Welcome to Litsy!

Perfume is distinctly unsettling in the way that it sets up the story as the hardscrabble life of a gifted kid, worthy of any Dickensian novel, only to have him devolve into a particularly abhorrent villain. As readers, we‘re very familiar with seeing these characters overcome their hard-knock circumstances to “make good” – Jean-Baptiste does not do that. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/perfume-patrick-suskind/

I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it (some I‘ve had so long I don‘t even remember why!). Feel free to join in!

#ABookADay2024

People are not meant to all like the same book.

This was a disturbing story. I was fascinated throughout the first part as Grenouille learned all about scents (and horrified by one scene), then a bit lost by the hermit in the hills portion, and again intrigued by the next section. Then things got crazy! I have no words for the ending, but I was completely engaged in listening.

📷: Happy beagle photo to balance out the creepy murders in this story.

#1001books #audiobook #TBRTakedown April 2024

Starting this next 🎧

#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.

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.

“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

Just received my next read from the most amazing woman I ever met. I Love You, Meine Frau

@dabbe #tlt

1. Orange
2. Vanilla
3. Smokey/campfire

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

Still in my physical TBR since 2009... it is time for it to be (finally) read!

#Scarathlon2022 @StayCurious
#ScarathlonDailyPrompt
#Story

Day 23

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.

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

Audiobook

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

#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.”👇🏽

4 stars

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 :)

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

The not all love is healthy reading list!

Happy VD 😉

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

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

#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.

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

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.

All things #aromatic lead to murder!

#SeptemberSenses

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.”

Maybe I need to read one book at a time

📖Perfume
🖋Richard Powers
🎥Paris,Texas
📺Parenthood
🎸Pretenders
🎤Perfect Day-Lou Reed
#manicmonday #letterP

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

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

Amazing!

troublant, long, mais attachant

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

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 😅

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

Shit is getting weird!!!!! And I still have 4 hours left 😳

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 😲