Review from a Transgressive Fiction Fan
I had a heck of a time thinking who I’d recommend this to. It won a Fantasy award, yet I can’t call it Fantasy. It’s set in a bygone period, but it doesn’t play with history, so it’s not Historical Fiction. It’s about a murder, yet it’s not terrifying like Horror, nor is it a mystery. It’s just the story of a peculiar boy who became a dangerous and most interesting man. He was born without an odor, you see, and lacking that part of identity, became obsessed with smell. That identity crisis triggers philosophical, religious and morbid chords in the book, yet none dominate. If anything, a dark curiosity dominates it. The book has a slightly menacing monotone about it that is almost hypnotic, and lays a surreal lens over the brilliant and crisp descriptions Suskind provides for his world. It’s an angry, dangerous little book that baffled literary critics and inspired Nirvana. Read it and label it for yourself.
“Insightful” Review from a Mainstream Reader
I’m not even sure I want to review this. I can honestly say that I hate this book. I freaking hate this book. And I never say stuff like that. This was the worst, most disturbing thing I have ever read and the only thing I want to do now is get rid of this it and never see it, or even think about it again.
Can someone please tell me what the hell is so great about this?