The epic story takes place in various parts of the world, starting in the 8th century and spanning until 9:00 p.m.

What is the life of an old Greek God like in late 20th century New Orleans? It’s not a question that keeps many people up at night, but it’s a fascinating one to answer.įor an affirming, delightful and entirely sideways look at this planet through the last 1,000 years, pick up a copy of “Jitterbug Perfume.The novel Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins was published in 1984. He time travels across the page to visit places he would like to see and many of us never imagined were possible. Many of his books celebrate mythologies and cosmologies different than the monotheistic world he and many of his readers grew up in. In “Jitterbug Perfume,” that shines through with a beautiful and delicate passion. Robbins is an unabashed hedonist in both his writing and his lifestyle.

The presence of Pan, a deity who encouraged and enjoyed such celebrations himself, as a main character in this book also leads to comparisons about how modern Protestants interpret not only deity, but also the expected code of behavior by that deity and its followers. Or to adapt from General Douglas MacArthur, another person concerned with the questions of immortality or mortality – “Old Gods never die they just fade away.”Īs with many books from this period of Robbins’ writing, lust and embracing our visceral desires plays a big role in not only the character’s lives but their ultimate successes or failures in their quest. In the book, deities survive only as long as people believe in them, so after several thousand years, when Pan’s following has faded, people can’t see him anymore.

“Jitterbug Perfume” explores many of the questions westerners have about eastern philosophy and its realistic applications while weaving in healthy doses of comparative mythology. Is it avoiding death? Or is it making a lasting contribution to society for which you will be remembered ever after?Īlobar and Kudra have found the secret to avoiding death through a series of breathing exercises, diet and bathing rituals- all of which sound a lot like yoga. Through Alobar and Kudra seeking immortality, Robbins does ask questions about what real immortality is? Robbins’ readers are familiar with his lyric use of word play that comes alive on the page. The joke was if he was scared to die – what did that say to the rest of us? There was the wonderful joke circulating several years ago about the Pope traveling in an armored car. The book’s central question is: What is it about death that we find so terrifying? People who decide not to die and their friend Pan, the goat god. Jitterbug Perfume (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alobar jitterbug perfume