A Sweet Scent of Death

By Guillermo Arriaga

Book Overview

From the award-winning, internationally acclaimed screenwriter of Amores perros, 21 Grams, and Babel, A Sweet Scent of Death is Guillermo Arriaga's tale of deception, passion, and violence fused together by the tragic killing of a young girl in a small Mexican village.

Early one morning in a deserted field, Ram?n Casta?os is confronted with the dead body of Adela, a lovely young girl, whom he had only admired from afar. Within an hour, rumor of the death of Ram?n Casta?os's girlfriend has spread to every corner of Loma Grande. This powder-trail of gossip ignites further violence when the villagers, thirsty for revenge, cast about for answers and hit upon the nomadic Jos? Echeverri-Berrioz?bal, known as "the Gypsy." Honor then demands that Ram?n must now live out his imaginary past in a brutal reality and prove his manhood by avenging Adela's cruel fate.

Guillermo Arriaga is the author of The Night Buffalo and The Guillotine Squad. He has worked in television, radio, and film. Arriaga is the award-winning screenwriter of Amores perros, 21 Grams, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and Babel.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743296796
• ISBN13: 9780743296793
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Not thought provoking, but certainly enjoyable.

This book is a little different than what I usually read. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie "Amores Perros" and figured I would try some of his literature. Although I probably should have started with "A Buffalo in the Night" since that is his most famous book (and is also coming out soon in theatres). I enjoyed his writing style, the development of his characters, the imagery of the dry Mexican town and the continual theme of the smell of death. It was an enjoyable read and it was relaxing as well but I wasn't as engrossed in the book as I hoped to be. There were times like I felt I was in the room looking at Adela's body and then there were times where I just felt, well, like a reader. Overall though, I'm glad I read the book and will certainly read "Buffalo in the Night". I would suggest this as a good book to read as a break from all the delicious thought-provoking lit out there because on its own it is certainily enjoyable.