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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer | Patrick Suskind
An acclaimed bestseller and international sensation, Patrick Suskind's classic novel provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man's indulgence in his greatest passion--his sense of smell--leads to murder. In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift--an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odors of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and fresh-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume"--the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brilliance, Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity. Translated from the German by John E. Woods.
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kricheal
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Starting this next 🎧

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KateReadsYA
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Pickpick

40 likes1 stack add
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TieDyeDude
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#wondrouswednesday @eggs

🔥 Campfire: Lots of memories of camping and various outdoor activities (somewhat related, tobacco pipe (but absolutely not cigarettes))

🌊 I remember my college town was pretty well landlocked. I visited a friend during a break, and about a mile from their house, I could smell the creek that ran by their house. I didn't realize how much I missed water.

🍊 No obvious reason, I just love the smell of oranges.

Eggs Ah orange 🍊 good one! 1mo
lil1inblue Campfire memories are the best. 😍 1mo
30 likes2 comments
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KateReadsYA
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My current read! I haven't read many translated books, but I want to start reading more of them. This one is originally published in German, and it's a very unique story. Also wanted to show off my manicure that I just finished up with! Gotta love a self care day.

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shantireads11
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Pickpick

“He succeeded in being considered totally uninteresting. People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.” #putrid

Can‘t beat a creepy portrayal of an 1800s murderer

LeahBergen Yep, it‘s a creepy one, isn‘t it? 4mo
6 likes1 comment
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Joshuamc
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Just received my next read from the most amazing woman I ever met. I Love You, Meine Frau

joyce.btr Omg! It‘s a book for the most amazing man I ever met ;) 4mo
5 likes1 comment
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TieDyeDude
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@dabbe #tlt

1. Orange
2. Vanilla
3. Smokey/campfire

dabbe 1 and 2: YES! Smokey campfire ... are you particular about the smoke? Cuz some smell amazing and some not so much. Thanks for sharing, too! 🤩 5mo
33 likes1 comment
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LaraS
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A young man who is born into unfortunate circumstances in 18th century France has such a hyper refined sense of smell that he experiences the world through scent. He becomes a perfumer, and spends his life trying to create for the perfect scent.

Ok, ok, i've hopped on the bandwagon - I added some little ghosts and pumpkins to cover up some unfortunate water damaged that happened to these prints. #litsycrafters #ghostpainting #BatBrigade

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👌🏻📚🙌🏻 5mo
Catsandbooks They're so cute! I've been really wanting to try this trend! 👻 5mo
18 likes3 comments
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Ast_Arslan
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Still in my physical TBR since 2009... it is time for it to be (finally) read!

reading_rainbow I have this for my October TBR! 6mo
Ast_Arslan @reading_rainbow it's almost like a buddy a read 😊😂 6mo
reading_rainbow @Ast_Arslan yes totally lol 6mo
21 likes3 comments
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TheSpineView
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TheLudicReader My current read. 1y
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Panpan

If there was one word to sum up this book it would be “creepy“. Everything about it is just off. To me, there seemed something profoundly misogynistic about it. Then there's the spontaneous orgy at an execution (I'm not even kidding), & the ending is ridiculous. It's a book ticked off the 'To Read' list but I can't recommend it & I definitely wouldn't re-read it. 1⭐

TW: cannibalism, murder, animal cruelty/death, misogyny, paedophila, stalking.

24 likes1 comment
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CourtSmall
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Mehso-so

Book 106/2022. Finished 23/5/22 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Audiobook

It is referenced in so many things, thought it was about time I read it

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Cazxxx
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WJCintron LOVE IT!!! 2y
29 likes1 stack add1 comment
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tellmesomething2read
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Pickpick

sold as a novel about obsession. more about identity and morality within the institutions of hierarchy.

The Collector
Despair
The Nose

like the bleached bones of little birds

3.5 stars

9 likes1 stack add
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PhyllisH
Panpan

I have finished my #doublespin book selection. Perfume is one weird,creepy,strange book😲. I‘m just happy to be finished with this one.
@thearomaofbooks.

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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

Bizarre and incredibly creepy, like skin-crawlingly ideas that burrow into you creepy rather than straight up scary creepy. The prose was gorgeous and I liked the eighteenth century Parisian setting - I don‘t think I‘ve read any historical fiction about that period before which is always fun.

#scarathlon2021 #teamslaughter @Clwojick +16

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K.Wielechowski
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Mehso-so

I... am not sure how to feel about this book.
The beginning was interesting. It followed the MC‘s horrible upbringing that lead to his job in a perfumery. He has no scent of his own but he also has a super sniffer which makes him a great perfumer.
But then the story takes a left turn when he becomes a cave dwelling hermit. And then the murders...
The end was a total WTF.
It was interesting then got weird.

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K.Wielechowski
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When the computer system is down at work, you get to read and drink tea.

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Ast_Arslan
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have a lot of books.

Day 162th

Join the fun if you want!

#tbrpile

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K.Wielechowski
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I say we throw out “prodigy” and all start using “wunderkind.” Who‘s with me?
(Book translated from German)

julesG Yeah for a translator who used the German loan word. 2y
tpixie Fun! 2y
7 likes2 comments
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WellReadCatLady
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Pickpick

Great book! Grenouille has no odor and has a great sense of smell. He goes from a tanner, to a perfumer, to isolation, and back to create the perfect scent. The way the author captured the pervasiveness of Grenouille's feelings about scents is creepily perfect.

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Ididsoidid
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Pickpick

A very unique and original story, with incredibly rich descriptions. Really well written, there were moments where I thought the choice of words was clumsy but I‘ve put that down to the translation. Even though it gathers pace I found myself a bit impatient towards the end, I suspect the movie spoilt it for me! 7/10

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Nute
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Pickpick

#Two4Tuesday - Any book that you enjoyed that was a book club pick?
Thanks for the tag, Ms Lisa!💕

For a brief wonderful period of time a CHROMOSOME Y participated in my 2nd Tuesday Night Book Club (yeah, I know, not a creative book club name, but at least it reminds us when we are meeting up😆). Anyway “Y” thought that our reading selections needed to go in an entirely new and grittier direction...more like “take no prisoners reading.”👇🏽

Nute This book was the first to lead the way. There was a slight protest. The club was used to sisterhood-friendship & late-bloom self discovery books...more like “Sunday afternoon relaxation reading.” But we were excited to have his full on testosterone-imbibed presence. “OK” came quick. THIS book was the most peculiar of them all. Pure strangeness! Brilliantly written! Undeniably creepy! Morbidly captivating (is that okay?)! Almost hypnotizing!👇🏽 (edited) 3y
Nute A full throttle bizarre examination of the evolution of a downward spiraling lonely mind. Descent to madness. After the shock wore off, I was entranced by this book & the concept of an odorless existence pressing a man into insanity for the sheer desire to imprint a scent upon the world. How often do we take our sensory impressions for granted? Which one supersedes all the others in greater need or value? Poor Grenouille! What do we label him?👇🏽 (edited) 3y
Nute This haunted soul. Where does he belong? He was depraved of something good from the very start of life. He becomes somber and lonely, lost and dejected, sunken and remorseless, cunning and evil. Yet, I was sad for him, because he was simply trying to validate his existence. No, no...it was more like he was trying to find his existence or breathe life into his existence with a created scent... the scent of all scents, the Scent Supreme!👇🏽 (edited) 3y
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Nute The story was disturbing in places. I thanked and rebuked Y for bringing it to our attention. That yin-yang thing. Why “Y”? It was a mind tingling though repulsive read. It was good to be acquainted with you, Mr. Y, and an absolute pleasure to discuss books with you in book club! (edited) 3y
Billypar I love this review. This Y chromosome really wants to be part of an IRL bookclub someday and it puzzles me a little why more with my genotype don't seem to be interested 😅 3y
Nute @Billypar It is a puzzling thing, Vinny. I‘ve contemplated the why-reasons myself. The reading dynamic that was presented to my book club because of his presence was interesting and surprising...possibly needed. It quickly became evident that we were lacking in what was thought to be a very broad perspective. No one had ever voiced the book suggestions that he did. He took us on an amazing journey through his literary lens. 3y
Billypar I love finding books that I wouldn't usually pick up. That's a great thing about book clubs (and Litsy for that matter). 3y
IMASLOWREADER discovered this book by accident and im glad i did such a great read 3y
TheSpineView You're welcome! 😘 3y
PurpleyPumpkin Fantastic review! You captured the essence perfectly. Many years ago (actually decades!😅) when I worked in a bookstore, I came across this book. It wasn‘t selling very well, but it intrigued me. It‘s one of those books that I‘ll never part with and know I‘ll reread at some point. I haven‘t yet partly because I‘m afraid I‘ll be disappointed & won‘t be as amazed by it as I was the first time. But you‘ve reminded me just how good this book is!👍🏽 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Great review! I picked this up years ago and still never read it. If I can find it, I might need to move it up the pile. 3y
Nute @Billypar Agree!💕 3y
Nute @IMASLOWREADER I‘m so happy for the roundabout way that both you and I discovered this book! I‘m not sure that I would have found my way to this book without this kind of accidental third-party exposure.😆 And you‘re right, it was worth it! 3y
Nute @PurpleyPumpkin Thank you! I‘m not sure that I would have found my way to the this book without book club and more than likely not without our one male member. But it seems to have a bigger audience than I believed. It‘s even been adapted to film and it must have been the big screen because the cast includes Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, John Hurt and Dustin Hoffman. Well-known celebrities!👇🏽 3y
Nute @PurpleyPumpkin You bring up an interesting thought, Kimberly, what would it be like to reread this? Would the entire experience be so different that I would wonder about how and why I was so mesmerized the first time? I don‘t often reread books so it will probably never happen, but I will be very interested in your thoughts after your second time around!🙂 3y
Nute @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Thank you! It‘s definitely different, and creepy if your focus remains on Grenouille. A deeper introspection is possible by pondering the attention grabbing curiosity of the power of scent, a universal ultimate scent and the peculiarity of no body scent. I hope that you find your copy so that we can chat!🙂 3y
PurpleyPumpkin I don‘t think I knew about the movie! What a surprise! I‘ll have to look that up, I‘m intrigued. I remember feeling very unsettled but fascinated by this book. And when I first read it, I thought it was really well written. I don‘t often reread either, but I‘ve always thought I‘d make a return visit someday. We‘ll see… 3y
93 likes2 stack adds17 comments
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Whalien99
Pickpick

4 stars

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Andrea4
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Pickpick

This story was not even half of what I expected in the best way possible!
It made me shudder but without being gorey or overly theatrical in the telling of the crimes.
A very interesting concept indeed!
Still by the end I found the telling of it reminiscent to the style of Les Mis :)

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Andrea4
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I'm 15min in and already have the distinctive feel of Les Mis.
I like it.

Tamra I 💜 Suskind! 3y
Andrea4 @Tamra my first but so far I'm super hooked and happy! Maybe I have found another favourite author! 3y
Tamra @Andrea4 he hasn‘t been very prolific, but I‘ve enjoyed everything I could find in English. 3y
29 likes3 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Perfume (Revised) | Patrick Suskind
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The not all love is healthy reading list!

Happy VD 😉

Leftcoastzen 👍👏😂 3y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Macnjen
Perfume (Revised) | Patrick Suskind
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Mehso-so

Disturbing story of a man born into a bad life, who has no odor of himself, becomes obsessed with scent. This unusual story is grim and the writing has tangential bits that lost me at times. His hunt for the perfect scent drives him to disturbing places. Really unusual concept but it did get off track for me a few times. #litsyatozchallenge @BookishMarginalia

25 likes1 stack add
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Macnjen
Perfume (Revised) | Patrick Suskind
Mehso-so

Disturbing story of a man born into a bad life, who has no odor of himself, becomes obsessed with scent. This unusual story is grim and the writing has tangential bits that lost me at times. His hunt for the perfect scent drives him to disturbing places. Really unusual concept but it did get off track for me a few times. #litsyatozchallenge @BookishMarginalia

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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks This gives me my first bingo! 😀

Perfume was definitely not was I was expecting. The writing and descriptions were very well done. At times I found myself a little bored, but then something would happen to pull me back into the dark, gritty world of perfume artistry.

The ending on this one I didn't see coming, but it was a great way to finish it.

TheAromaofBooks Yay bingo!!! 3y
34 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Perfume (Revised) | Patrick Suskind
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Some of my favorites here. Perfume I have read a couple of times, it was one of my first true Literature books and I feel for the creepiness hard. Ishiguro and Ruiz Zafon are 2 of my absolute favorite authors. While Ann Rice brings me back to my teen years and I cannot give her books up.
I normally avoid WWII but the Mitford sisters are so intriguing and I really enjoy Nancy's writing style.
#AlphabetTitles #LetterO & #LetterP

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Amandajoy
Perfume (Revised) | Patrick Suskind
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Here are #3books I did not care for. I remember nothing about The Wedding Season except that I rated it one star on Goodreads about 10 years ago. It‘s my only one star book.

OriginalCyn620 📚👎🏻📚 4y
35 likes1 comment
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TheEllieMo
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All things #aromatic lead to murder!

#SeptemberSenses

Eggs Brilliant 👍🏼👏🏻👍🏼 4y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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conorpunchbook
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What a way to finish a book you love (for the third time) ... “They were uncommonly proud. For the first time they had done something out of Love.”

Leftcoastzen I love this book ! Really stuck with me. 4y
conorpunchbook 🥰 same here @Leftcoastzen (edited) 4y
7 likes2 comments
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conorpunchbook
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Maybe I need to read one book at a time

Leftcoastzen Love Perfume ! Other ones look good too. 4y
Nute Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a warm and friendly community. I know that you will enjoy yourself here. I‘m looking forward to getting to know you!🙂 4y
7 likes2 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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📖Perfume
🖋Richard Powers
🎥Paris,Texas
📺Parenthood
🎸Pretenders
🎤Perfect Day-Lou Reed
#manicmonday #letterP

JoScho Thanks for playing 💜 4y
28 likes1 comment
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stef_inked
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Pickpick

I loved this book. Haunting yet a delight for the senses. I‘m going to listen to the audiobook next.

rather_be_reading welcome to litsy 📚☕📚 #litsywelcomewagon 3y
8 likes1 comment
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sprainedbrain
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Pickpick

I‘m behind with my reviews... I guess I‘ve been busy alternating between disgust and despair with the current state of affairs in this country. 😞

I finished this weird little diversion on Saturday. Full review is on my blog: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2020/06/01/another-1001books-review-perfume-by-patrick...

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This was also my history book for #MandMChallenge2020

#1001books

sprainedbrain Oh and this was my 9th and final #BookSpinBonanza book for May! @TheAromaofBooks 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
98 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LuisaMalvar
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Pickpick

Amazing!

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Emm1
Mehso-so

troublant, long, mais attachant

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

What a fantastical story! We follow the protagonist, who is born with an incredibly superior sense of smell, in his quest for making the most perfect scent in the world...but it takes a dark turn. The writing is very descriptive, the story grim, and that finale! 😨 I find myself still thinking of the story, after finishing it.

#jennyis30 #18thcentury
#ReadingEurope2020 #France

Catherine_Willoughby In progress 4y
BarbaraBB Great choice. I loved this one as well! 4y
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Cathythoughts Great review! Sounds excellent!! It‘s on my TBR 👍🏻❤️ 4y
batsy Nice review 🖤 A book that stays in one's mind... 4y
Librarybelle Oh...I‘ll have to stack this one! 4y
LeeRHarry I read this years ago and it has stayed with me as a 5 star read - loved it! 4y
Kalalalatja Stacked! 4y
88 likes4 stack adds8 comments
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BaroqueBee
Pickpick

A very interesting read. The book is all about a man who has a really good sense of smell but no personal smell of his own. The events that proceed due to this fact come from a dark place but the way that scent and smells are explored in this novel sheds new light on the landscape of the nose. Overall I enjoyed it, but a long read which is why I audiobooked it 😅

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

WTF did I just read???I don‘t want to spill the spoiler beans BUT WHOA... If you enjoy descriptive passages about scents & fragrances, if you adore #18thCentury France, if you were ever attracted to Frankenstein, Arthur Dimmesdale & or Jeffrey Dahmer, then this book will be right in your wheelhouse 😜 It‘s 🍌👖crazzzy ❣️❣️❣️and now I have one box left for #JennyIs30 @jenniferw88

TrishB I‘ve had Perfume on my kindle for a while. Your review has not put it into the must be read category 😂 4y
jenniferw88 Yay! Glad you liked it! And well done... you'll probably be the first to finish! 🎉🎉🎉 4y
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Cinfhen What, @TrishB you don‘t have a secret crush on Frankenstein 🤖🖤😂😘I‘m still trying to process the last 2 hours!!!!! That was insane @jenniferw88 4y
BarbaraBB How so you so it, reading all of Europe and #JennyIs30 in three months?! I am sorry Iceland has to wait until April, I didn‘t know you went this fast! 🧡 4y
Joanne1 This book really is bananas, and pretty darn creepy too. I wasn‘t sure I wanted to keep reading but I also couldn‘t stop. That was years ago and I still remember parts vividly as well as the skin crawling feeling I had when reading it. 4y
TrishB It‘s very secret! 4y
juliegumdrop That ending though! Did you know there‘s a movie? 4y
TheAromaofBooks “Spill the spoiler beans“ just made me so happy haha 4y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘m so curious I have to read it soon! And fantastic job for the challenge, just one more to go! 👍 4y
Crewgurl I am so confused by this description 😂 4y
Cinfhen I can‘t really recommend this book @erzascarletbookgasm but yet I was so drawn into the story @Joanne1 I have not seen the film @juliegumdrop but I‘m curious to see how they recreate certain parts 😉Those “spoiler beans” are too HUGE to spill @TheAromaofBooks @Crewgurl 4y
Cinfhen Lots of my books are #DoubleDip and #TriplePlay @BarbaraBB so they work for multiple challenges plus I have those “extra” 10 hours a day when I‘m not at a paying job 😛small benefit for being unemployed!! And I still have over half of Europe left to read... 4y
BarbaraBB You‘re doing so good and I envy you for all your reading time! One day... 🥰 4y
91 likes14 comments
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Cinfhen
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Shit is getting weird!!!!! And I still have 4 hours left 😳

jenniferw88 🤣🤣🤣 the movie is weirder... 4y
94 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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If anyone is looking for an #ArmchairTravel #ReadingEurope2020 #France or an #18thCentury pick THIS book fits the bill ❤️It‘s so good , I can‘t believe it was written in 1985 and this is the first time I‘m reading it 😲

julesG It's very good. I have read it so often. 4y
Cinfhen Have you read it in both languages @julesG ?? 4y
julesG I've read it in German, of course, and attempted to read it in French. I should give it a try in English. I have a knack for spotting mistranslations. 😬 4y
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Cinfhen The audio is so good @julesG 🎧 4y
jenniferw88 😊❤🎉 4y
kammartinez Have you seen the film version of this? It‘s quite remarkable, visually. 4y
Cinfhen @kammartinez no, I haven‘t but I will look for it after I finish the novel. I‘m sure the colors and sights are stunning as the descriptions are spectacular 4y
kammartinez @Cinfhen The adaptation‘s quite good, so I think you‘ll enjoy it :) 4y
81 likes8 comments
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Cinfhen
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I think I just found my #18thCentury pick for #JennyIs30

jenniferw88 It's a good one! 4y
Cinfhen So far the narration is excellent @jenniferw88 It‘s making me sad 😢 4y
BarbaraBB I loved this one but I admit I read it in the 80s 😉👵🏼 4y
See All 9 Comments
CafeMom An intriguing book with a strange ending. 4y
Cinfhen I‘ve heard this book is sultry @CafeMom I didn‘t realize it was from the 80‘s though!!!!! That‘s cool @BarbaraBB you were reading this in your preschool days 😜😛😘 4y
KarouBlue This book was super creepy! 4y
Cinfhen It is !!!!! @MellieAntoinette but I‘m all in ❤️ 4y
BarbaraBB 😂😘 4y
Cinfhen OMG!!! What did I just read @CafeMom ?!?!?? That ending was bizarre 😱😱😱😱😱 4y
88 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Nomi_Schiano555
Pickpick

Really one of the best books ever

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Messiejessie
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Pickpick

Um..... what did I just read?! 😆 There were parts of this book that I really liked and at other times I was a little bored. And then the ending - Whaaaat??????
The writing was really different. Reading with the main perspective being scent rather sight was really interesting and at times beautiful. But I‘m a bit weirded out now. I don‘t know what to think about this book.

Victoria_Clyne I read this a while ago but that's exactly how I felt, still feel. 4y
10 likes1 comment