The Perfume Of Books

“A book has got smell. A new book smells great. An old book smells even better. An old book smells like ancient Egypt.” – Ray Bradbury

A perfumier should bottle the odour of books. It’s a powerful attraction for we bibliophiles. To walk into a bookshop, whether it sells new books, or is one crammed with second-hand tomes, is heaven!

Back in the dim, dark past, I was as passionate about my local library as I am about the Gold Coast library just down the road. When I was a small child, our library operated in an ancient shop in our main street. Then it moved into a modern, purpose-built brick building. (It’s had two moves since then, which only goes to prove how ancient I am.)

The library was a home from home through primary and secondary school. The two spinster ladies who ran it seemed rather stern, a little aloof, but each year, just before Christmas, I was invited into the inner sanctum to select half a dozen new titles to tide me over the holiday break. Each volume I sniffed appreciatively as I hauled it out of its carton. Books by the likes of Elizabeth Enright, Pamela Brown, Enid Blyton, and Richmal Cromptom. I was spoilt for choice.

The smell of those books! Sniffing a brand new book, I’m immediately taken back. Smell is a powerful sense. One we, as authors, should never to forget to include in our stories.

When my own book, The Heart Has Its Reasons, was delivered by Jason (aka “The Flash”) from Ocean Reeve Publishing, he encouraged me to smell the beautiful new book scent. Sheer pleasure!

The Heart Has Its Reasons is available for ORDER by clicking this link https://www.bronwynhouldsworth.com/books

Enjoy.