The Perfume Collector

by Kathleen Tessaro

A remarkable novel about secrets, desire, memory, passion, and possibility.

Newlywed Grace Monroe doesn’t fit anyone’s expectations of a successful 1950s London socialite, least of all her own. When she receives an unexpected inheritance from a complete stranger, Madame Eva d’Orsey, Grace is drawn to uncover the identity of her mysterious benefactor.

Weaving through the decades, from 1920s New York to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London, the story Grace uncovers is that of an extraordinary women who inspired one of Paris’s greatest perfumers. Immortalized in three evocative perfumes, Eva d’Orsey’s history will transform Grace’s life forever, forcing her to choose between the woman she is expected to be and the person she really is.

The Perfume Collector explores the complex and obsessive love between muse and artist, and the tremendous power of memory and scent.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Historical, Romance, France, Mystery

456 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2013

About the author

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kathleen attended the University of Pittsburgh before entering the drama program of Carnegie Mellon University. In the middle of her sophomore year, she went to study in London for three months and stayed for the next twenty-three years. She began writing at the suggestion of a friend and was an early member of the Wimpole Street Writer’s Workshop. Her debut novel, Elegance, became a bestseller in hardback and paperback. All of Kathleen's novels (Elegance, Innocence, The Flirt, The Debutante, The Perfume Collector, and Rare Objects) have been translated into many languages and sold all over the world. She returned to Pittsburgh in 2009, where she now lives with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously loved this book. I only have one complaint that I will share at the end, which is a spoiler, so beware....

Grace, Eva, Monsieur Thissot, Mr. Lambert, Rita, Valmont, Madame Zed, Madame Hiver, and the rest of the characters in this book are eclectic, strange, maniacal, subdued, eccentric, and at times, plain crazy. Each one of them added to the overall character and life of this book. Add to the characters a unique and quirky story involving the smells of our lives and the life of a perfumer, and you have the recipe for an amazing book.

I especially love books where I can learn a little while reading. I love books where the author has had to do her (or his) research into the time period, or technical issues pertaining to a book. I loved this twist of perfumes-- of how one smell or a combination of smells can take you back to a place in time, a moment, an hour, a day. I loved how this story was slowly revealed to the reader from two time periods. I felt my mind wandering ahead trying to figure out the connections, like a child's dot-to-dot picture. Of course, I guessed how Eva was related to Grace, long before Grace figured it out, but how their lives became intertwined and how and why Eva did what she did, took more time.

I wanted to be Grace trying oysters for the first time. I wanted those bottles of perfume in front of me so I could smell the scents. Maybe this book was particularly interesting because I am living in the Middle East and I see oud shops and perfumers all over the place. They will concoct your own special blend of myrrh and frankincense and oud to burn in your home. Maybe it is just a world that I took for granted, but I loved the whole thing!! I will think twice the next time I smell something particularly unpleasant or odd because of this book.

Except this: SPOILER At the end, I wanted more!!!!! I wanted to see Grace in a year's time. I wanted to know what she had been up to, what she had done with the family jewels, with her own life and her mind. She was not a woman to be content to sit in her lavish apartment, biding her time. Her brain was too active for that. So, what then? Was she happy? We see the book leaning to that direction, but I really wanted an epilogue!!! I really did!!!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in both pre and post World War II, the story follows one woman's journey through a very eventful life, which ultimately affects another's by leaving her a small fortune plus a beautiful apartment in Paris. It’s a story of love, loss, and mystery, but above all it takes us into the seductive world of perfumers. These perfumes though are special, creating not just a beautiful odour, but also creating bespoke fragrances with specific memories. It's a well told story that is saturated with this interconnecting perfume theme, and you can almost drown yourself in it's beauty, very enjoyable. Now excuse me while I dash off to my nearest perfumery!!

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eva's story was interesting; Grace's story left me yawning.
But the worst part about this book was the absolutely horrible editing job. Someone at Harper Collins got paid a great deal of money to go drinking when he/she should have been proofreading. I have seen fewer grammatical and word usage errors in an advanced reader copy. It was distracting and infuriating.
I am mentally composing my letter to Harper Collins in which I offer my services as a copy editor. They need me.

[Always Pouting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grace Monroe receives an inheritance unexpectedly from someone named Eva living in France who she does not know. Grace takes a trip to France to figure out who Eva is and work out certain personal issues in her marriage. It's a short and easy read and has a interesting plot line. A lot of it was pretty predictable and the plot is a little all over the place. Not the next great american novel but it's a good read for when you just want to relax and not think too hard, when you need one of those feel good books where the protagonist figures it all out.

[Dem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro was an intriguing and compelling read with a lovely air of mystery about it that really kept me interested.

I listened this this book and while I am not a fan of audio books I really enjoyed the narrator of this book as she really added greatly to the overall enjoyment of the story.
I surprised myself at how much I enjoyed this novel as I would never have picked up this book had I not come across it as a monthly group read on Goodreads. The blurb and the cover of the novel would not have drawn me to this book.
I am so glad I got the chance to read this as I really enjoyed the experience.

I love the old fashioned storytelling and the intrigue and suspense created by the author and while I had guessed the outcome of the story quite early on it never took from the enjoyment of the novel. I really got a great sense of time and place from this story and every time I put on my headphones I was transported back to 1920s and 1950s Paris and New York. I loved the romantic feel of this novel without the romance if that makes sense. I loved the easy flow of the story. The characters are very well written, interesting and believable.

I loved the ending of the story and congratulate the author for giving the reader a chance to use their imagination.

A great old fashioned story and a very easy and enjoyable read.

[Behin · Rating 5 out of 5]

حقیقتا خیلی خوشم اومد، دروغ چرا؟کلی مشکل داشت اون وسطاش ولی مهم اینه حس خیلی خوبی بهم داد و واقعا خوشم اومد، یکی از دلایلی که واقعا ازش خوشم اومد:حسن ختام🗿
این کتاب، یه کتابِ فوق دخترانه بود، خیلی خوب بود، روایت موازی داشت و در آخر به بهترین شکل داستانِ اوا و گریس رو بهم متصل کرد، خیلی خوب این کارو کرد، خیلی قشنگ بود خیلی قشنگ بود خیلی قشنگ بود خیلی قشنگ بود.........
خیلی حس خوبی داشت، خیلی خوب، بعضی جاها دلم خواست گریه کنم باهاش🥲
(انقد خوب بود که نشستم تیکه ی آخرو پشت سر هم خوندم، همش میگفتم بهتره برم بخوابم ولی این زیادی جذابه، و منو تا ساعت ۴ شب بیدار گذاشت🥲)

[Peiman · Rating 3 out of 5]

کلکسیونر عطر برای اولین بار در سال ۲۰۱۳ منتشر شده اما فضای کتاب بسیار شبیه به داستان‌های کلاسیکه با این تفاوت که در دو خط زمانی متفاوت به صورت موازی نقل شده. یکی داستان گریس در حدود سال ۱۹۵۵ که به طور غیر منتظره صاحب یک ارثیه میشه از کسی که نمی‌شناسه و داستان دوم چیزی نزدیک به سی سال قبل‌تر و داستان اوا دورسی که زندگی سخت و پر ماجرایی داره. داستان جذابه و کشش خوبی داره، خسته کننده نیست، نقطه‌ی ابهام خاصی نداره و به نظرم برای علاقمندان به کتاب‌های کلاسیک شیرینی خاصی داشته باشه.ه

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When offered a review copy of The Perfume Collector, I did the same thing I always do first: checked out the Goodreads page to see how the early reviews had fallen. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response, I accepted, despite my crowded review schedule. I'm quite glad I did, as Tessaro's novel is a marvelous read, full of beautiful language and eccentric characters. Set in the post-WWII, Kathleen Tessaro's novel The Perfume Collector is a contemplative tale of one woman's journey to make amends and another woman's journey to find herself.

Grace Munroe lives a rather dull life in the upper crust. She doesn't much care about shopping or parties, preferring intellectual pursuits, and feels a bit lost. Her unease only increases with the suspicion that her husband, Roger, has been conducting an affair. Unsure how to react, she stalls for time, traveling to France to follow up on a mysterious and well-timed missive, informing her of her inheritance from one Eva d'Orsey. What's puzzling is that this Eva is completely unknown to Grace.

The overall plot is, to my mind, entirely predictable. The connection between Grace and Eva is, I think, obvious. There was no shocking reveal or mind-blowing twist. However, I do not see that as a bad thing. Even though the destination is clear, The Perfume Collector is much more about Grace's own mental journey, coming into her own, coming of age, even if she is over thirty, discovering independence for the first time in her life.

Tessaro alternates between Grace's timeline in 1954 and Eva's timeline from the 1920s until her death, slowly weaving them together until all is known. This narrative device is frequently used in historical fiction, but often one of the timelines is much more interesting the other, leaving the reader bored and impatient during the other. Thankfully, in The Perfume Collector, I found both Eva and Grace fascinating in entirely different ways. Though the pace is rather slow, it never flagged, and I was fully engaged throughout.

The characters are well-drawn and all bursting with personality. Grace really does open up in front of the reader's eyes, letting more and more of her true self shine through. I also loved Grace's interactions with her best friend, Mallory, and that, through everything, Mallory was there for her. I rather expected Mallory's character to turn out to be shallow and unreliable, because she's much more into the social scene than Grace, and fiction does that sort of thing, but, no, their friendship is real and delightful. The lawyer, Tissot, too, is a friendly, joking fellow, and probably my personal favorite.

In Eva's sections, the people are brasher, darker, and less likable, but also more compelling. As a young girl, Eva works at a high class hotel in New York City, cleaning up after illustrious and daring personages. She becomes involved with some of these people, and sets her life on a dangerous, exciting course. Grace may live a life of quiet desperation, but Eva's desperation is anything but calm and reserved.

Kathleen Tessaro's The Perfume Collector is a beautiful historical novel about one woman's awakening. Readers who appreciate historical fiction with a focus on women will want to give this one a look.

[Shaghayegh · Rating 5 out of 5]

هرچقدر از دلنشینی این کتاب بگم کم گفتم 🥺

[EMMA · Rating 2 out of 5]

خیلی آبکی و زرد بود! فقط واسه این خوندم که یه کتاب میخواستم عاری از پیچیدگی باشه و فقط یه چیزی واسه خوندن داشته باشم.

[Mohammad Hanifeh · Rating 1 out of 5]

اگر مجبور نبودم، هیچ‌وقت کتابی از انتشارات کوله‌پشتی نمی‌خوندم. بس که ترجمه‌هاشون افتضاحه.
کتاب‌های خوب رو هم نابود می‌کنن؛ چه برسه به این‌که کتابه خودش هم حرفی برای گفتن نداشته باشه.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Grace Monroe receives a letter from a Paris solicitor, she is perplexed to learn that a complete stranger has named her a recipient of a sizeable inheritance. Motivated by curiosity and the need to distance herself from a troubled marriage and a pretentious social circle, Grace wants to know more about the mysterious Eva and sets off for Paris. Relying on the help of the handsome French solicitor and an aging Russian aristocrat, Grace's quest to find the answers might shatter the life that she has built for herself. Alternate chapters are set in the late 1920's and give readers the necessary details about Eva's back story.

Since there are so many similar books in the publishing world written by authors like Kate Morton, Pam Jenoff, and Kimberly Freeman, it doesn't take a great amount of detective work to figure out how the two women are connected. It is a fast paced plot, but around the 67% mark I started checking my phone and other things. That's why I will go with 3 stars for this one.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a Lifetime Movie masquerading as a novel. The characters are woefully underdeveloped and the "mystery" paper thin and obvious almost immediately.

Eva, who dies young at the age of 43 in 1955 in Paris, leaves her entire inheritance (a sizable one) to 27-year-old Grace. Grace flies from London to Paris to meet with a solicitor regarding the inheritance and tries to figure out who Eva was and why Eva would leave her not only an apartment but also stocks and a few other trinkets.

The book alternates between Eva's life, set mostly in the late-1920s with Eva working as a chambermaid in an upscale New York hotel catering to the discreet needs of the rich and sort of famous, and Grace, unhappily married to philandering Roger, in mid-1950s London.

The chronology of events alone makes it very easy to figure out the relationship between the two woman, and Tessaro drops very obvious, LOOK HERE! clues all over the narrative. She also has an odd habit of switching points of view in the middle of a page, so as we're talking about one character, we'll get their immediate reaction to another character, and so on. This is unsettling, especially because it's not done well. Tessaro's not a particularly skilled writer; her prose is clunky and obvious, with a lot of telling vs. showing.

The ending wraps up everything in a neat package, with the mystery solved and Grace leaving her husband for the hot French lawyer; remarkably, there is no discussion of a divorce or splitting of assets, just her saying, "I'm not coming with you." Huh, wish life were that easy! Grace's change of heart feels unearned, and the book withers away with more of whimper than a bang.

Perfume is only an aside here, unfortunately. We get bits and pieces about scents and perfume recipes, but it's mostly perfunctory. The description of this book drew me in, but the novel most definitely did not deliver.

[Bahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب کلکسیونر عطر فضایی زنانه دارد، کتابی که دوست نداری زمین بگذاری و داستان پرکشش اش تو را وا می‌دارد که پشت سر هم برای ساعت ها خواندنش را ادامه دهی. برای من مطالعه این کتاب تجربه ای مثل فیلم دیدن داشت، شاید به خاطر توصیفات دقیق میشد داستان را مثل یک فیلم ۱۲۰ دقیقه ای درست و حسابی جلوی چشمت بیاوری. داستانی با الگوی روایت موازی،و افشای تدریجی که اطلاعات جالبی هم در اختیار مخاطب قرار می‌داد، برای مثال اینکه عطر ها آنقدر دنیای پیچیده ای برای خودشان دارند و مثل نت های موسیقی در موردشان گفته شده بود.

[Britany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris, London, New York, Monaco...

This novel takes you across oceans to take you on its journey. Grace Munroe receives a strange, unexpected inheritance from Eva d'Orsey, a woman who lived in Paris, and who Grace has absolutely no memory of.

She decides to fly to Paris to see what the claim is about and frankly to be sure that they have the "right" Grace Munroe. What she discovers is a lost story that will forever impact her life. She discovers flavorful food, perfect scenery, and how powerful a scent can be.

Kathleen Tessaro weaves a beautiful tale, masterfully taking the reader back and forth in alternating chapters. While sometimes this tactic can be hard to follow, she executes it seamlessly, and the effect is unforgettable to the story. I was lingering on at the end of every chapter, desperate to find out how the story would continue on...

The ending, for me is where I felt I wanted more. I savored every word, and the ending was a little abrupt for my taste. I enjoyed this book immensely and would give it 4.5 stars if I could.

[مَـهْ‌‌شـیـٖد · Rating 5 out of 5]

قریب یک ساله که بارها و بارها تلاش های ناموفقی برای خوندن این کتاب داشتم و تقریبا مطمئن بودم دیگه نمی‌تونم شانسی بهش بدم و باید برای همیشه بذارمش کنار.
تا اینکه چند روز پیش یک پلی لیست زیبا از دهه ۵۰ میلادی پیدا کردم و نمی‌دونم چطور شد که وسط خانه تکانی های مامان و صدای موسیقی‌ای از دل شب‌های پاریس نشستم و بلاخره این کتاب رو خوندم.
یکباره مجذوبش شدم و روند آهسته‌ش رو بسیار دوست داشتم. پلات خاصی درکار نبود، نه حتی پیچش داستانی. هیچ.
اما احساسات جالبی رو در من به وجود آورد، خوندن آزادی و استقلال گریس در پاریس به قدری برام لذت‌بخش بود که تمام مدت لبخند می‌زدم و آرزو می‌کردم من هم در یکی از این شب های پر ستاره همراهش بودم.

(نکته داستان: پول خوشبختی میاره. شما وقتی پولدارید می‌تونید به فرانسه سفر کنید عطرهای گرون قیمت و لباس های برند بخرید و با یک مرد فرانسوی اهل علم و فلسفه معاشرت کنید و عاشق بشید تازه میتونید هر روز کروسان و قهوه به دست به کتابفروشی شکسپیر و شرکا هم سر بزنید و کتاب بخرید. پول واقعا مهمه دوستان.)

پ.ن : از اونجا که اکثر ریویو ها از ترجمه شکایت داشتن، من ترجمه آقای امیرعلی فتح‌الهی رو از نشر نیک فرجام خوندم و بسیار روان و خوب بود‌.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro is a easy read book with dual timelines. One time line about Ava before WW2 and Grace after WW2.

Eva has a difficult life that is often in turmoil. She has a way of finding people to help her by using her. She eventually finds what she is good at. Scents and notes using her sense of smell.

Meanwhile, Grace, is a socialite who is in a toxic marriage. She catches her husband in an affair and finds out she was left a small fortune. She took some tome to figure out the mysteries of her life.

[☮Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book club read #32 - August 2020.

3.5 stars.

I had a lot of mixed feelings during this story. I didn't like the opening chapters, then I fell absolutely in love with the whole idea of it, then it felt predictable but I was happy there was a slight twist on that front, and finally the ending fell a tad flat. I think it could have been edited down to a shorter version, and all the plot points didn't necessarily have to be so neatly tied up. But I am glad I finally read this after putting it off for years, and the process of making scents and perfumes was extremely interesting to me. It sounds like I didn't like this book at all, but actually I did!

[Farnaz Farid · Rating 4 out of 5]

اگه دنبال هیجان و ریتم تند هستید دنبال این کتاب نرید!
اما اگه دوست دارین یه کتاب دلنشین و آروم و شیرین بخونید انتخاب درستی کردین
داستان بینهایت شیرین و دوست داشتنیه
و در سالهای متفاوتی اتفاق می افته
ما با گریس آشنا میشیم که توو لندن زندگی می کنه و از خانواده ی سرشناسی هست و ازدواح به ظاهر موفقی داشته
یه روز با یه نامه زندگیش عوض میشه اون به پاریس پرواز می کنه و می فهمه کسی به نام اوا براش ارثیه ی زیادی باقی گذاشته
زنی که اون حتی اسمش رو هم نشنیده
گریس تلاش می کنه این زن رو بشناسه و با حقیقتی رو به رو میشه که زندگیش رو عوض می کنه
و گریس سر دو راهی بزرگی قرار میگیره ...
من کتاب رو صوتی گوش کردم
ترجمه خوب بود
گوینده هم خوب بود
امتیازم ۴

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok for me. While I thought the storyline interesting, the connection between Eva and Grace was pretty predictable early on, and the descriptive detail of perfume making was a bit much sometimes. Despite all the typo's, still not a bad read.

[Maryam Bahrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book I read offers a new perspective. In this post, I share my thoughts on this book in both Persian and English hope this will be enjoyable for you :)

هر کتابی که می خوانم دریچه ای به دنیای جدید است . تو این نوشته دیدگاه و تجربه ام از مطالعه ی این کتاب رو به دو زبان فارسی و انگلیسی با شما به اشتراک می ذارم امیدوارم خوندنش براتون لذتبخش باشه :)

Persian (فارسی)

دهه ی ۱۹۵۰ میلادی، دوره ای از گذار و دگرگونی، نوآوری و باز تعریف جایگاه زنان بعد از جنگ جهانی دوم بود. در عین حال که جامعه هنوز ، زیر سایه ی عرف ها و ساختارهای ریشه دار گذشته جولان می داد، صدای تغییر و استقلال روز به روز بلندتر طنین انداز می شد. از دل این پس زمینه با تحولات فرهنگی و اجتماعی ، "کلکسیونر عطر " داستانی به گونه ای هنرمندانه روایت شده از سرگذشت زنانیست که در تقاطع رازهای نهفته، عشق و کشمکش های هویتی مسیر زندگی شان را دوباره جهتی تازه می بخشند.

نویسنده با نبوغ خلاقانه اش، این نوشته و اثر خود را به فضایی سرشار از ظرافت های زندگی در پاریس و لندن آن دوره پیوند می دهد؛ دو شهری که نه تنها مراکز پر شکوه مد و فشن و تجلی سبک و هنر بودند بلکه هر یک به نوعی بازتاب‌دهنده‌ی تعاملات انسانی پیچیده و کشمکش‌های ظریف شخصیتی در کتاب نیز هستند.روایتی که لایه‌های مختلفی از روابط، پیچیدگی‌های اجتماعی و دغدغه‌های وجودی را در قالب شخصیت‌هایی که عطر به‌عنوان نشانی از هویت،خاطره و احساس در زندگی‌شان نقش محوری ایفا می‌کند، به تصویر می‌کشد. هر رایحه‌ای که در این کتاب معرفی می‌شود، همچون نشانی از سفرهای شخصی و عاطفی از شخصیت‌هاست؛ از گمگشتگی‌ های درونی گرفته تا بازیابی مجدد مسیر زندگی. همین بُعد حسی باعث می‌شود خواننده بتواند با جان و دل تجربه‌های شخصیت‌ها را لمس کند، گویی که خود در این مسیر همراه آنان است.

در میان پیچیدگی‌های این داستان، هنر و زیبایی‌شناسی حضوری خاموش اما تاثیرگذار دارند؛ آنچه شخصیت‌ها را به شیوه‌ای ناآگاهانه به هم متصل می‌کند. عطرها، لباس‌ها، و حتی فضاهای اطرافشان، همگی به‌عنوان جلوه‌هایی از روح زمانه، نمادی از آرزوها و سرگذشت‌های شخصی‌شان ظاهر می‌شوند. کتلین تسارو، در لابه‌لای کلماتش، چنان تصویری از این عناصر به نمایش می‌گذارد که خواننده را به بازنگری درباره ارزش زیبایی در میان تضادهای زندگی دعوت می‌کند.

"کلکسیونر عطر" تنها یک داستان نیست؛ بلکه سفری است که خواننده را در مسیرهایی ناشناخته همراه می‌کند، به کاوش در ابعاد پیچیده‌ی انسانیت می‌پردازد و رازهای نهفته‌ی زندگی را با ظرافتی بی‌نظیر آشکار می‌سازد. این اثر، همچون رایحه‌ای که در هوا پراکنده شده و جای پای عاطفه‌ها و خاطرات را برای همیشه بر جا می‌گذارد، تا مدت‌ها پس از پایان کتاب در ذهن خواننده طنین‌انداز است. تجربه‌ای است که نه تنها به عمق داستان، بلکه به عمق وجود انسان نفوذ می‌کند، و الهامی را به همراه دارد که با هر بازخوانی، جلوه ای نو به خود می گیرد.

پ ن: انقدر راحت بودن ادبی نوشتن برام ملموس شده که تصمیم گرفتم از این به بعد بسته به کتاب و دیدگاهم و ایده ای که برای گفتن ازش دارم بیشتر این سبکی بنویسم :)) ♡


English (انگلیسی)


The 1950s were a period of transition and transformation, innovation, and the redefinition of women's roles after World War II. While society still operated under the shadow of deeply rooted traditions and structures of the past, the voice of change and independence grew louder each day. Against this backdrop of cultural and social shifts, "The Perfume Collector" tells an artistically woven tale of women whose lives, intersecting with hidden secrets, love, and identity struggles, take a new direction.

Through her creative brilliance, the author connects this story to the elegance of life in Paris and London during that era—two cities not only renowned as magnificent centers of fashion and style but also reflective of the intricate human interactions and delicate personality struggles depicted in the book. The narrative explores layers of relationships, social complexities, and existential concerns through characters whose lives are intricately intertwined with perfume, a symbol of identity, memory, and emotion. Each fragrance introduced in the book acts as a marker for the characters' personal and emotional journeys—ranging from inner turmoil to rediscovering life's path. This sensory dimension allows readers to deeply connect with the characters' experiences as if they were accompanying them on their journey.

Amid the complexities of the story, art, and aesthetics emerge as silent yet impactful elements that unconsciously link the characters. Perfumes, clothing, and even surrounding spaces appear as expressions of the era's spirit, embodying aspirations and personal histories. Kathleen Tessaro, in her prose, crafts such vivid imagery of these elements that she invites readers to reconsider the value of beauty amidst life's contradictions.

"The Perfume Collector" is not merely a story; it is an experience that takes readers along uncharted paths, delving into the intricate facets of humanity and revealing life's hidden secrets with unparalleled elegance. Much like a fragrance lingering in the air, leaving traces of emotions and memories behind, the impact of this book resonates with readers long after finishing it. It is an experience that penetrates not only the depth of the story but also the depths of human existence, offering inspiration that unveils new dimensions with each re-reading.

[Blondish And Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! I love books with stories within stories, and The Perfume Collector delivers in spades.

The “outside” story is of Grace Munroe and set in 1955. Newly married socialite Grace has just discovered proof that her husband is having an affair, when she receives a letter informing her that she is the main beneficiary in the will of Eva d'Orsey, and needs to come to Paris to claim her inheritance.

Except, that Grace has never even heard of Eva d'Orsey.

Figuring out who this mysterious woman is, and why in the world she has left Grace a luxury apartment and a portfolio of stocks is what blends the two stories together.

Grace's marriage appears to be loveless, she doesn't seem to have confidence or know who she is. So I really liked the slow build up of Grace's power. Being in Paris, experiencing new things, the attentions of the Paris attorney, who appears to like everything about her—all of this was a delight to read.

I loved the detective work to find out who Eva was. The book alternates chapters between Eva's life, mostly in the late 1920's and early 1930's, and Grace in the present (present being 1955 in this book). I thought of Eva's life as the “inside” story, the pearl in the oyster. Eva starts as a maid in an expensive and snooty hotel that caters to the rich, the glamorous, the famous and the infamous. She is not supposed to have any interactions with the guests, but she becomes involved with several of them, and this determines the rest of her life.

Eva discovers she has a talent for math and for card games, and she is eventually taken in by an alcoholic gambler, who both uses her and saves her. Other guests who change Eva's life are Madame Zed, a perfumer, and her protege Valmont. Valmont becomes determined to create a perfume suitable for Eva (he is obsessed with her smell) and in doing so finds that she is gifted with the ability to make iconic and unique scents. He becomes another who both saves and uses Eva.

The themes about the perfumes were fascinating. I feel like I learned about what goes into making a scent, and the different levels and layers and top notes. I loved how there were key perfumes created at different times that became integral parts of the story.

This is one of those books that was so good, whenever I was doing something else I kept thinking about the book, and anticipating when I would get to read more: “I'll work for one more hour then I'll let myself read for a half hour” etc. I have purchased another of the author's books and enjoyed it as well—I'm now buying everything she has written (which is pretty much my highest praise possible for a book!)

This is a great book if you like historical fiction, romance, or literary type mysteries!

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Most people assume that a muse is a creature of perfect beauty, poise and grace. Like the creatures from Greek mythology. They're wrong. In fact, there should be a marked absence of perfection in a muse--a gaping hole between what she is and what she might be. The ideal muse is a woman whose rough edges and contradictions drive you to fill in the blanks of her character. She is the irritant to your creativity. A remarkable possibility, waiting to be formed.”
― Kathleen Tessaro, The Perfume Collector

Edited for spelling and content: review itself from awhile ago:

While I enjoyed this book, and loved the settings particularly Paris, I did feel myself sort of rushing through it. I found both stories to be interesting but what I wanted was more about the perfume industry which, based on the book's description, I thought it was going to be about.

For a book that is supposed to be about perfume and its muses, we do not get alot of that. I felt it was a bit Noirish in some places which I generally like but not here. I wanted to be enveloped into the world of perfume. And that did not happen as much as I would have liked.

I also found one woman's story way more interesting then the other. But neither of them really grabbed me if I am being honest.

There was also a "twist". No spoiler..you will be able to guess it. I did. I guessed the twist almost immediately but I kind of felt we were supposed to if that makes sense.

On a positive note, I did get drawn into these women's lives and I cared about them. I think that overall this was an interesting read, just very different then I thought it would be.

SPOILERS:

The ending was not what I expected and not very realistic. The husband barely had a speaking role in the book. I wanted a confrontation between him and Grace.

I guess I have mixed feelings..which is what a 3 rating is all about! Some may love it, some may hate it, I kinda sorta liked it but not all that much.Three stars seems fair.

[°•.Melina°•. · Rating 2 out of 5]

بدترین انتخابِ کتاب صوتی بود😍💔 ۷۰ درصد حواسم پرت میشد و خیلییی روند کُند و کشدار و چرتی داشت😍💔 فقط پخشش میکردم که یچیزی گوش داده باشم درحالی که میتونستم بجاش اون همه ساعت پشت فرمون، کتاب‌های شاهکار و باارزشی بشنوم😀💔
داستان گریس رو دوست داشتم ولی از داستان اِوا چیز زیادی نفهمیدم، شاید در اون صورت برام جذاب تر میشد مثلا ۳ ستاره🤦🏻‍♀️

[لاله · Rating 4 out of 5]

"در هر چیزی ترسو بودن کشنده است. همیشه جسور باش!"

[Lauren Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Immediate thoughts: Well that was just extremely beautifully written.. going on my favorites list.. Right. Now.

Actual review: I'm extraordinarily in love with The Perfume Collector. It is so romantically whimsical. I felt transported to another place and time - and it was about time - I read so many mediocre books in January that I was beginning to forget that feeling of getting lost in books. The world of Paris and perfume is romanticized so perfectly.. I mean... just look:

Perfume should tell a story - of who you are, who you might be, perhaps even of who you fear becoming.

Perhaps, it's an invitation. Maybe we need to literally come to our senses, to return to our sense of taste, touch, sight, smell, hearing and find sustenance in them, inspiration. Life is, after all, a sexual experience. Our senses have the power to truly transport us but also to ground us. Make us human.

You could be laughing in public yet wear, right on the surface of your skin, a perfume ripe with longing, dripping with regret, shining with hope, all at the same time.

He dreamt in smells, he heard music in colours.

The story of Grace receiving a surprise inheritance from Eva d'Orsey is perfectly woven with the chapters of Eva's past as Grace is trying to figure out who Eva is and why she left her everything. The entire book is a scavenger hunt with the perfect amount of detail. Eva was a brazen, independent woman as you find out through her chapters, and Grace is trying to learn how to be the woman that she feels instead on the social elite that everyone, including her husband, wants her to be. There are underlying themes of finding your place in life and following your heart that I really connected with.

There were also a couple of small twists/surprises in the story that made me grin because of how perfect they were, how Eva fit into Grace's life in ways you wouldn't expect. The plot was just so well thought out and developed. I loved every minute of reading this story. It's full of so much passion, from all the characters involved.

I can honestly say that I have never been interested in going to Paris, but this book actually makes me want to go. This book is magic. I will be reading it again soon, and I can't wait for Tessaro's next book.

For all of these reasons, I highly recommend that you go read this. NOW.

Sidenote: There were an unusual amount of technical errors which is why I can't justify a full 5-star rating... leaving out a/the.. slight mispellings, etc. I don't usually find these type of errors to be too distracting, especially when I'm already enjoying the book so much, but if you are that kind of person... you have been warned.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

[simona.citeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce mult mi-a plăcut povestea asta!

M-a captat cu ușurință de la primele pagini și mi-a dezvăluit puțin câte puțin personaje foarte faine.

O ficțiune care împletește trecutul cu prezentul și se bazează pe o istorie a parfumurilor.

Nu o să mint și o să spun că este puțin previzibilă dar merită citită pentru toate detaliile la care nu te aștepți. Prezentul este umbrit de povestea fascinantă a trecutului care ne face cunoștiință cu un personaj puternic și carismatic.

E departe de a fi o poveste cu un happy end clasic dar este o lecție de curaj, putere și acceptare.

[Ghazaleh · Rating 3 out of 5]

با چیزی که من از یه کتاب تاریخی که توی گودریدز امتیاز بالایی داره توقع داشتم خیلی تفاوت داشت.
از اول برام مشخص بود که آخر داستان چجوریه و نسبت ها چی به چیه در نتیجه اتفاق غافلگیرکننده ای آخر کتاب رخ نداد که متعجبم کنه.
و به نظرم ترجمه میتونست خیلی بهتر از این ها باشه، هرچند که شاید ترجمه این دست کتاب ها سخت باشه(من سررشته ای در ترجمه ندارم) ولی به هرحال ترجمه طوری بود که خیلی جاها برام نامفهوم بود.

[Perrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Probably potential spoilers below)

I picked this up at random from Waterstones when I realise I didn't have my Kindle with me and burned through it in a couple of days. A bittersweet tale of love, loss and enduring relationships, it was an enjoyable book if not one of my favourite ever plotlines.

Grace Munroe is a beginner socialite right on the introductory verge of the London mid-fifties upper class society scene when two unrelated revelations in one night send her fleeing to Paris, away from her husband and home. A lady, Eva D'Orcey, who she has never met or even heard of, has left her entire fortune to Grace for apparently no reason at all. With her London life apparently in tatters, Grace throws herself into understanding this mysterious benefactor and if there is any connection between them.

There are two plotlines here that weave between Eva's 1920s life and Grace's 1950s one with a few 'sideways' steps for further exposition when it's needed. The two are neatly done and thread together quite well, but it did mean that I guessed the big reveal several chapters before it was announced thanks to some unsubtle hints in Eva's story.

It also meant that although we came to understand Grace and Eva fairly well, every other character like Valmont, Madame Zed and Monsieur Tissot felt frustratingly one dimensional. Mallory was only ever the cheerful light relief, and Grace's husband simmered in the background doing selfish upper class things without a care about anyone else. Grace's father was only ever unhappily locked away with his work, and her mother only ever the perfectionist titled lady. Valmont in particular had fabulous potential as a frustratingly obsessive perfumer with controversial sexual desires, but this was all swept away in favour of his apparent consuming adoration with Eva. It left him feeling more like a puppy dog than a consummate professional, and that was particularly galling for me.

I liked both Grace and Eva well enough, but again they were both fell a little flat as characters. Eva was never anything less than wonderful, and even though the author tried to give her flaws with the development of alcoholism later in her life, it never felt like it really counted against all of her good points; a fabulous natural scent, charming personality, wit, good business sense, empathy with others, a talent as an actress, beauty, financial (and gambling) savvy, innate perfumery talent and the ability to draw pretty much any man she wanted. Grace was much more of a real character to me with actual tangible flaws, but even she was constantly overshadowed by Eva despite being separated by two or three decades.

I really would have liked more development for all of the characters more than anything else. I did enjoy the book and would probably recommend it on for someone looking for a good summer read, but it could have been so much more. Three stars.

[Connie Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautifully written story of two women who's lives are intertwined, one who knows how and one who has no idea of the others existence. I may not have chosen this book and I would have missed out.

Ms Tessaro paints a vivid picture of 1950's England and France.....but an even better picture of the 1920's era. I could envision women who dressed to go out, and men who still wore suits. Of a society that overindulged in sinful encounters, drank too much and lived in the moment.

In flashback we learn about Eva who overcomes her poor beginnings to become a muse and legend in the world of the perfume business. As extraordinary as she is, as is the life she leads, she is never able to have the one thing that would bring her happiness. She ends up as a rather sad and lonely woman, but not before she gives her last gift to Grace.

Grace is struggling to find her own place and purpose in what looks to be a full and enviable life. When Eva's gift arrives Grace is taken on a journey to find herself and discover what is important.

I loved the details in this book, but mostly about scents. What wonderful memories certain scents create for us. A smell can take us to another time and place so quickly....and to the feelings that are associated with it.

When I first finished the last chapter, I thought...."What, is that it?", but the more I thought about it...and actually reread the last part, the more I smiled and thought....what a perfect ending!

If you would like to be transported to a different time and place, this is the book that can carry you there.

4.5 stars