Perfume. I don't GET it!

[expatinscotland]

Everyone raved about this.

So I read it.

In a day.

And it left me.

Cold.

I found it really Tuetonic.

Is this one of those that's supposed to hit you a few days after you've read it?

I just thought, 'So?'

I just read 'Silk' and was blown away, OTOH.

I wouldn't list it as one of my favourites but I did enjoy it, smells being so evocative of emotions and places. Also found the main character (can't remember his name, it's been a while, keep thinking Granville but that was Open all Hours ) was creepy right from babyhood.

He was Grenouille. Frog.

I did like the smell descriptions.

But on the whole it was so Teutonic I found it empty.

I think I'm going to sell my copy.

I feel so let down.

Ah that's it, Grenouille. I would agree with you about the empty feeling but I felt this fitted well with Grenouille's character, cold, unfeeling etc. There is something about the book that has stayed with me.

I was thinking that, MrsS, that's why I asked if it were one of those that hits you a couple of days later.

Some do.

I'll chew over it.

Silk now. WOW! I wonder how beautiful that one is in its original language.

"I think I'm going to sell my copy." - LOL that'll teach them!

I've sold my copy already, although I'm not one for keeping books, very rarely re-read. On the otherhand I do have a bookcase full of books waiting to be read.

Off to look at Silk on Amazon (not that I need any more books, the situation is getting desperate! ).

I re-read. Or I keep ones that have clung to me.

I'm a reader, though.

I give away loads, but I usually pick them up in charity shops.

Have never heard of Perfume.Will probably avoid it now.
I can't part with books that I have enjoyed,but will give away those crap ones easily

Reading the reviews of Silk I was reminded of another book where a girl puts silk worms in a box and takes them away with her somewhere, not a lot of go on I know, does it ring any bells with you?

Hmmm. Let me think, Mrs.

The language in Silk is what makes it stand out.

Like the feeling of longing in Cold Mountain - the feeling of coal embers, of a banked fire.

Beginging to think it could have been Memoirs of a Geisha.

I loved Memoirs! That was a great book. MUCH better than Perfume, IMO. Although maybe I am being unfair. I just finished it today. Should give it time to sit. The way you would do w/perfume.

Memoirs of a Geisha was fantastic, it makes it into my top 5.

K, it's sort of getting to me now, MrsS.

'Perfume'. Yep, I'm getting there.

I agree, not in my top 5, but not utter kack at all.

You're making me want to read Cold Mountain, I've had it sitting there for years.

You need to be in the right frame of mind for that one, too, MrsS. B/c if you are, you can almost feel the yearning of Inman. It's pulling the way an undertow is, how you don't really perceive it.

Its been a while since I last read it, but I adored Perfume. It reminded me of something written by Hugo or Zola and I found the whole scent thing totally enthralling - They've just filmed it (I would have thought it was unfilmable tbh) Its got Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman in it. My Dad saw it in France last week and raves about it.

I found Perfume rather sinister and threatening. Didn't enjoy it really. It's a while since I read it, probably about 2 years. I seem to recall it had a pretty horrible ending?

I'm getting there.

It's like spillage. It radiates out and stays w/you so that later on you think about it.

He had no smell. He went against nature. It's about the nature of people, too.

Yes, I'm getting there.

expat, now i need to read it!
do you still want to sell?

Message withdrawn

Pruni - had the Debt to Pleasure for my birthday this year - had been meaning to read it for ages, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

No, I love it, Pruni.

It's very Gothic, isn't it. Guess I wasn't expecting that as it's not so common these days.