“Are You Ready for New Urban Fragrances? Yeah, I guess I'm ready, but listen: Perfume is a disguise. Since the middle ages, we have worn masks of fruit and flowers in order to conceal from ourselves the meaty essence of our humanity. We appreciate the sexual attractant of the rose, the ripeness of the orange, more than we honor our own ripe carnality. Now today we want to perfume our cities, as well; to replace their stinging fumes of disturbed fossils' sleep with the scent of gardens and orchards. Yet, humans are not bees any more than they are blossoms. If we must pull an olfactory hood over our urban environment, let it be of a different nature. I want to travel on a train that smells like snowflakes. I want to sip in cafes that smell like comets. Under the pressure of my step, I want the streets to emit the precise odor of a diamond necklace. I want the newspapers I read to smell like the violins left in pawnshops by weeping hobos on Christmas Eve. I want to carry luggage that reeks of the neurons in Einstein's brain. I want a city's gases to smell like the golden belly hairs of the gods. And when I gaze at a televised picture of the moon, I want to detect, from a distance of 239,000 miles, the aroma of fresh mozzarella.”
Quote by Tom Robbins
Work
This book delves into the complexities of the natural world and the intricate relationships between humans and animals, with a focus on the unusual behavior of wild ducks flying backward. more
Author
Tom Robbins (born July 22, 1936) is an acclaimed American novelist known for his whimsical, philosophical, and often surreal storytelling. His works blend pop culture, Eastern spirituality, and countercultural themes, with notable titles including 'Another Roadside Attraction' and 'Even Cowgirls Get the Blues'. Born in North Carolina, Robbins worked as a journalist and art critic before turning to fiction. His novels are celebrated for their linguistic playfulness, eccentric characters, and profound meditations on love, freedom, and the human condition. Though not a recipient of major literary prizes, he has cultivated a devoted global readership and influenced generations of writers. He remains a distinctive voice in contemporary American literature. more
You May Also Like
“I die a Queen, but I would rather die the wife of Culpepper”
“I am flagrantly nuts. I can say this because I am a doctor and I know about these things.”
“Marriages are made in heaven. When Allah made a creature, He also made the creature's mate”