Sometimes in life we come across something, whether it be an image, a song or a book, that stays with us for the rest of our life. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind is one of those. It is one of the most extraordinary stories I've ever read.
The purpose of storytelling is to tell stories in a way that inspire, that is thought provoking or that pushes us to see beyond our own comfortable existence and reflect on the purpose of our life's journey.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, a Novel by Patrick Suskind
Many years ago, I stumbled upon #Perfume at my good friend's home and decided to give it a try. Needless to say it was difficult to put down, the ultimate page turner. I remember being drawn by the stunning imagery the author describes throughout the book, the sense of smell evaporating from the pages as if transported to a lavender field or other scented landscape enjoyed, studied and stored away by the Jean-Batiste Grenouille, the main character.
The Premise
Perfume is based on the premise that each one of us is born with a specific purpose and we spend our life trying to determine what that purpose is. It can be so extraordinary that we can not rest without acting on that it and sharing it with other. On the other hand, what if that purpose is deviant and pushes us to do despicable things? That's exactly what happens in Perfume.
The Story
“ He was born with an extraordinary sense of smell”
Perfume tells the story of Jean-Batiste Grenouille, a young man that has had to face challenges his whole life. He was rejected at birth by his mother and spent his life mostly fending for himself. He was born with an extraordinary sense of smell. He can smell anything. He eventually learns how to categorize the different scents he encounters until one day he experience the most magical one that takes over his sense of logic. This leads him to the pursuit of that perfect scent that will eventually transform him into the most dangerous murderer of France.
The Inspiration
After reading Perfume, I felt inspired to find my own purpose in this world and share it with others. It has taken some time, but here we are. I've always wanted to tell stories that inspire other to live their life to the fullest through positivity, enjoying the little things, and taking time to breathe and smell the roses. This book also spiked in me the love of perfume, which is a major part of this platform.
The Film
Perfume was made into a film a few years ago and I just couldn't wait to see it and compare it to the book. I was not disappointed. The film tells the story accurately with excellent acting and a stunning cinematography.
Photography by Zanou Nelie
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