The smell of the library was always the same - the musty odour of old clothes mixed with the keener scent of unwashed bodies, creating what the chief librarian had once described as 'the steam of the social soup'.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The library’s smell blended old‑clothes mustiness with the sharp scent of unwashed bodies, described as the ‘steam of the social soup.’
- In plain terms
- The library’s odor mixes old and fresh human scents into a social atmosphere.
- What can you take from it?
- Sensory details can capture the essence of a place.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does smell affect your memory of a place?
- Can you convey atmosphere without relying on smell?
Another view
Such vivid smells may be off‑putting to some readers.
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