Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This topic is open for discussion of The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro



Book Synopsis
An inheritance from a mysterious stranger...
An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris..
And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory... and a secret

London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a fortunate young woman. Despite her sheltered upbringing in Oxford, her recent marriage has thrust her into the heart of London's most refined and ambitious social circles. However, playing the role of the sophisticated socialite her husband would like her to be doesn't come easily to her—and perhaps never will.

Then one evening a letter arrives from France that will change everything. Grace has received an inheritance. There's only one problem: she has never heard of her benefactor, the mysterious Eva d'Orsey.

So begins a journey that takes Grace to Paris in search of Eva. There, in a long-abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank, she discovers the seductive world of perfumers and their muses, and a surprising, complex love story. Told by invoking the three distinctive perfumes she inspired, Eva d'Orsey's story weaves through the decades, from 1920s New York to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London.

But these three perfumes hold secrets. And as Eva's past and Grace's future intersect, Grace realizes she must choose between the life she thinks she should live and the person she is truly meant to be.

Illuminating the lives and challenging times of two fascinating women, The Perfume Collector weaves a haunting, imaginative, and beautifully written tale filled with passion and possibility, heartbreak and hope.

Reserved

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I'm in for this one!

I will join in!

Ack... I said I'd join but I started it today and just can't get into it so I'm not sure I'll be reading it, after all. Could be my mood so I may give it a couple of weeks.

I'll start early :) Just needed something French to read.

I'm 31% done and the story is very intriguing.
(view spoiler)[Grace has just discovered an old perfume shop in Paris. I can imagine how wonderful that must feel. I love everything about perfumes and this shop must have been like treasure ark.
I suspect the old lady knows the connection between Grace and Eva and this is not the last trip to the old perfume shop. (hide spoiler)]

I started this a few days ago and I am at about the same point Skandia is. I have really enjoyed getting to know the two women of the story - Grace and Eva - as the chapters have switched back and forth between the two. I love how they both have their amazing skill, (view spoiler)[Grace with her photographic memory, and Eva with her uncanny ability with numbers. Does this mean that they are actually related? I am inclined to think so.

I'm going to hazard a guess - I think Grace is going to turn out as being Eva's illegitimate daughter... (hide spoiler)]

I'm enjoying the setting too. I keep forgetting that it was only 10 years before that the War ended, so both London and Paris would have still been scarred.

NancyHelen wrote: "I started this a few days ago and I am at about the same point Skandia is. I have really enjoyed getting to know the two women of the story - Grace and Eva - as the chapters have switched back and ..."

I thought at first (view spoiler)[ about Grace being Eva's daughter too, but that would be too trivial. I'm hoping there will be something more mysterious than that... (hide spoiler)]

Skandia wrote: "NancyHelen wrote: "I started this a few days ago and I am at about the same point Skandia is. I have really enjoyed getting to know the two women of the story - Grace and Eva - as the chapters have..."

Oooo, I wonder what could be more mysterious! I'm going to have to read on now...

hope you all enjoy! I found this one hard to put down!

I am surprised by how much I am enjoying this book. I'm 36% in, and I can't decide who's story I enjoy following more, Eva's or Grace's. (view spoiler)[ It was so disappointing when Eva seems taken with Mr. Lamont. He's obviously a cad, obvious to those of us on the outside. But Eva wants some danger and excitement, so of course she wants to talk to the "bad boy". I thought that he was teaching her those card games so that he could take her gambling with him. But now that he left the hotel, I guess I was wrong. Or maybe he'll come back.

The perfume collection in France was very cool. I had forgotten about Grace's photographic memory until I read NancyHelen's comment. Now I do think that Eva was Grace's mother. (hide spoiler)] Looking forward to continuing with this one!

About 52%
(view spoiler)[I feel so sorry for Eva. Her innocence and naivety was taken so brutally. She should have listened to Sis and Rita when they warned her about Ms. Wawerly. I think this is the start of the Eva d'Orsay's real story now. (hide spoiler)]

I am about 35% done..
The story is okay so far though I am really really curious about the connection between (view spoiler)[ Eva and Grace.. I am finding Eva's past very intriguing as well..
I am guessing that woman in the perfumery was Madame Zed..

These flashbacks in every alternate chapter are driving me crazy..though I have to admit that it is an interesting way of story-telling! :)
(hide spoiler)]

@Talia: I am enjoying Eva's story more! I don't know why but Grace's character isn't striking me as much..

I've been looking for a reason to read this for ages! I'll start it this evening.

I have finished reading. 3,5 stars, not quite 4 for me.
I must say that I liked the first half of the book much better than the second half.
(view spoiler)[ For me the second half of the book kind of fell apart and was more chaotic and inconsistent after the secret about Eva and Grace was revealed. As I did suspect from the beginning that Grace is Eva's daughter, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more to the story and unfortunately Grace failed to gain my sympathy in full. Also, I expected Madam Zed to play a bigger role in Eva's story and I wanted to know more about her. (hide spoiler)]