Title: The Book of Lost Fragrances
Author: M. J. Rose
Publication Information: Atria Books, Simon and Schuster. 2012. 368 pages.
Book Source: I picked up this book while browsing the new book section at our library.
Favorite Quote: "Myths are a culture's collective dream. Small stories about individuals that, out of the thousands told, were the ones that clicked with the most people because of the patterns in our collective unconscious. As the stories are handed down, they change, grow, become more extravagant and magical."
The Book of Lost Fragrances combines seemingly unrelated things - high fashion Paris perfumes, Egyptian mythology and history, and the Chinese - Tibetan conflict. These disparate topics come together in a story about adventure and beliefs.
Jac made the decision to leave behind her family's perfume business. Yet, she is haunted by memories and nightmares of her mother's death and her own illnesses. Her brother Robbie continues to run the family business and yet is at risk of losing it all. Tied into this story is the legend of Cleopatra's perfume factory and beliefs about reincarnation. Some believe. Some do not believe. All will go to extreme lengths to support their beliefs.
The books seems to start as a family saga. It then turns into that and an action adventure story. Parts of it read like a spy novel, but because of the family story tied into it, becomes a much more personal story. I love perfumes. I like mythology and the exploration of belief systems. So, I enjoyed the book and the way it brought all those elements together. A quick and easily read story.
Jac made the decision to leave behind her family's perfume business. Yet, she is haunted by memories and nightmares of her mother's death and her own illnesses. Her brother Robbie continues to run the family business and yet is at risk of losing it all. Tied into this story is the legend of Cleopatra's perfume factory and beliefs about reincarnation. Some believe. Some do not believe. All will go to extreme lengths to support their beliefs.
The books seems to start as a family saga. It then turns into that and an action adventure story. Parts of it read like a spy novel, but because of the family story tied into it, becomes a much more personal story. I love perfumes. I like mythology and the exploration of belief systems. So, I enjoyed the book and the way it brought all those elements together. A quick and easily read story.
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