Not quite as aromatic (From Swindon Advertiser)

Not quite as aromatic

10:10am Tuesday 4th November 2008

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ONE of my summer holiday reads this year was Perfume by Patrick Suskind - and as I was visiting the French town of Grasse, where a large proportion of the book is set, it seemed like the perfect choice.

I enjoyed the novel immensely and would recommend it to anyone, and have since been aching to see the film - and last night I had my chance.

I don't know about anyone else, but I always end up a bit disappointed when I see a TV or film adaptation of a book I loved. And sadly this was no exception.

Don't get me wrong, the cast was good (and top quality with Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman gracing the screen) but it was just missing that special something - and I realised how our protagonist Jean-Baptiste Grenouille must have felt as he was trying to create the perfect fragrance.

In my mind, Ben Whishaw, who takes on the lead role, just isn't ugly enough. Grenouille is supposed to repulse people when they see him, and in all honesty Whishaw didn't do that for me.

In fact, he is quite a good-looking bloke - and that was a problem. I wanted to feel like I needed to go and have a long, hot bath after watching him on the screen.

If you haven't seen the film but it's one that's taken your fancy when you've been flicking through the movie channels or browsing the shelves at your local Blockbuster definitely take the couple of hours needed out of your day to watch it.

Just make sure you take the time to read the novel too. You won't regret it.

Right then, back to The Woman Who Walked into Doors...only a few pages left to go.