Book condition: new. First Sniff brought caramel, specifically ‘Caramac’, taking me back to childhood. Second Sniff was a deep draught of summer grass, dry, wafting… definitely not ‘cut grass’. Third Sniff brought a sandy boardwalk, stretching across dunes in the hot sun. I knew the place instantly, though I hadn’t consciously conjoured it, thought of it or been there for years; Braunton Burrows in North Devon. Many years ago, revising for my O levels, I used to write out Shakespeare quotes in the sands of the glorious beach at the end of that boardwalk! It’s a childhood haunt, a very special place of memories. Commentary: If I’m honest, the experience was not at all what I expected. I have automatically stuck my nose into new books for years, loved the smell of new paper and print, but never sniffed, yes, properly sniffed a book and it left me reeling – in a wonderfully positive way. The adventure is one I want to repeat again and again!