Friday, June 1, 2007

26. Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Here's a bit of trivia for you - this was one of Kurt Cobain's favourite books. He even wrote a song about it :)

This is a really interesting book, set in France in the 18th century. It follows serial murderer, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille through his murder spree. Grenouille has a peculiar trait in that he has no personal scent and this, as a child, alienates him from others and warps his perception of the world. He becomes obsessed with capturing the perfect scent, murdering 25 girls along the way.

Sounds very gruesome and it is at times, but it's also beautifully written. The imagery usage is stunning and the character draws you in. It's one of those novels that stays with you for days and affects your perception of the world for a little while.

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