I was caught. On the bus home from school yesterday, I was caught ... smelling a book.
Yes, I smell books. I love the smell of the pages (except for school textbooks and a select few others - they smell disgusting), and sometimes I judge the genre or how good I think the book will be simple on its smell. Once or twice I've had the experience of opening up a book years after I've read it, when I've forgotten everything about it ... but then I take a whiff, and suddenly it all comes flooding back. I remember every little plot point, and what the weather was like outside when I read certain parts, and whether I was eating noodles or sandwiches at the time.
It's even one of the things I do when judging whether to buy a book in a bookstore. This is the process I go through:
- Look at the cover. We all know the old axiom, don't judge a book by it's cover, but millions of people around the world do just that, and so do I. I know, it's terrible, considering that the writer has little or no input into what goes on the cover of their book (excluding the title), but if the cover looks nice, then I take it or the shelf and proceed to step 2.
- Read the back of the book. This is what it's all about: the story. This step requires me to be hooked by the description of the story on the back of the book.
- Smell the book. Self-explanatory. It just better smell good.
- Start reading. Page 1. I read. Sometimes I read a chapter, or maybe just a few pages. If I'm still interested in the story, and want to read the whole thing, then it's to the counter.
And so does this guy:
So, in the comments, tell me what you think. Am I crazy? Am I the only one? Or do you smell your books too?
That has to be...
ReplyDelete...one of the things we have in common. I smell books too, and I get caught doing it by my mom, and she oft calls me a "freak" because of it (in a joking manor, of course).
I usually more love the smell of fantasy books. Pick up a Brandon Sanderson or Robert Jordan book, even a Terry Goodkind or Christopher Paolini book and smell it. You won't be disappointed.
I have one book that smells like a pizza joint. Pretty awesome, right?
So, to answer your question, no, you're not crazy, and no, you're not alone. I thought I was alone. I thought I was the only one...
-Matt
Oh, good. I'm quite relieved :) I like the smell of fantasy books too.
ReplyDeleteThe first real chapter book I ever got (as far as I remember) I kept in a special box of mine that had a particularly strong smell of varnish. I loved the varnish smell wafting from the pages every time I read it. Ever since then I have smelled my books :)
Hello from a fellow campaigner. Oh, I smell books too. I hate it when they smell of cigarettes. I'm nearsighted but love to read without my glasses. So the smell is immensely important. That's one need eBooks will never be able to fulfill.
ReplyDeleteHeehee - I am a committed book-huffer, too. You're not alone!
ReplyDeleteI don't think my situational memory is quite so keen as yours, though - noodles? Impressive. [g]
@Cat: Exactly, exactly. Another reason I don't really like the idea of eBooks is because they don't take up any room - which I suppose is one of the said advantages of them. But for me, I like buying books rather than getting them out of the library so that I can put them on my ever-expanding bookshelf and look at them. I like the idea of several walls of my house covered in books (which probably comes from my Dad; he has a lot of books). eBook Readers kill that in a heartbeat.
ReplyDelete@Jillybean: Awesome! We book-smellers need to stick together :) Also, I think my situational memory is only true for a few books, not too many.
Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog....
ReplyDeleteAnd the reason we like the smell of books is because of the vanillin in the paper pulp.... same stuff thats in vanilla. Just sayin.
There'll be an app for that when iphone 5 is released with smellovision.
Wow, I didn't know that. Interesting! Wikipedia says it's used in the fragrance industry too ... So it isn't by accident that books smell so good? They actually use that chemical in the paper?
ReplyDeleteAs a soldier in the writer campaign, I salute you. Now, I have the olfactory sensitivity of a drunk starfish, but I think it's quite marvelous that you give books the good ol' once-over with the sniffer.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your youth makes me feel like I should start quaffing formaldehyde. Glad to see you're starting early. Or should I be horrified you've become insane so young?
Best wishes on your writing.
@AE: Salutations, fellow campaigner. To be honest, I'm glad that I've lost my mind so young - some of life's greatest joys (such as smelling books and creating worlds) only seem like a good idea after that's happened. :)
ReplyDeleteI am ecstatic that you are writing and blogging at an early age. I wish I would have truly started (not just dabbled, as I did) writing as a teen.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I am not one to smell books. Although, there have been occasions when a book--often from a used bookstore--does not smell pleasant. I don't think I can develop a long-lasting relationship with a book whose smell nauseates me. But I so am not judging those who do. As far as your other points go, I do the very same things (minus the sniffing) when selecting a book.
Thanks for stopping by my blog :-) Happy Campaigning and writing!
Definitely common. I have memories of reading books under the Christmas tree (am I the only one who did that?) and now the books smell of pine. It's always nice to smell them.
ReplyDeleteThen there are those books you take on planes. They always end up smelling like too many people crammed into a small space, and for some reason deli meat. No idea. But I love smelling them because then you not only remember the story, but your vacations as well.
For instance: I took a book to Hawaii. It now smells like salt and sand.
@Susan: Thanks :) Book-smelling isn't suited to everyone, I guess; many of my friends don't do it. It's all about the story anyway! But it's awesome to see you over here, thanks for commenting :)
ReplyDelete@Heather: Memories, huh? I have memories associated with the smell of books too. It's great :)
I absolutely love books. Ebooks just don't do it for me. I need that touchy-feely experience. However, I have never actually smelt them! I think you're all mad! (Only joking!)
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same about eBooks. You should try sniffing a book one time, I dare you :)
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ReplyDelete@Jessie: Sorry, I accidentally deleted your comment! Here it is: "I most definitely dont like the smell of library books that have been touched by other greasy fingers. But I do love fresh off the press ones, B&N ones:)"
ReplyDeleteI'm not really one for library books, so I really wouldn't know what they smell like (although I suspect it wouldn't be too good). My brothers both get books out from the library, but I just tend to buy them. That way I can put them on my bookshelves like trophies and look at them, say "Ha, I read that book right there!" and, of course, smell them whenever I want. For the longest time I wasn't really interested in reading, despite my passion for writing, and so I don't yet have a big collection of books. But I'm working on it :)
I love smelling books!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think library books smell the best. And I love the way paperback books smell, but I've never cared much for hardcover books. I don't know why. My absolute favorites are children's books that have a particular smell (probably formaldehyde). I have no idea what it is. Maybe it's the glossy coating or the colored ink. Who knows.
Thanks for bumping me to the second round, btw!
I agree, paperbacks are definitely better :)
ReplyDeleteAnd no worries! It was a very good story :) It really made me smile.
Ahaha I had the totally same experience. My friends and I were on a bus to a lecture, and I realized the book I was reading smelled really good so I smelled it and they looked at me and where like "Yvie? What are you doing? Is everything okaaay?" And then I told them my book smelled good and they told me I'm weird. Which is sort of an inarguable fact.
ReplyDeleteAlso, can we please appreciate how good really old books smell? I have a section of my bookshelves for books that are more than fifty years old, and every time I walk by it, I appreciate how pretty and delicious smelling they are.
OKay, now I definitely sound crazy. Gosh I love books.
I don't have the best sense of smell, but I am very sensitive to textures, which is why I partially base my book buying off of how the pages feel. I really love soft ones like you find in paperbacks. Harry Potter had a unique sort of feel, stiff and soft at the safe time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so big on the texture of the pages, but it sure does make a difference to the reading experience. For example, I read this book, once, where the ink of the words stood up off the page so you could feel it with your fingers. That was distracting!
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