When reading it twenty years later discussions of Jamaican jasmine and synthetic replacements of the natural ingredients resonated more. When I read it for the first time in 1984 my knowledge of perfume was at an early stage. Their story tells of the reason for and the creation of Jitterbug Perfume. Interspersed between their story are chapters of King Alobar and his paramour Kudra. As the story progresses we learn they are connected by more than the beet they received. All of them are working on making a modern version of Jitterbug Perfume. That is a risk we will have to take.” From there a beet is delivered to three protagonists living in the modern-day Seattle, New Orleans, and Paris. Robbins closes the first chapter with, “A tale that begins with a beet will end with the devil. The first sentence of Jitterbug Perfume informs us, “The beet is the most intense of vegetables.” After a few paragraphs supporting that thesis Mr. There is also some odd focal point which ends up tying many of the protagonists together. Fortunately, his books are written in such a way that they propel you to wanting to know the answer to the questions of the narrative which keeps you turning pages. To fully enjoy his writing I think you have to ride the wave of prose until it carries you to the shore. Robbins as a writer whom it is best to read over a few days and not in small bits before bed or on the commute. In between those threads are many laugh out loud moments. Robbins has a style of writing a tale in multiple layers covering different timeframes and almost always a bit of the fantastical. His most famous book is “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” which is how I first discovered him. Robbins had staked out a reputation as a literary cult author.

Jitterbug Perfume was the fourth novel released by Mr. I do know my answer is one few of my infrequent interrogators expects Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. I am not usually asked what my favorite perfume book is.

Jitterbug perfume book review