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The Perfume Thief
"Clementine, sometimes known as Judge, is a 72-year-old reformed con-artist with a penchant for impeccably tailored suits. Her life of crime has led her from the uber-wealthy perfume junkies of belle epoque Manhattan, to the scented butterflies of Costa Rica, to the spice markets of Marrakesh, and finally the bordellos of Paris, where she settles down and opens a legitimate shop bottling her favorite extracts for the ladies of the cabarets. In 1941 as the Germans stranglehold on the city tightens, Clem's perfume-making attracts the notice of Oskar Voss, a francophile Nazi bureaucrat, who comes to demand Clem's expertise and loyalty in his mysterious play for Hitler's favor. Clem has no choice but to surrender fully to the con, but even though she knew playing the part of collaborator would be dangerous, she never imagined it would be so painfully intimate. At Oskar's behest and in an effort to win his trust, Clem tells him the full story of her life and loves, this time without the cover of the lies she came to Paris to escape. Complete with romance, espionage, champagne towers and haute couture, this full-tilt sensory experience is a dazzling portrait of the underground resistance of twentieth century Paris and a passionate love letter to the power of beauty and community in the face of insidious hate"--
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2021
379 people are currently reading
5620 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Schaffert
20 books184 followersAuthor of five novels: The Swan Gondola, The Coffins of Little Hope, Devils in the Sugar Shop, The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God, and The Phantom Limbs of the Rollow Sisters. Director of the (downtown) omaha lit fest. Contributing editor, Fairy Tale Review. Assistant Professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln creative writing program.
"The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God" is part of the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers program, and was the 2007 Omaha Reads one-book-one-city selection. "Devils in the Sugar Shop" was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and a Book Sense pick.
"The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God" is part of the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers program, and was the 2007 Omaha Reads one-book-one-city selection. "Devils in the Sugar Shop" was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and a Book Sense pick.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
February 16, 2024
Real Rating: 3.8* of five
The Publisher Says: A Gentleman in Moscow meets Moulin Rouge in this stylish, sexy page-turner about Clementine, a queer American expat and notorious thief of rare scents, who has retired to Paris, only to return to her old tricks in hopes of protecting the city she loves when the Nazis invade in 1941.
Clementine is a seventy-two year-old reformed con artist with a penchant for impeccably tailored suits. Her life of crime has led her from the uber-wealthy perfume junkies of belle epoque Manhattan, to the scented butterflies of Costa Rica, to the spice markets of Marrakech, and finally the bordellos of Paris, where she settles down and opens a legitimate shop bottling her favorite extracts for the ladies of the cabarets.
In 1941, as the German's stranglehold on the city tightens, Clem's perfume-making attracts the notice of Oskar Voss, a Francophile Nazi bureaucrat, who comes to demand Clem's expertise and loyalty in his mysterious play for Hitler's favor. Clem has no choice but to surrender fully to the con, but while she knew playing the part of collaborator would be dangerous, she never imagined it would be so painfully intimate. At Oskar's behest, and in an effort to win his trust, Clem recounts the full story of her life and loves, this time without the cover of the lies she came to Paris to escape.
Complete with romance, espionage, champagne towers, and haute couture, this full-tilt sensory experience is a dazzling portrait of the underground resistance of twentieth-century Paris and a passionate love letter to the power of beauty and community in the face of insidious hate.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Lush, lovely prose telling a story that made me squirm so hard I wore a hole in my upholstery.
Stories about coercion of trans folks using their identity as trans are not comfortable reads. I do not think this was intended to be a comfy-cozy kind of a read but it was clear in its empathy for its trans main character. So, blessedly, I was not left with the rather unclean film of exploitive appropriative use of trans identity as a negative signifier on my lens into the story.
Still, this story causes me horripilation. As things that have Nazis as the antagonist should.
The felt-like-he-was-factual Oskar Voss, nasty boss Nazi spymaster, based like the rest of the story—as per the author—on real people who were in Paris to escape the judgments of Society in the safety of the big city. Then, the worst-possible worst result happens to them all when the vileness of the Nazis come barging in with their giant, outsized hatreds, and their very overblown sense of purpose. Oskar is typical of the cynical bandwagon-hoppers that puritanical movements attract like horse apples attract dung beetles. He is very much not interested in the ideology of his paymasters. He wants power over others. His means of getting more of his drug is to use whoever and whatever he can to buy himself a seat at a higher-placed table.
Enter Clem(entine). And a lot of Clem's fellow misfits. They need to survive, and their Otherness has equipped them to do this any and every way they possibly can including stealing and blackmailing any and everyone they need to. Oskar wants to ensorcel Hitler with some super-special scent, which TBH just fell flat for me as a motivation...but it led to butch lesbian/transman Clem recounting, for honestly flimsy reasons, her lifetime's-worth of stories to the rapt Oskar. Whatever excuse made that happen is good enough for me.
Clem, a very old person for that era at seventy-two, has Lived A Life, maybe three or even four, in those years. A born tale-teller, as anyone making a living as a con artist and thief operating among the very rich must be, Clem completely wraps Oskar up in the memory palace of the past. How much of it would pass the fact-checking of the internet age, well...who cares. I do not really buy into the motivations of Oskar for any of his actions, but that left me no less delighted to spend time with Clem.
The horrors of Nazi-occupied Paris, the horrors that were to come, all seemed to Clem to be clear because these puritanical control freaks are just like the others from the past. None of it is downplayed, and there are terrible passages in this story, but the way it is presented feels...convenient. Oskar is easily led by his greed for power, Clem is easily swayed by a murky sense of responsibility that all just jelled a bit too patly for this reader.
I will not, though, say anything to discourage anyone who longs for ancestral representation for their own kind to get stuck in right away. I think the transmasculine Clem, while imperfect, is perfectly delightful to spend page time with. The hurts and betrayals of lives long over make for great stories, even knowing they were painful and hard to live. You will come away edified for knowing the honorable, sensible, deeply relatable hero that is Clem.
The Publisher Says: A Gentleman in Moscow meets Moulin Rouge in this stylish, sexy page-turner about Clementine, a queer American expat and notorious thief of rare scents, who has retired to Paris, only to return to her old tricks in hopes of protecting the city she loves when the Nazis invade in 1941.
Clementine is a seventy-two year-old reformed con artist with a penchant for impeccably tailored suits. Her life of crime has led her from the uber-wealthy perfume junkies of belle epoque Manhattan, to the scented butterflies of Costa Rica, to the spice markets of Marrakech, and finally the bordellos of Paris, where she settles down and opens a legitimate shop bottling her favorite extracts for the ladies of the cabarets.
In 1941, as the German's stranglehold on the city tightens, Clem's perfume-making attracts the notice of Oskar Voss, a Francophile Nazi bureaucrat, who comes to demand Clem's expertise and loyalty in his mysterious play for Hitler's favor. Clem has no choice but to surrender fully to the con, but while she knew playing the part of collaborator would be dangerous, she never imagined it would be so painfully intimate. At Oskar's behest, and in an effort to win his trust, Clem recounts the full story of her life and loves, this time without the cover of the lies she came to Paris to escape.
Complete with romance, espionage, champagne towers, and haute couture, this full-tilt sensory experience is a dazzling portrait of the underground resistance of twentieth-century Paris and a passionate love letter to the power of beauty and community in the face of insidious hate.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Lush, lovely prose telling a story that made me squirm so hard I wore a hole in my upholstery.
Stories about coercion of trans folks using their identity as trans are not comfortable reads. I do not think this was intended to be a comfy-cozy kind of a read but it was clear in its empathy for its trans main character. So, blessedly, I was not left with the rather unclean film of exploitive appropriative use of trans identity as a negative signifier on my lens into the story.
Still, this story causes me horripilation. As things that have Nazis as the antagonist should.
The felt-like-he-was-factual Oskar Voss, nasty boss Nazi spymaster, based like the rest of the story—as per the author—on real people who were in Paris to escape the judgments of Society in the safety of the big city. Then, the worst-possible worst result happens to them all when the vileness of the Nazis come barging in with their giant, outsized hatreds, and their very overblown sense of purpose. Oskar is typical of the cynical bandwagon-hoppers that puritanical movements attract like horse apples attract dung beetles. He is very much not interested in the ideology of his paymasters. He wants power over others. His means of getting more of his drug is to use whoever and whatever he can to buy himself a seat at a higher-placed table.
Enter Clem(entine). And a lot of Clem's fellow misfits. They need to survive, and their Otherness has equipped them to do this any and every way they possibly can including stealing and blackmailing any and everyone they need to. Oskar wants to ensorcel Hitler with some super-special scent, which TBH just fell flat for me as a motivation...but it led to butch lesbian/transman Clem recounting, for honestly flimsy reasons, her lifetime's-worth of stories to the rapt Oskar. Whatever excuse made that happen is good enough for me.
Clem, a very old person for that era at seventy-two, has Lived A Life, maybe three or even four, in those years. A born tale-teller, as anyone making a living as a con artist and thief operating among the very rich must be, Clem completely wraps Oskar up in the memory palace of the past. How much of it would pass the fact-checking of the internet age, well...who cares. I do not really buy into the motivations of Oskar for any of his actions, but that left me no less delighted to spend time with Clem.
The horrors of Nazi-occupied Paris, the horrors that were to come, all seemed to Clem to be clear because these puritanical control freaks are just like the others from the past. None of it is downplayed, and there are terrible passages in this story, but the way it is presented feels...convenient. Oskar is easily led by his greed for power, Clem is easily swayed by a murky sense of responsibility that all just jelled a bit too patly for this reader.
I will not, though, say anything to discourage anyone who longs for ancestral representation for their own kind to get stuck in right away. I think the transmasculine Clem, while imperfect, is perfectly delightful to spend page time with. The hurts and betrayals of lives long over make for great stories, even knowing they were painful and hard to live. You will come away edified for knowing the honorable, sensible, deeply relatable hero that is Clem.
July 17, 2021
I'm halfway through and I'm still waiting for something interesting to happen. I feel like the author was more interested in trying on flowery prose (some didn't work I'm sorry to say) or going for some old Hollywood feel in the middle of WWII Europe...than actually telling an engaging story with dynamic characters that have to face a very difficult time in history.
July 6, 2021
"The Perfume Thief" crashed through my reading ennui like . . . like. . . jeez, I'm not sure how to find a metaphor that would fit a novel that sweeps you off your feet, puts your mind in a flurry, tucks you in its pocket and keeps you in that state until the final page. "The Perfume Thief" like nothing you've ever read before.
Let's start with the protagonist. Clementine is a 72-year-old American living in Paris in 1940. She dresses as a man and runs a perfume shop, daily mixing new fragrance for her dear friend Day Shabille, a Black American cabaret singer. Clementine has spent her life life on the con until fleeing to Paris and establishing herself as an honest broker. She's a master of observation with quick feet and a quick mind.
The Nazi occupation is not the time for someone to be dressing as a member of the opposite sex, but Clem has gathered a lot of goodwill in her time in Paris. Another cabaret artist asks Day for help. Zoe's master perfumer father is in the hands of the Nazis. They're estranged and she's terrified that something will clue to Germans off to the fact that she's Jewish. She asks Clem to find her father's diary of perfume recipes which will certainly include her name as the inspiration for one of his most famous perfumes. Their home is now occupied by Nazi Oskar Voss, with whom she'll have to become chummy.
This book is everything you want a novel to be. Great writing, taut plotting, high stakes, and a hero who defies description. Timothy Schaffert has absorbed occupied Paris, it's smells, the streets, the food, the entertainment scene. There are remarkable love stories, and cruelty that will leave you breathless.
Let me thank Netgalley and publisher Doubleday for access to this title in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty, read this book!
Let's start with the protagonist. Clementine is a 72-year-old American living in Paris in 1940. She dresses as a man and runs a perfume shop, daily mixing new fragrance for her dear friend Day Shabille, a Black American cabaret singer. Clementine has spent her life life on the con until fleeing to Paris and establishing herself as an honest broker. She's a master of observation with quick feet and a quick mind.
The Nazi occupation is not the time for someone to be dressing as a member of the opposite sex, but Clem has gathered a lot of goodwill in her time in Paris. Another cabaret artist asks Day for help. Zoe's master perfumer father is in the hands of the Nazis. They're estranged and she's terrified that something will clue to Germans off to the fact that she's Jewish. She asks Clem to find her father's diary of perfume recipes which will certainly include her name as the inspiration for one of his most famous perfumes. Their home is now occupied by Nazi Oskar Voss, with whom she'll have to become chummy.
This book is everything you want a novel to be. Great writing, taut plotting, high stakes, and a hero who defies description. Timothy Schaffert has absorbed occupied Paris, it's smells, the streets, the food, the entertainment scene. There are remarkable love stories, and cruelty that will leave you breathless.
Let me thank Netgalley and publisher Doubleday for access to this title in exchange for an honest review. In all honesty, read this book!
August 31, 2023
Digital audiobook performed by Gabrielle De Cuir and Stefan Rudnicki.
From the book jacket: A Gentleman in Moscow meets Moulin Rouge in this stylish, sexy page-turner about Clementine, a queer American ex-pat and notorious thief who is drawn out of retirement and into one last scam when the Nazis invade Paris on the eve of World War II.
My reactions
This was a marvelous heist caper thriller, featuring interesting characters, several twists and turns and the atmosphere of Paris on the verge of world war. I found it fascinating and exciting and when it was over, I wanted to start it again to catch what I’m sure I must have missed.
Before she lands in Paris in 1930, Clem begins her career in belle-epoch era Manhattan, and travels to Costa Rica and Marrakech in search of ingredients and potions.
Schaffert shines a light on a subset of Parisien society that few tourists experience. Clementine and her friend Zoe St Angel are in a perfect position to encounter some of the famous residents of Paris in this era. They move seamlessly between the artists, crooks, ladies of the evening, and invading Germans. But they have their secrets and their plans to thwart the Nazis. Not only can Clem concoct an intoxicating scent, but she can use her knowledge of chemistry to provide invisible ink or poison, making her a valuable asset to the resistance.
The audiobook is masterfully performed by two talented voice artists: Gabrielle de Cuir and Stefan Rudnicki. They have a lot of characters to handle and I am sure I lost track of the plot a few times. Not to take anything away from their performances, but next time, I’ll read this in text format.
From the book jacket: A Gentleman in Moscow meets Moulin Rouge in this stylish, sexy page-turner about Clementine, a queer American ex-pat and notorious thief who is drawn out of retirement and into one last scam when the Nazis invade Paris on the eve of World War II.
My reactions
This was a marvelous heist caper thriller, featuring interesting characters, several twists and turns and the atmosphere of Paris on the verge of world war. I found it fascinating and exciting and when it was over, I wanted to start it again to catch what I’m sure I must have missed.
Before she lands in Paris in 1930, Clem begins her career in belle-epoch era Manhattan, and travels to Costa Rica and Marrakech in search of ingredients and potions.
Schaffert shines a light on a subset of Parisien society that few tourists experience. Clementine and her friend Zoe St Angel are in a perfect position to encounter some of the famous residents of Paris in this era. They move seamlessly between the artists, crooks, ladies of the evening, and invading Germans. But they have their secrets and their plans to thwart the Nazis. Not only can Clem concoct an intoxicating scent, but she can use her knowledge of chemistry to provide invisible ink or poison, making her a valuable asset to the resistance.
The audiobook is masterfully performed by two talented voice artists: Gabrielle de Cuir and Stefan Rudnicki. They have a lot of characters to handle and I am sure I lost track of the plot a few times. Not to take anything away from their performances, but next time, I’ll read this in text format.
July 29, 2021
Reading this book was like being trapped on a flight next to a garrulous person who thinks he's much more interesting than he really is. Clementine, the narrator, is a retired thief who was so good books had been written and movies made about her... but we never see any of those exploits. Instead the main plot, about the hunt for the hidden diaries of a Jewish perfume maker in Occupied Paris, is continually interrupted by reveries about Clementine's decades-long infatuation with M and about improbable (and rather nauseating, to my mind) olfactory concoctions. The perfumes Clementine makes for her clients aren't the only improbable elements of the story. Yes, the author's note at the end explains that much of the story was rooted in fact, but none of it seemed very believable to me. And if a novelist makes the truth seem unbelievable, well, I don't think he did his job.
I'm giving this three stars rather than two because I did manage to finish it, the premise is intriguing, and there were a few genuinely moving moments.
Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm giving this three stars rather than two because I did manage to finish it, the premise is intriguing, and there were a few genuinely moving moments.
Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2021
Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Historical fiction centered around WWII could be an entire genre in and of itself. There's All The Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and The Paris Library, just to name a few. One would think that everything on this subject has already been written. And you'd be wrong. I believe this is because WWII really was a world-wide event, that everyone on the planet was affected in one way or another. The Perfume Thief, by Timothy Schaffert, comes from the perspective of people on the fringe of Parisian society: gays and lesbians, prostitutes, singers, actors, and entertainers. These are people who the Nazi's either loved or hated (or both). If you were a member of one of these groups, you could never feel safe, as the Nazis would applaud them one day, and then round them up and send them to camps, the next.
Perfume is actually the perfect metaphor for this ever-changing state of danger. Fragrance evokes powerful memories, and yet can smell different on different people, or in different seasons. And the same smell can make each person react differently. It's all in the eye (or nose) of the beholder.
This is a story, not just of WWII, but of memories. Clementine, who is in her seventies, is hardly your typical senior citizen. She has lived an extraordinary life as a lesbian in eras from the Gilded Age in America through the Roaring Twenties, the Great War, and now WWII. Her memories are held as various perfumes and what meanings they had for her. This was a more cerebral book than I thought it would be. The characters, unusual storytelling, and insight into the world of perfume made this an outstanding reading experience.
Please read my complete review on my blog: www.ponderingtheprose.blogspot.com on July 30, 2021.
Historical fiction centered around WWII could be an entire genre in and of itself. There's All The Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and The Paris Library, just to name a few. One would think that everything on this subject has already been written. And you'd be wrong. I believe this is because WWII really was a world-wide event, that everyone on the planet was affected in one way or another. The Perfume Thief, by Timothy Schaffert, comes from the perspective of people on the fringe of Parisian society: gays and lesbians, prostitutes, singers, actors, and entertainers. These are people who the Nazi's either loved or hated (or both). If you were a member of one of these groups, you could never feel safe, as the Nazis would applaud them one day, and then round them up and send them to camps, the next.
Perfume is actually the perfect metaphor for this ever-changing state of danger. Fragrance evokes powerful memories, and yet can smell different on different people, or in different seasons. And the same smell can make each person react differently. It's all in the eye (or nose) of the beholder.
This is a story, not just of WWII, but of memories. Clementine, who is in her seventies, is hardly your typical senior citizen. She has lived an extraordinary life as a lesbian in eras from the Gilded Age in America through the Roaring Twenties, the Great War, and now WWII. Her memories are held as various perfumes and what meanings they had for her. This was a more cerebral book than I thought it would be. The characters, unusual storytelling, and insight into the world of perfume made this an outstanding reading experience.
Please read my complete review on my blog: www.ponderingtheprose.blogspot.com on July 30, 2021.
August 8, 2021
After a life of thievery to produce one-of-a-kind perfumes for the wealthy, seventy-two-year-old Clementine is forced to work with a Nazi bureaucrat to uncover the potentially poisonous secrets of a legendary perfumery, one of Hitler’s interests for use in WWII. All the while, she tells her life story, revealing her most intimate secrets in hopes of protecting her endangered friends.
This book is very atmospheric, and the connections between scents and memories is particularly emphasized. I liked the notion that one distinct smell can bring back a certain person, place, or moment in time, and I also enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation.
However, I found this book to be incredibly slow and overly drawn out on multiple occasions. It’s quite repetitive about smells and scents, and there is a significant lack of action. There are several tangents into Clementine’s ambiguous past and constant musings about her thoughts, Parisian life, and old memories.
This book would be ideal if you enjoy slow-burn novels, especially if you have an interest in perfume or scents, or would like to see a unique perspective from underground Paris in WWII.
Thank you to Doubleday for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book is very atmospheric, and the connections between scents and memories is particularly emphasized. I liked the notion that one distinct smell can bring back a certain person, place, or moment in time, and I also enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation.
However, I found this book to be incredibly slow and overly drawn out on multiple occasions. It’s quite repetitive about smells and scents, and there is a significant lack of action. There are several tangents into Clementine’s ambiguous past and constant musings about her thoughts, Parisian life, and old memories.
This book would be ideal if you enjoy slow-burn novels, especially if you have an interest in perfume or scents, or would like to see a unique perspective from underground Paris in WWII.
Thank you to Doubleday for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2021
So much love for this book. Clem is an amazing character. Great story, great characters, great writing... one of the easiest five stars I’ve given all year.
July 4, 2021
Catching the Scent
A book about a perfume made especially for LGBTQIA and a missing recipe book from a famous Jewish perfumer. The book is hidden somewhere in the perfumer's home, which has been taken over by Nazi's. Clementine, a con artist, is attempting to find and steal the book before her friend Day is found out as being the daughter of the perfumer and a Jewish girl.
I read a lot of books on WWII and I really enjoy them. This book not so much. It took me three days to read, it just rambled on and was quite repetitive in the scene's. I did not connect with the characters nor the settings. I did keep reading because I thought it might get better and because I never give up on a book . I never did connect with the book.
Thanks to Timothy Schaffert, Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book for an honest review.
A book about a perfume made especially for LGBTQIA and a missing recipe book from a famous Jewish perfumer. The book is hidden somewhere in the perfumer's home, which has been taken over by Nazi's. Clementine, a con artist, is attempting to find and steal the book before her friend Day is found out as being the daughter of the perfumer and a Jewish girl.
I read a lot of books on WWII and I really enjoy them. This book not so much. It took me three days to read, it just rambled on and was quite repetitive in the scene's. I did not connect with the characters nor the settings. I did keep reading because I thought it might get better and because I never give up on a book . I never did connect with the book.
Thanks to Timothy Schaffert, Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book for an honest review.
September 9, 2022
A lavish work of historical fiction that is as exciting and engaging as it is olfactory stimulating, The Perfume Thief is a book that ought to have come with its own scent cards.
(There is actually a movie in the novel that utilized that technique – during the appropriate scenes the viewers were guided by numbers to smell a specific smell from the card. Smell-o-vision at work.)
The Perfume Thief is a (smell-o-) vision of gay Paree in a most literal if ways. It features a queer septuagenarian protagonist and a motley crew of her associates navigating the treacherous waters of a city freshly invaded by the Nazis.
It’s a place awash is decadence and danger, but those who have chosen it for themselves as a city to love and belong to refuse to leave it. Clementine is among them. A reformed once-famous thief, she is now a well-known perfumer; her impeccably tailored suits and sizzling confidence hiding a woman scarred by a long-ago love affair. Alas, in Paris she is among friends. A terrific cast of queer and otherwise artists, performers, and misfits.
When she chooses to help one of them, there is some selfishness there too – she is to find a lost journal of a famous perfumer who once stole her recipe. Now, his daughter is desperate; she is Jewish and a lover of a Nazi officer, a terrifying combination,
So Clementine does her best spy impersonation and gets involved on friendly and professional basis with another Nazi. Intrigue ensues.
And if the intrigue doesn’t do it for you, there is still so much to love here. The author does a splendid job of bringing a place to life and using it as a character of its own. There is a magnificent wealth and vividness of detail; the atmosphere is completely immersive. And the characters are charming, memorable, and interesting too.
Clementine, whose age is confusing and if going strictly by the book seems like 80 but is stated as 72 in the official description, doesn’t really seem like her years, whatever they are. She’s almost difficult to buy as a senior citizen in actions, mentality, etc. But she is a fascinating and compelling protagonist and if this was a movie, Glenn Close would probably nail it.
Overall, an exceptional armchair trip in time and place. A terrific read. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
(There is actually a movie in the novel that utilized that technique – during the appropriate scenes the viewers were guided by numbers to smell a specific smell from the card. Smell-o-vision at work.)
The Perfume Thief is a (smell-o-) vision of gay Paree in a most literal if ways. It features a queer septuagenarian protagonist and a motley crew of her associates navigating the treacherous waters of a city freshly invaded by the Nazis.
It’s a place awash is decadence and danger, but those who have chosen it for themselves as a city to love and belong to refuse to leave it. Clementine is among them. A reformed once-famous thief, she is now a well-known perfumer; her impeccably tailored suits and sizzling confidence hiding a woman scarred by a long-ago love affair. Alas, in Paris she is among friends. A terrific cast of queer and otherwise artists, performers, and misfits.
When she chooses to help one of them, there is some selfishness there too – she is to find a lost journal of a famous perfumer who once stole her recipe. Now, his daughter is desperate; she is Jewish and a lover of a Nazi officer, a terrifying combination,
So Clementine does her best spy impersonation and gets involved on friendly and professional basis with another Nazi. Intrigue ensues.
And if the intrigue doesn’t do it for you, there is still so much to love here. The author does a splendid job of bringing a place to life and using it as a character of its own. There is a magnificent wealth and vividness of detail; the atmosphere is completely immersive. And the characters are charming, memorable, and interesting too.
Clementine, whose age is confusing and if going strictly by the book seems like 80 but is stated as 72 in the official description, doesn’t really seem like her years, whatever they are. She’s almost difficult to buy as a senior citizen in actions, mentality, etc. But she is a fascinating and compelling protagonist and if this was a movie, Glenn Close would probably nail it.
Overall, an exceptional armchair trip in time and place. A terrific read. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
July 22, 2021
From the very first pages, I was intrigued by Clementine, the 72 year-old protagonist, who dresses as a man and owns a perfume shop. Living in Paris through WWII, this was such a good story that I didn’t want to put down, but at the same time wanted to savor.
I loved the writing and descriptions, and felt like it was a sensory experience while reading.
*many thanks to Doubleday for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own
I loved the writing and descriptions, and felt like it was a sensory experience while reading.
*many thanks to Doubleday for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own
May 12, 2021
Have you ever read a work that you can almost smell? Schaffert does this in his description of Paris during its Nazi reign. The scents are so descriptive. The perfume thief is a 72 year old queer American woman who provides perfume to a number of cabaret entertainers on a daily basis. She must collaborate with the Nazis, yet finds a way to redeem herself.
Thanks to Net Galley for this free electronic copy in exchange for a unbiased review.
Thanks to Net Galley for this free electronic copy in exchange for a unbiased review.
September 20, 2022
I really tried to enjoy this book, but I never got traction where the author was trying to go.
Trying to get the proper scent from Parisians by the Germans didn’t hold much of a plot/story for me. I was excited about it being historically set in Paris around the world war two but this boat just didn’t make it for me.
DNF
Trying to get the proper scent from Parisians by the Germans didn’t hold much of a plot/story for me. I was excited about it being historically set in Paris around the world war two but this boat just didn’t make it for me.
DNF
June 2, 2021
What an absolutely beautiful book! Timothy Schaffert’s writing transports you to Paris during WWII. You can literally smell the perfumes and scents he describes. Wonderful characters. Highly recommend.
August 6, 2021
The Perfume Thief tells the story of Clementine in World War Two Paris. I have read a lot of historical fiction in this same setting, however, I have never read anything quite like The Perfume Thief. Clem is 72 year old con artist, who prefers a well tailored suit to the considered proper dress of a woman. Running a perfume shop, Clem expertly concocting personal scents for her variety of clients.
I absolutely adored this approach to WW2 historical fiction. Often, we learn of the Parisian Resistance in the form of young, straight males, fighting for a free France. In The Perfume Thief, not only do we have a queer female lead, but a whole supporting cast of artists, who live much of their lives in the shadows of day and in the spotlight at night.
Schaffert’s writing transported me to brothels and dance halls in Paris. I could almost smell all of Clem’s concoctions. Truth be told, I could have read a whole book on the breakdown of scents, how Clem would masterfully combine them to create the perfect perfume.
This story is a slow burn but by the end of the story, I was outraged and heartbroken. However there is a strong message of hope that prevails through it all. I loved it all.
I absolutely adored this approach to WW2 historical fiction. Often, we learn of the Parisian Resistance in the form of young, straight males, fighting for a free France. In The Perfume Thief, not only do we have a queer female lead, but a whole supporting cast of artists, who live much of their lives in the shadows of day and in the spotlight at night.
Schaffert’s writing transported me to brothels and dance halls in Paris. I could almost smell all of Clem’s concoctions. Truth be told, I could have read a whole book on the breakdown of scents, how Clem would masterfully combine them to create the perfect perfume.
This story is a slow burn but by the end of the story, I was outraged and heartbroken. However there is a strong message of hope that prevails through it all. I loved it all.
August 13, 2021
The WWII story held my interest, but I couldn’t see myself in Clementine, the queer American expat woman who dressed in men’s and women’s clothes. As a genderfluid AFAB person as well I was really looking forward to this one, but something was missing for me. Thank you to Doubleday for the ARC.
August 15, 2021
I love, love, love this book! I intended to read it casually but instead raced through it, feverishly. Like a good perfume recipe, it has so many "notes" to it: WW2 resistance fighters, jazz music, queer history, romantic intrigue, spies, and vivid descriptions of sensory intoxication (you may find yourself researching perfumery techniques during reading breaks between chapters.) I'd love to see this adapted as a film someday. Highly recommended!
August 17, 2021
Delightful and insightful and wonderful! A MUST READ.
August 16, 2021
A great story. Things are not always what they seem.
There is some gender bending/fluidity that is an important part of the story and humanity’s story.
Oh yeah…the villains are Nazis!!
There is some gender bending/fluidity that is an important part of the story and humanity’s story.
Oh yeah…the villains are Nazis!!
July 27, 2021
REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Perfume Thief by Timothy Schaffert is the story of Clementine, an aging reformed con artist and thief, whose life of crime has taken her to worlds as glamorous and chic as the masculinely tailored suits she wears unapologetically. The year is 1941 and the Nazis occupy Paris. Zoe St Angel, Madame Boulette’s most prized songbird, implores Clem to procure the recipe book of a famous Parisian perfumer who has vanished at the hands of the Nazis who are taking control of all Jewish owned businesses. If the book falls into Nazi possession it could reveal that Zoe is also Jewish since she is the perfumers daughter. The perfumer’s house is now occupied by Oskar Voss, a Nazi bureaucrat who wants the book and Clem’s knowledge of perfume to secure his own allegiance with Hitler himself. Clem devises a plan to gain Voss’s trust while working to defuse a diabolical scheme that could turn the war in the Nazi’s favor. Can Clem become Voss’s ally while still remaining loyal to Paris? Can a single scent hold the key to the outcome of a world war?⠀
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The Perfume Thief is a mesmerizing and intoxicating read. Every page overflows with lush hypnotic descriptions of the underground world of Nazi occupied Paris. This meticulously drawn story is a treat for all the senses. The reader can almost see the streets of Paris on the brink of war, hear the sound of the jazz from the speakeasies, smell the scent of every exotic perfume dabbed upon a wrist, taste the champagne and feel of the fine fabrics of chic garments now only attainable by the Nazi elite. The characters are multi-faceted and impeccably crafted to be as unforgettable as Paris itself. It is obvious that this powerful novel is the product of countless hours of painstaking research. The book grabs the reader by the nose and pulls them through on a scented cloud with superb writing, a taut plot and heroic and vulnerable characters. This is one story not soon forgotten. ⠀
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The Perfume Thief is a mesmerizing and intoxicating read. Every page overflows with lush hypnotic descriptions of the underground world of Nazi occupied Paris. This meticulously drawn story is a treat for all the senses. The reader can almost see the streets of Paris on the brink of war, hear the sound of the jazz from the speakeasies, smell the scent of every exotic perfume dabbed upon a wrist, taste the champagne and feel of the fine fabrics of chic garments now only attainable by the Nazi elite. The characters are multi-faceted and impeccably crafted to be as unforgettable as Paris itself. It is obvious that this powerful novel is the product of countless hours of painstaking research. The book grabs the reader by the nose and pulls them through on a scented cloud with superb writing, a taut plot and heroic and vulnerable characters. This is one story not soon forgotten. ⠀
October 4, 2021
I enjoyed this perspective on World War II and the lives of LGBTQ+ community residing in occupied Paris. I found myself reading not to find out what happened but to finish the book at points. Some of the story lines dragged on and seemed unfinished all at the same time.
January 23, 2025
Nikako me nije dojmio ovaj roman.
April 25, 2022
This one started strong enough to hold my interest, Clementine is a 72 year old queer who dresses like a man and is a reformed thief, now running a perfume shop during the war. She is called 'out of retirement' for one more job, to steal the recipe book of a now-missing famous Parisian perfumer, and she can't say no.
This obviously sounds fantastic, another WWII historical fiction storyline that I had not heard of, and as I noted it started off great, just what I expected. However, it rambled on a bit with the plot seeming to go nowhere or taking too long to make the point, at least not fast enough for my liking, and the dual timelines were hard to keep straight. Usually novels like this are riveting, but this one just didn't do it for me. There are tons of 5 star reviews for this one so it could be timing for me and given the premise it is worth checking out on your own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the digital copy to review.
This obviously sounds fantastic, another WWII historical fiction storyline that I had not heard of, and as I noted it started off great, just what I expected. However, it rambled on a bit with the plot seeming to go nowhere or taking too long to make the point, at least not fast enough for my liking, and the dual timelines were hard to keep straight. Usually novels like this are riveting, but this one just didn't do it for me. There are tons of 5 star reviews for this one so it could be timing for me and given the premise it is worth checking out on your own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the digital copy to review.
August 14, 2021
Thank you @doubledaybooks for the gifted copy of this beautifully written historical fiction!
72 year Clementine, is such an intriguing and inspiring lady, that I savored reading about her journey through the WWII era set in 1941.
Clementine, an American queer is retired and living in Paris where she owns a perfume shop and dresses as a man. She finds a way to redeem herself in spite of being forced to work with Nazis. I enjoyed reading this book as the story was unlike any historical fiction I have read.
72 year Clementine, is such an intriguing and inspiring lady, that I savored reading about her journey through the WWII era set in 1941.
Clementine, an American queer is retired and living in Paris where she owns a perfume shop and dresses as a man. She finds a way to redeem herself in spite of being forced to work with Nazis. I enjoyed reading this book as the story was unlike any historical fiction I have read.
August 4, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Not my typical read.and little.too slow for. A thief looking for perfume secrets in the world of Paris and seedy clubs. Characters are weird but interesting. This book will find it's audience.
July 25, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing me with an advanced ecopy of The Perfume Thief by Timothy Schaffert. The book comes out on August 3rd and this is my honest review of the book. I enjoyed that this book was unlike anything I've read from this time in history in that it followed the LGBTQ community in Paris during WWII. The story was good, but I felt like there were some parts that were too long.
June 13, 2021
Historians and novelists rarely delve into the hardships and persecution of other marginalized people by the Germans at any time in WW2. The are usually given a token mention because their numbers are less dramatic and negative attitudes persist. Little is mentioned about the hypocritical actions of the various officers of the Reich as they occupied the city's cabarets and brothels. Their thievery is well known about some things, but not this particular area. The tale is of an elderly non-conforming perfumer with exceptional talents, even as the author has exceptional talents in describing the personalized scents created. The book is unusual as well as thought provoking and well written.
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from Doubleday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from Doubleday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 18, 2021
Many thanks to Doubleday for this #ARC and inviting me into the world of Clementine, a septuagenarian former thief pulled back into her criminal ways to thwart the Nazis who have invaded Paris in 1941.
The Perfume Thief is a beautifully written novel that not only evokes the magic of Paris, but the magic of scent as well. I’m not much of a perfume wearer, but every description in this book had me longing for my own personal Clementine concoction. I loved the historical aspects, especially the concept of a queer resistance quietly at the throat of the Nazis and the spy/thievery aspects were appropriately tense.
There are many types of love depicted between its pages - romantic, maternal, platonic - but the true love story is between the Parisians and their city and the lengths some went to to to protect it.
The Perfume Thief is a beautifully written novel that not only evokes the magic of Paris, but the magic of scent as well. I’m not much of a perfume wearer, but every description in this book had me longing for my own personal Clementine concoction. I loved the historical aspects, especially the concept of a queer resistance quietly at the throat of the Nazis and the spy/thievery aspects were appropriately tense.
There are many types of love depicted between its pages - romantic, maternal, platonic - but the true love story is between the Parisians and their city and the lengths some went to to to protect it.
August 9, 2021
I have read quite a few books about WWII, this one is probably one of the most unique. From the perspective of a older, gay woman! A look at her world. This takes place in 1941 Nazi occupied Paris. I learned a lot about perfume, scents, and the power of a scent. Not much action, which is more typical of a WWII novel, but a very interesting read.
March 2, 2025
Koliko me samo ova knjiga napatila i izmučila, B O Ž E!!! Čitala sam je preko dvije sedmice i jednostavno nisam kliknula ni sa kojim segmentom ovog djela. Kada pročitate sinopsis knjige, pomislit ćete da je pred vama vrhunski špijunski roman, pun adrenalina, preokreta i intriga, no ubrzo shvatate da ovaj roman ostavlja gorak okus i trag, i da ga je izuetno naporno čitati.
Kada dosegnete polovinu knjige, shvatite da radnja nema razvoja i da tapka u mjestu, potpuno izgubljena u nepotrebnom dijalogu između dva lika, dok paralelno konstatujete da ova priča sa staricom kleptomankom nema nikakvu svrhu i smisao. Kada dođete do kraja knjige, žalite protraćeno vrijeme na ovu knjigu i djelimično ćete zamrziti parfeme i sve u vezi istih.
Radnja se odvija u razvratnom dijelu Pariza tokom nacističke okupacije grada 1940-ih, no prije svega, ne znam zašto su liku Clementine dodijeljene pozne godine u ovom romanu? Svo vrijeme sam čekala da se taj klupko odmota i negdje uklopi, ali nažalost nije se desilo. Imala Clementina 70 ili 30 dekada, potpuno je nebitna stavka i informacija za ovaj roman i nikako ne utiče na njegov tok radnje. Kompletna njena ljubavna relacija sa izvjesnim M-om je također apsurdna i zanesenjačka; potpuno besmislena i nepotrebna.
Clementina je inače sedamdesetdvogodišnja notorna kradljivica koja je svoje kriminalno umijeće etablirala u Americi i potom pobjegla u Evropu kako bi izbjegla služenje zatvorske kazne. S afinitetom prema kriminalu i besprijekorno krojenim odijelima, život je dovodi u sponu sa aristokratijom koja je uvodi u magični svijet parfema. Clementina potom postaje zaluđenik parfema i opsesivno traga za sastavima istih. Po dolasku u Evropu, konkretno Francusku, Clementinu nakon izvjesnog vremena zahvata Drugi svjetski rat. Tokom njemačke okupacije Pariza, Clementina se trudi da bude neupadljiva što zbog svojih manevara i zloglasnog renomea, tako i zbog svog osebujnog stila i načina oblačenja. Clementina se također trudi da očuva svoju "porodicu" na okupu; pjevačicu u kabareu po imenu Day (koju doživljava kao kćerku) i glumca u pokušaju po imenu Blue (kojeg doživljava kao unuka). Većinu svog vremena Clementina provodi u kabareu kojeg ispunjavaju nacisti kao redovna i glavna klijentela, a gdje redovno nastupa njena Day.
Priča kulminira kada druga izvođačica, pjevačica po imenu Zoe St. Angel, priđe Clementini tražeći njenu pomoć zbog njene ekspertize u parfemima, ali i u krađama i prevarama. Ispostavlja se da je Zoe Jevrejka, a njen otac, svjetski poznati proizvođač parfema, nestao je bestraga. Njegov dnevnik, koji sadrži njegove recepture parfema i koji bi mogao razotkriti i Zoe-ino pravo porijeklo, nalazi se u rukama naciste Oskara Voss-a. Zoe moli Clementinu za "posljednju pljačku" tako što će se približiti Oskaru Voss-u i pronaći dnevnik. Clementina isprva oklijeva da se upusti u takvu obmanu i pljačku, ali ubrzo prihvata izazov.
Ono što slijedi nakon toga jeste jedna izuzetno dosadna, jednolična i naporna priča gdje Clementina govoreći zapravo istinu o svojoj prošlosti, manipuliše nacističkim birokratom kako bi se domogla dnevnika Zoe-inog oca. Iz tih dijaloga shvatamo da je Clementina šarolik lik opterećen životnim iskustvima, ali više od pola knjige je veliki promašaj izgubljen u nepotrebnom dijalogu između nje i Osakra Voss-a. Sve u svemu, nikakvih uzbudljivih trenutaka - napetosti, akcije, preokreta, i tako redom. Veliko ništa. Radnja i likovi su iznimno loše razrađeni. Tek na kraju romana saznajemo da kompletan kabare sudjeluje u pokretu otpora.
Ono što je najtragičnije, jeste da po sinopsisu knjige, koji je po meni potpuno pogrešan i neodgovarajući, saveznici traže Clementininu pomoć, ali to je daleko od istine. Navodno je "izvučena iz mirovine" kako bi obavila "posljednju pljačku". Ovdje nema nikakvih "krupnih" saveznika, već mali pokret otpora unutar kabarea o kojem ne znamo gotovo ništa do samog kraja knjige. Clementinu ne zadužuju saveznici direktno, već Zoe St. Angel iz privatnih razloga i zbog vlastite sigurnosti koja biva ugrožena.
Sinopsisi također forsiraju neku "sofisticiranu prozu" i neki navodno svojstven i očaravajući "duh Pariza" tog doba koji čitaoca baca u trans. Ništa od navedenog ja lično nisam doživjela niti osjetila. Moje mišljenje jeste da je ovdje riječ o snažnoj marketinškoj prevari izdavačkih kuća.
Ono što mene lično najviše boli i iritira u vezi ovog romana jeste što pojedini sinopsisi, pretežno strani, opisuju ovu knjigu kao "mjesto susretanja" knjiga "Džentlmen u Moskvi" i "Moulin Rouge". Kakva degradacija, poniženje i šamar za jedan roman visoke literarne profinjenosti i utkane inteligencije kakav je "Džentlmen u Moskvi"! "Moulin Rouge" nisam imala priliku čitati, ali komparirati literarno umijeće i brilijantnost Amor Towles-a sa ovom idiotarijom i teškim nonsensom je užasavajuće i poražavajuće!
Kada dosegnete polovinu knjige, shvatite da radnja nema razvoja i da tapka u mjestu, potpuno izgubljena u nepotrebnom dijalogu između dva lika, dok paralelno konstatujete da ova priča sa staricom kleptomankom nema nikakvu svrhu i smisao. Kada dođete do kraja knjige, žalite protraćeno vrijeme na ovu knjigu i djelimično ćete zamrziti parfeme i sve u vezi istih.
Radnja se odvija u razvratnom dijelu Pariza tokom nacističke okupacije grada 1940-ih, no prije svega, ne znam zašto su liku Clementine dodijeljene pozne godine u ovom romanu? Svo vrijeme sam čekala da se taj klupko odmota i negdje uklopi, ali nažalost nije se desilo. Imala Clementina 70 ili 30 dekada, potpuno je nebitna stavka i informacija za ovaj roman i nikako ne utiče na njegov tok radnje. Kompletna njena ljubavna relacija sa izvjesnim M-om je također apsurdna i zanesenjačka; potpuno besmislena i nepotrebna.
Clementina je inače sedamdesetdvogodišnja notorna kradljivica koja je svoje kriminalno umijeće etablirala u Americi i potom pobjegla u Evropu kako bi izbjegla služenje zatvorske kazne. S afinitetom prema kriminalu i besprijekorno krojenim odijelima, život je dovodi u sponu sa aristokratijom koja je uvodi u magični svijet parfema. Clementina potom postaje zaluđenik parfema i opsesivno traga za sastavima istih. Po dolasku u Evropu, konkretno Francusku, Clementinu nakon izvjesnog vremena zahvata Drugi svjetski rat. Tokom njemačke okupacije Pariza, Clementina se trudi da bude neupadljiva što zbog svojih manevara i zloglasnog renomea, tako i zbog svog osebujnog stila i načina oblačenja. Clementina se također trudi da očuva svoju "porodicu" na okupu; pjevačicu u kabareu po imenu Day (koju doživljava kao kćerku) i glumca u pokušaju po imenu Blue (kojeg doživljava kao unuka). Većinu svog vremena Clementina provodi u kabareu kojeg ispunjavaju nacisti kao redovna i glavna klijentela, a gdje redovno nastupa njena Day.
Priča kulminira kada druga izvođačica, pjevačica po imenu Zoe St. Angel, priđe Clementini tražeći njenu pomoć zbog njene ekspertize u parfemima, ali i u krađama i prevarama. Ispostavlja se da je Zoe Jevrejka, a njen otac, svjetski poznati proizvođač parfema, nestao je bestraga. Njegov dnevnik, koji sadrži njegove recepture parfema i koji bi mogao razotkriti i Zoe-ino pravo porijeklo, nalazi se u rukama naciste Oskara Voss-a. Zoe moli Clementinu za "posljednju pljačku" tako što će se približiti Oskaru Voss-u i pronaći dnevnik. Clementina isprva oklijeva da se upusti u takvu obmanu i pljačku, ali ubrzo prihvata izazov.
Ono što slijedi nakon toga jeste jedna izuzetno dosadna, jednolična i naporna priča gdje Clementina govoreći zapravo istinu o svojoj prošlosti, manipuliše nacističkim birokratom kako bi se domogla dnevnika Zoe-inog oca. Iz tih dijaloga shvatamo da je Clementina šarolik lik opterećen životnim iskustvima, ali više od pola knjige je veliki promašaj izgubljen u nepotrebnom dijalogu između nje i Osakra Voss-a. Sve u svemu, nikakvih uzbudljivih trenutaka - napetosti, akcije, preokreta, i tako redom. Veliko ništa. Radnja i likovi su iznimno loše razrađeni. Tek na kraju romana saznajemo da kompletan kabare sudjeluje u pokretu otpora.
Ono što je najtragičnije, jeste da po sinopsisu knjige, koji je po meni potpuno pogrešan i neodgovarajući, saveznici traže Clementininu pomoć, ali to je daleko od istine. Navodno je "izvučena iz mirovine" kako bi obavila "posljednju pljačku". Ovdje nema nikakvih "krupnih" saveznika, već mali pokret otpora unutar kabarea o kojem ne znamo gotovo ništa do samog kraja knjige. Clementinu ne zadužuju saveznici direktno, već Zoe St. Angel iz privatnih razloga i zbog vlastite sigurnosti koja biva ugrožena.
Sinopsisi također forsiraju neku "sofisticiranu prozu" i neki navodno svojstven i očaravajući "duh Pariza" tog doba koji čitaoca baca u trans. Ništa od navedenog ja lično nisam doživjela niti osjetila. Moje mišljenje jeste da je ovdje riječ o snažnoj marketinškoj prevari izdavačkih kuća.
Ono što mene lično najviše boli i iritira u vezi ovog romana jeste što pojedini sinopsisi, pretežno strani, opisuju ovu knjigu kao "mjesto susretanja" knjiga "Džentlmen u Moskvi" i "Moulin Rouge". Kakva degradacija, poniženje i šamar za jedan roman visoke literarne profinjenosti i utkane inteligencije kakav je "Džentlmen u Moskvi"! "Moulin Rouge" nisam imala priliku čitati, ali komparirati literarno umijeće i brilijantnost Amor Towles-a sa ovom idiotarijom i teškim nonsensom je užasavajuće i poražavajuće!
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