Tom Robbins’ modern masterpiece, Jitterbug Perfume, brings forth a new perspective on love, life,
religion, time, intellectualism, and ironically smell.
The novel is centralized on two characters: Priscilla and Alobar. In the beginning, Alobar is a medieval lord in Europe fighting death. Meanwhile, Priscilla is a struggling chemist in modern Seattle fighting to discover the elements of an ancient perfume.
These two aren’t the typical hero and heroine. On the other hand, the novel isn’t typical seeing as the storyline is based on a perfume. The antique bottle Priscilla finds contains a scent never sensed before. The bottle is even more intriguing seeing as it is marked by the mythological god Pan who is recognized as the devil today. It is the object of every character’s affection. Hence the title, Jitterbug Perfume since everyone raves over it.
How this story unfolds still surprises me. Starting in 8th century Bohemia with Alobar, the novel closes in the late 20th century in Paris. Surprisingly, Alobar is still alive then. Do the math Knight readers. Better yet, read the novel.
One aspect that grabbed my attention was the structure of this novel. It flows from one character’s storyline to another until they all crash to create the unexpected ending. The beginning was also very interesting seeing as it started with a Beet. Now normally, a reader wouldn’t feel inclined to read anything about this unsavory plant.
Yet, Robbins does an excellent job bringing life to the most minuscule and dullest things. Beets are a reoccurring symbol and after reading this book, I’ll never look at them the same way. I would’ve never known that bandaloop was an ancient dance and that the brain has a fourth section in which its purpose is still unknown to scientists. But I do now. These were the tidbits that I have always enjoyed reading in a novel. Robbins cunningly instills these little things that make up life in the story to paint his big picture.
What I didn’t enjoy were the intimate scenes scattered throughout the novel. They were heavily sexual and I would advise for interested readers to beware of this or at least mature enough to handle it.
The novel is fairly easy read diction-wise. On the other hand, I found myself having to use my trusty pocket dictionary at times. Being the book worm that I am, I did not mind at all.
Robbins’ novel redefines how one can “dive into an adventure” when reading a book. It has done so for me and I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading for enjoyment. The Knight rates Jitterbug Perfume an eight out of ten stars.