Why people recommend it
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick M. Kündig is a dark historical novel that follows an olfactorily gifted orphan in eighteenth-century France whose obsession with scents leads him into a life of murder. On an episode of Stuff They Don't Want You To Know titled Are ‘Vibes’ Real? released in July 2023, the host Matt discussed the novel while exploring unusual narratives. Matt mentioned that a colleague named Nat had recommended the book to him, after which it became one of his absolute favorite reads of that particular year. He described the story as really cool, bringing it into the conversational mix to illustrate unique storytelling that taps into sensory experiences, specifically the powerful and often overlooked sense of smell. The narrative exploration served as a thematic touchstone during a broader discussion about ambient feelings and perceptions, highlighting how literary fiction can capture uncanny human experiences. Through this anecdote, the podcast highlighted the lasting impact of Süskind's atmospheric storytelling, recommending it implicitly to listeners interested in dark, immersive historical fiction that examines human psychology through an unusual sensory lens.
Who recommended it
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
“have you guys heard of a novel and then a film called perfume uh story of murder yes Nat riddle recommended it to me and it was one of my favorite books I read that year it's real cool”