These concoctions grant him an almost supernatural ability to manipulate others, perhaps due to his own lack of scent.

The story powerfully illustrates humanity's capacity for darkness, with the protagonist himself acknowledging his monstrous nature. In many ways, he embodies evil itself. The writing is simultaneously beautiful and horrifying, leaving me muttering "WTF" every few pages. It's possibly the most beautifully written yet disturbing book I've ever read.

While I was drawn into the story, I had some major issues with it. The way young victims are described is very uncomfortable and unnecessary. It's also frustrating that the killer only gets caught after killing someone from a wealthy family - what about all the other victims? Lastly, I really disliked the character Richis, who treats his daughter in very disturbing ways throughout the book.


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ifistartedreadingwheniwasborn's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

reminiscences's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

itsartemis's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ninahuynh's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.75

That ending stank like how the beginning started! How is it he goes
and kill all these people and animals all for him to end by basically mob-suicide?! Unbelievable!!
Mister Suskind, I need an explanation now!!!! A 3-star book knocked down cause that ending has me raging 😤😡
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

pagesbylara's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

gingervandorsten's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I have rarely read a book as weird and gross and generally unpleasant as this one, but I also think this book is so, so good. The writing, the descriptions, the tension, the ingenuity of everything in here is striking and so impressive.
And then
he murders a dog. And then there's a detailed description of a young girl's breasts. And then there's a father borderline lusting over his daughter. And then there's a huge orgy.
And I think I understand the reason that Süskind put in these things, made these choices; they clearly have the desired effect of making the reader uncomfortable, and showcasing just how f-ed up Grenouille really is, but some of this was a little too messed up to me to be pleasantly disturbing in the way that horror can be, you know?
Regardless - I don't think you should avoid this book because of the amount of disturbing things that happen in it, because if you appreciate the weirdness (to an extent) it's honestly a really masterful tale of hubris and humanity and gross and beautiful olfactory imagery. And the last line. Good lord.

Side note: it's very amusing to me that most people who read this book seem to consider it with a kind of "What in the actual fuck is going on here this is sick"-view but also see it as one of the best books out there. Mainly because I agree. I guess Süskind enamoured us with this gross little book through the perfume of his gorgeous, ironic and self-aware prose. 

Also, the Dutch translation by Ronald Jonkers is very good! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tigertheory's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

unsure why this was such a hit. Sure, style is great, but the plot was so boring. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings