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| 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.
This book was extremely readable. I’m not talking about easy reading, nor do I mean to call this book fluff. It was smooth. I’d read for an hour but it would feel like 5 minutes. It was that type of book. Smooth.
The main characters were almost opposite in their sensibilities. Eva was impetuous and brave. Grace was more cautious. It was interesting to compare the two. Their connection wasn’t quite as mysterious as I had hoped but it was still intriguing to journey with Grace as she unraveled the secret of her past. Both of these women were captivating.
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| SheReads.org |
Speaking of captivating? Paris in the 1950s! New York in the 1920s! I was enamored with the settings and time-frames. Seriously swoon worthy.
The passion for perfume in this book was contagious. I found myself thinking about the compelling nature of scent. Is there anything more powerful? The memories it brings with it, the way it takes you back to another time…ahh, fantastic.
Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains. ~ Diane Ackerman
The Relentless Reader 
I actually plan on reading this and have for some time. I am not sure that I have physically added it to my TBR though. I am awful about that. Thank you for the lovely review and reminder.-Dilettantish Reader
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The setting alone is enough to attract me!
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You're very welcome! It was a lovely book, I hope you'll be able to read it soon 🙂
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Right?! Oooh, such good ones in this book!!
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Enjoyed reading your comment about scent. It is very important. I have seen this book, but didn't know the plot. I like the 1950 setting and 1920 setting.
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I've been meaning to read this one! My Mother in Law recommended it and she's usually got pretty good book tastes. You made it sound extra delicious!
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I enjoyed this book too! I loved the mysterious perfume shop and the old lady above it. The mystery of the women and their relationships wasn't all that big, but that didn't matter.
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I am SO glad you enjoyed it because so many people recommended it to me. Remember my post about books and perfume? Not sure if you were following at that time but perfume and books are two things I absolutely love. I am positive that I will enjoy this book! On my TBR list it goes 😀
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Actually I realise it is on my TBR list already 😉
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I've been looking for smooth! I just added this one to my bedroom TBR (the place to be) this weekend.
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Sounds like a great book. I was curious about it just from the title and cover but it sounds captivating.
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I wanted the ARC for this one, but was not lucky enough to receive it. However I still plan to read it. I'm glad it was as good as I thought it would be. Loved th Ackerman quote. Her book on the five senses is really good.Cynthia @ The Things You Can Readhttp://thethingsyoucanread.blogspot.com/
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This book's title/cover doesn't make me think it's one I'd want to read, but I always read your posts. And NOW I'm thinking it sounds pretty darn good and I should look into it more! 🙂
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Woo, this sounds like one of those good old joyful reads! It seems like every review I've seen is loving it!
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This sounds really interesting! And I love the time periods too… might have to get this and add it to my ever-growing TBR shelves…
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Thanks Tea 😀 I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading about the setting in this book. Such great times/places!
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Your MIL and I should totally hang out! 😀
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You're right. The characters and settings made up for that bit of obviousness. I loved the old lady above the shop too! What a firecracker she was 😀
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You know what? That really does sound familiar to me Melinda. You absolutely need to read this one!!
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Tah dah! I hope you're able to get to it soon 🙂
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It was crazy smooth! I was constantly surprised by how much I'd read of this at one sitting. Gulp gulp!
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It's a lovely read Tanya 🙂
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Sounds absolutely lovely!
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I hope you're able to get your hands on a copy of this one soon Cynthia, it's a good one 😀 Thanks for visiting!
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I probably wouldn't have picked this one up if not for SheReads and I'm super glad 😀
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That's a good way to put it. It was easy but not EASY. You know what I mean 😉
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The time periods were super cool, loved 'em! Add it to the stack Sarah 😉
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It really is Nikki, I promise! 😀
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I loved this book as well. My favorite character was Madame Zed. She had some of the best lines and would be great in a movie.I hadn't read much about perfume before either but before this I read a marvelous memoir called Coming to My Senses. It's about a woman's discovery of perfume and it's place in her life as she prepares to get married. She talks about perfume back to the 70s so it was a great trip down memory lane.
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I really liked Madame Zed as well, great character! I think I know the book you're talking about but I'm off to look it up because I'm very interested 🙂
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I've heard so many good things about this book that I know I will HAVE to read it…and soon!
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Dang it! I almost picked this one up at the library today but put it back. What was I thinking?
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This sounds great. Paris in the 1950s and New York in the 1920s? Count me in.
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I loved the setting too! And Grace trying to find her place in the world was a great opportunity to watch some character growth, although at the end of the book, I'm not sure she had changed as much as I had hoped. I really like your description of this book as \”smooth\” and am wondering if the feeling you're describing corresponds to those books that suck me in so much I take almost no notes and then am left struggling to articulate why I liked them in my review 🙂
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I'm not sure if I'm going to read this, but your review has made me more interested in it. 🙂
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I'm a little late on the SheReads this month but will have my review up by the end of the week. Maybe earlier if it's that smooth! I can't wait to get into it (I'm only on chapter 2 – I know, I know, bad blogger!)
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You do, you really do! 😀
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Oh noes Brooke! You need to get your butt back to the library! 😉
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Right?? Exactly! Fantastic settings 😀
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YES! It was exactly like that, lol. I rarely take notes as it is and this one left me NO TIME because I was gobbling it up at a crazy rate, lol.
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I didn't think it would be as enjoyable as it turned out to be. I was pleasantly surprised…love when that happens!
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I can't wait to hear your final thoughts on this one Alison…no matter when you get around to posting them, lol. 😉
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You had me at Paris in the 50s. Looking it up!
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SEE, that's the kind of book I need! To magically have read 50 pages in the blink of an eye.
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This book is getting a lot of great buzz and it sounds like it's for good reason. I need to check it out!
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Smooth is a great way to describe this kind of book. I wasn't jumping to get this one, but the story of a muse and an artist sounds like it has potential…:(
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I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed the settings in the this book 😉
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You really do need to check it out! It's a great read 😀
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It wasn't something that I thought I'd go ga-ga over, to be honest. Tah dah, I enjoyed it a LOT. 😀
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I hadn't heard of this one, but now you've got me tempted. Especially by the \”smooth\” description — I just finished a book that left me flipping back through the pages to keep track of what was even going on.
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