Apparently, Marina Fiorato’s new novel The Madonna of the Almonds has a complementary perfume designed to smell like Renaissance Italy, the setting of her book. This strikes me as either ingenius or idiotic —probably both— and may just be another reminder about how desperate publishers are to sell their wares. Oh well. I’m ok with it as long as no perfume is ever designed to complement The Story of the Eye or, even worse, anything ever written by William S. Burroughs.
Coming soon, Eau d’All-your-favorite-Rumpus-columnists, including Jerry Stahl, Michelle Orange, and Rick Moody. I am only kidding, unless you are interested in purchasing some perfume.