One of my favorite summer pleasures is to lose myself in a good book. There’s nothing like being totally immersed in a story that, like scent, transports you to another place and time. The Lantern, author Deborah Lawrenson’s first novel, does just that. An Advance Reader’s Edition of The Lantern arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago and it has been my constant companion ever since. Whenever I’ve got a spare moment, I steal away and read a chapter or two. Set to release on August 9, this modern Gothic novel interweaves past and present through the voices of 21st century Eve and 20th century Benedicte. They alternate to tell the story of Les Genevriers, a hamlet nestled in the lavender fields of Provence.
As the characters develop and their tales progress, so does the fragrant back-story which provides insight into the 20th century French perfume industry. The violet waves of the lavender fields come so alive on the pages, you can almost smell the aromatic plants. OK, I confess, I actually did smell lavender. While reading, I felt compelled to find my Norfolk Lavender and spritz both myself and the book’s pages for some true scent immersion.
What are you reading this summer? Do you seek out and savor scent descriptions in the books you read? Leave a comment and enter to win a copy of The Lantern.
