Overview

When an accident obliterated Molly Birnbaum's sense of smell, it also destroyed her dream of becoming a chef, and sent her instead upon a brave and uncertain mission to reawaken her nose. Writing with emotional honesty, intellectual curiosity, and a foodie's feel for descriptive precision, she explores the science of olfaction and pheromones, ponders Proust's madeleine and her own scent memory, and quizzes psychologists, perfumiers, and ice-cream inventors, all in an effort to overcome her condition. From cinnamon and cedarwood to bacon and her boyfriend's shirt, we follow Molly as she gradually rediscovers the scented world and captures in apt, piquant words the rich layer of life that tends to be wordless.

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9781846273841

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Reviews

Tantalizing. . . . A pilgrimage out of devastation, toward reclaiming the dream of being a chef. . . . Where [Birnbaum] ends up will surprise you, much as it did her. --Washington Post

Tantalizing. . . . A pilgrimage out of devastation, toward reclaiming the dream of being a chef. . . . Where [Birnbaum] ends up will surprise you, much as it did her. --Washington Post A culinary-minded journalist . . . movingly depicts the nearly ineffable plight of the anosmic . . . alongside passages of sweeping journalistic discovery of all things olfactory. A brave, unflagging memoir. --Kirkus Reviews A fascinating, illuminating and heartwarming read and a revelation of how aroma is woven, in intricate and complex patterns, through the tapestry of our lives. -- Frangrance Forum A wonderful book about life's unexpected turns, about love and its complexities, and about the ineffably mysterious human brain. I couldn't stop telling people about it, while I was reading it. It will make you see your nose, your life, and your most important decisions in a whole new way. --Maile Meloy, bestselling author of Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It A Summer Hot Read. --New York Post After reading Birnbaum's smart, lovely book, readers will be reminded to savor their next meal, each fragrant bite. --Boston Globe Fascinating and vivid. . . . Packed with information and a great read to boot. I was smitten. --Library Journal Molly Birnbaum writes with great curiosity and depth, reawakening in us all the sense of taste that we take for granted. --Amanda Hesser, author of The Essential New York Times Cookbook Molly Birnbaum's fascinating book takes her--and us--deep inside the mysterious world of scent. Her writing about this unseen force is fresh, smart, and consistently surprising. If this beautifully written book were a smell, it would be a crisp green apple. --Claire Dederer, bestselling author of Poser Molly Birnbaum's fascinating journey, told with charm and compassion, is ultimately a story of triumph. A book for food lovers, sensualists, and all of us in search of our true heart's desire. --Kim Sun?e, bestselling author of Trail of Crumbs Moving and informative. --Publishers Weekly Powerfully explores the science of smell and its ties to emotion, love and even memory. . . . A truly mouthwatering read. --BookPage Rich and insightful. . . . A veritable feast for the reader. --Charlotte Observer

Author Information

Molly Birnbaum is a recipient of the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship in Arts and Culture from Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in the New York Times and ARTnews magazine, and writes the popular food blog My Madeleine (http://mollysmadeleine.blogspot.com/ ). This is her first book.

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