Simply put, this was one of the most stunning books I have read in a long time.
The beginning was very mysterious, and I liked that the reader was kept off balance as to the location of the story. I felt that added to the intrigue of Emmeline’s story, and left the question as to whether her life was similar to those of the fairy tales that her father tells her.
The imagery is absolutely beautiful. One passage about the rain talking to the roof and the fire snapping at it to be quiet actually stopped me from reading for a moment. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that described quite so perfectly.
The author evokes so much emotion just through the descriptions of locations and events, but it’s not false emotion. I really felt like I was with Emmeline and feeling her experiences right along with her.
Especially school. I could totally empathize with that.
But what I liked best about this book, what will stick in my memory and what inspired curiosity and a desire to learn more was the whole concept of smells and what they can capture.
We know this to be true, right? I can name certain smells that take me immediately to places that I had thought long forgotten. For example, if I smell cinnamon and sugar baking (like Snickerdoodle cookies) I instantly remember what one of my best friend’s bedrooms looked like…because her mom was always baking Snickerdoodles.
Or the smell of Aqua Net brings back memories of high school. (Yeah, I’m an 80s gal, and proud of it!)
But the way Emmeline treats smells, and her thoughts later in the book about missing notes was fascinating. The author made me want to learn more about the science, as I am sure that it is accurate.
I have also found that I am more aware of my sense of smell when I enter a store. Read the book, and you’ll know exactly what I mean.
But seriously, this is one unique book, and you should really give it a try. It is one I plan to re-read (knowing how it ends) because I think I will have a different perspective on the beginning. I love when a book can do that.
The Scent Keeper by Erica BauermeisterMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I honestly did not know where this book was going when I first started reading, but I quickly became engrossed in Emmeline’s story, and then I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. At times poetic and haunting, at other times exhilarating – but always fascinating, I felt everything right along with Emmeline. I loved the concepts, especially of smells as colors, and was thoroughly intrigued by Emmeline’s abilities. This was a fantastic book that should go on everyone’s “Must Read” list. Visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews for more detailed thoughts on this book. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press (via NetGalley) for a pre-release digital ARC of this book.
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