Perfume: The story of a murderer - Patrick Suskind

"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."

Hi Everyone, I am sorry I didn't post anything last month but there was a little bit of a family emergency and I had to fly back home, where I didn't have the time or internet to write and post anything. So the next few reviews are from last month as well. 

This book is set in the mid-1700's France and centres around a horrid man who has no redeeming qualities other than the fact that he has likely the most perfect sense of smell in the history of mankind. But he uses this skill for selfish and evil purposes and we get to come along for the story of his life - if you could call it that.

The premise of the story seemed interesting enough, and of course the title tells us that there is going to be murder so that always makes for interesting reading. But I just found it to be extremely boring and tiresome.
The author obviously did his research relating to all things perfume - the methods involved in it's creation - both chemically and artistically - and the importance of it's purpose in that point in history. But he goes overboard with list after exhaustive list of ingredients or steps within a process or varieties to be found. He can't help but describe every minute detail, not just of perfume, but of the landscape or the people. I love descriptive writing - I truly do - but I do also like to have an exciting plot to keep me involved. By the time he finished describing a scene I forgot why we were there.

I found that a book that put so much emphasis on the sensual aspect of itself in the blurb really let me down. Until the second last scene of the book there really isn't anything untoward. Grenouille's attraction to the women is purely olfactory and his perversion is hardly touched on or explored.  

Furthermore, it takes forever to reach the part of the book where Jean-Baptiste actually starts to murder people because there’s a huge, useless portion of the book dedicated to 10 years of his life when he goes into hiding in a mountain. Also, there is no climax, unless you count the execution/orgy scene which I thought was the stupidest scene ever. 

I did enjoy the feeling of repulsion and disgust with humanity that was convayed. I love books that get under your skin. The last scene was also stellar. Horrific, grotesque yet strangely fitting. 

Overall not worth the hype. Age restriction 14+. Has some adult themes and scenes.