Contents Of A Book Lover

There are only 2 questions that a book enthusiast or a bibliophile will ask you when they see a particular volume open on your lap-

1. What book is that?

2. New book smell or old book smell?

The first one is asked out of inquisition ;to satisfy their boundless curiosity-whether they have read it. The second one,though, is the one that actually matters. Its purpose- to sort you into either of the two teams. To answer is to reveal which fragrance you would smell when Amortensia is placed in front of you.

Sniffing the worn yellow or brand new snow white pages of a book is how we get high; the library becomes our prime source of comfort.

The preference for a particular smell is not just a silly quirk but a definition of who you are and your inclinations and declinations.

On one hand, the smell of a new book is for them who prefer adventure and change. It is for those who thirst for something new in their day-to-day lives. They would prefer to explore the unimaginable than remain entrapped in their otherwise mundane existence. They prefer to feel the smoothness of the paper, free of dog ears and creases, beneath their fingers. To them the sense of purity and innocence that comes with a new book needs to be treasured and protected.

On the other hand,however, the smell of old books excites the ones who love to perceive the wisdom of a book through its moth bitten pages- greeting the coarse surface of the manuscript as a long lost childhood friend. Some of them love to write in their books- making little notes here and there , to make themselves always remember the thrill of reading that particular book for the first time,what that specific paragraph or stanza made them feel, why they think the character did that etcetera etcetera. The fading ink from all the times sunlight blared down on its pages, the light brown splotches from all the times thatthey spilled tea or coffee on it makes them happy,calm. They are more inclined to find beauty in the life that surrounds them.

Regardless of the fact that whether one prefers the scent of a new book or the allure of an old book we all wish we could bottle them up and put it out in the market. Both try to soak up everything that is there in the bounded papers through osmosis- clutching it close to their heart. Hissing at anyone who tries to approach them and their book with a “my precious” spat their way like the Gollums that they are.