The smell of the book is
the same as memories
musty, vague—
its only distinction
is in itself
how it sits there
unattended:
different memories,
different books,
all smell
the same.
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Categories: poetry
Bill Pearse
Writing is learning to see in the dark
Bill Pearse 
Like that idea of ‘musty’ memories. Some feel bright and shiny, others old, musty, worn at the edges. very true
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Books just have that distinct smell (old ones). Not altogether pleasant but I like it. Because they’re books I guess!
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Yes, I don’t mind the musty book smell, but never took to that dictinctive smell that vinyl record shops had. Though my other half loves it still 🙂
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They used the vinyl jackets as surfaces to perform other tasks.
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Did they? Is that why record shops always smelled so damn weird?
I used to hang out in one as a kid because it was tucked in the back room of the Wimpy bar my mum worked in. We’d hang out eating burgers and chips all day, looking at Supertramp and Meatloaf covers and listening to Peter Gabriel’s Games Without Frontiers. Well, that’s how I remember it anyway 🙂
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I love the smell of an old memory. 🙂
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Like things you find in pockets (not including fruit).
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sensory memories are by far the most powerful –
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They transcend all else somehow, beyond words! Dog territory.
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Oooooh the smell of books… what solace is there in the world that compares to the crackle of the page, the temple of books be it a bookstore or a library…don’t get me started!:P
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I know! That smell from a used bookstore, not overtly good but distinct and real (kind of like Bob Dylan’s voice). Bill
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