A load of obsession.

There’s no haiku here to set the tone of this piece. The tone is simple. No sarcasm. Not a hint of undertone. Straight from the heart. If you were to ask anyone who knew me what they thought my obsession was, 100% they’d say ‘type’ – the making, customising selling of. Sure, that’s my passion, but it’s not my obsession. My obsession, funnily enough though, does crossover with my passion. Books, I f**king love books.

Working in the design industry means I get to see a lot of creative output, and I can’t tell you how much I love doing what I do. It’s a job so satisfying that I’ve done it for over 25 years, and even more in my personal time. Over the years, I’ve seen the rise of web design, the death of new media (CD-ROM, yuck!) and someone famously exclaimed this is the end of print in 2000-and-something – I’m still waiting on that last one. Thank God I am.

Nothing gets my senses going more than opening a freshly printed book – unwrapping the cellophane, the scent of ink enveloped in a cocoon of uncoated paper rising from the spine. I am comforted knowing that this book has been beautifully crafted by someone who loves this medium as much as I do. How do I know? Good books, like the ones that turn my head, stink. Bibliosmia – meaning the act of smelling books, especially as a way of getting a 'fix' from the aroma of new print. Sniff my print, yeah?

Paul Smith (the fashion designer) famously released a fragrance called ‘Story’ in 2006 that was said to be reminiscent of old books. I could get around that, but I’d much rather Eau des Nouveaux Livres.

I do need to clarify – the obsession with books is not only the smell; it’s the whole package. The paper texture, the typeface choice, the binding technique and the book cloth all contribute to the overall delivery of the content within.

This collection right here makes up a small part of my kids' inheritance. They’re already arguing over them. “NO FIGHTING NEAR THE BOOKS PLEASE!”

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Gippslandia - Issue No. 32

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