Perfume

So I decided to give Süskind's The Perfume a chance. So far, the experience is uneven. Most of the characters up to now seem flat and one-dimensional, with the possible exception of Grenouille himself. But even he is more of a caricature, a variation of Quasimodo if you will, than a real human being.

Why haven't I given up on it? Because, despite its flaws, it's actually a fairly entertaining read. I'm hard pressed to find out why this book was so hyped, especially during the 80s. But, from an entertainment point of view, there are worse efforts out there.

I believe the main problem with the book is also its main asset: the character of Grenouille is both fascinating and dissapointing, which could also sum up this book in its entirety. It won't get anywhere near my top 100 favorite books, but I won't regret devoting my time to it either. Considering its age, the narrative still feels fairly fresh. The book has aged much better than I had imagined.