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Books Quote by Christopher Paul Curtis

“As soon as I got into the library I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I got a whiff of the leather on all the old books, a smell that got real strong if you picked one of them up and stuck your nose real close to it when you turned the pages. Then there was the the smell of the cloth that…” quote by Christopher Paul Curtis
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““As soon as I got into the library I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I got a whiff of the leather on all the old books, a smell that got real strong if you picked one of them up and stuck your nose real close to it when you turned the pages. Then there was the the smell of the cloth that covered the brand-new books, books that made a splitting sound when you opened them. Then I could sniff the the paper, that soft, powdery, drowsy smell that comes off the page in little puffs when you're reading something or looking at some pictures, kind of hypnotizing smell. I think it's the smell that makes so many folks fall asleep in the library. You'll see someone turn a page and you can imagine a puff of page powder coming up real slow and easy until it starts piling on a person's eyelashes, weighing their eyes down so much they stay down a little longer after each blink and finally making them so heavy that they just don't come back up at all. Then their mouths open and their heads start bouncing up and down like they're bobbing in a big tub of of water for apples and before you know it... they're out cold and their face thunks smack-dab on the book. That's the part that makes librarians the maddest. They get real upset if folks start drooling in the books””

Christopher Paul Curtis

About This Quote

Source Book: The Watsons Go to Birmingham – A Novel by Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995

The narrator describes how the layered scents of old and new books create a hypnotic atmosphere that can lull readers into drowsiness and even sleep.

In simple terms: Book smells can make people sleepy.

Key Takeaway

Enjoy the quiet, but keep eyes open.

Themes

senses nostalgia library sleep reading

Mood

calm dreamy reflective

Type

descriptive literary sensory

When to use this quote

  • studying
  • reading for pleasure
  • library work
  • writing descriptive scenes

Key Concepts

olfactory perception environmental psychology habit formation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do sensory details affect your focus?
  • Can a scent become a trigger for relaxation?
A Different Perspective

Not everyone finds the smell soothing; some may be allergic or distracted.

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