Any way to de-smoke a book?

[ghost of miles]

I recently bought a nicely-priced hardback copy of Ross MacDonald's ARCHER IN HOLLYWOOD (a novel omnibus). Book arrived in excellent condition, as advertised--but there was no mention of the fact that it smells as if it sat beside a hardcore smoker's ashtray for, oh, 10 or 12 years or so. Thought about returning it, but opted instead to leave a complaint in my buyer feedback. Does anybody have any suggestions for getting the smoke smell out of a dustjacket and the book itself? As an ex-smoker, I thought I had a bit of a tolerance (hell, maybe even a perverse nostalgic longing) for a bit of cigarette reek, but this case is pretty bad.

[Nate Dorward]

Not as far as I know: it's permanent.

I confess I read The Chill & decided Macdonald wasn't for me. Hammett & Chandler are the ones.

[rostasi]

I found this.

I hope it helps!

[chris]

Zeolite bags are your best bet-- and they are reusable.

Or you can go the cheaper route and use ziplog bags with charcoal-- but really the Zeolite bags are much more effective.

[ghost of miles]

That does help--thanks much, Rostasi! In fact, I seem to recall now that a book dealer once told me a long time ago that baking soda might do the trick. I think what I'll do is seal the book in a container next to some baking soda for 2-3 weeks.

Nate, I'm currently reading THE DROWNING POOL, and I mentioned somewhere else (the "Now reading" thread?) that it seemed a bit derivative of Chandler... other posters assure me that MacDonald gets better and better as you read through the 1950s and 60s novels. Been dipping a bit into Hammett again of late with the recently-published LOST STORIES, and just last night I re-read "The First Thin Man." Ever read it? It's the 65-page first draft Hammett wrote and then set aside in 1930. Almost completely different from the version DH eventually published, and I would have loved an entire draft of this one, with John Guild as the main protagonist/detective (evidently a mulatto, and even more emotionally stripped down than THE GLASS KEY's Ned Beaumont, if you can believe that--and no resemblance whatsoever to the "John Guild" that appears in the 1934 version). Medjuck & I have also been discussing/hunting down the handful of short stories DH published around 1932-1933 (I'm still looking for "On the Way").

[connoisseur series500]

I've bought a few cds and box sets from a boardmember which reek of nicotine. I left them out in the open for a few days and it seemed to help, but the smell hasn't quite been erased.

[Dan Gould]

You might also try putting it in a box with ivory soap. That worked for horribly stinky X-mas ornaments I got off of eBay.

[Eric]

I've bought a few cds and box sets from a boardmember which reek of nicotine. I left them out in the open for a few days and it seemed to help, but the smell hasn't quite been erased.

Odd, I had the same issue with a box set (wonder if it was the same guy). I may have to try some of these suggestions.

[Guy Berger]

That does help--thanks much, Rostasi! In fact, I seem to recall now that a book dealer once told me a long time ago that baking soda might do the trick. I think what I'll do is seal the book in a container next to some baking soda for 2-3 weeks.

Nate, I'm currently reading THE DROWNING POOL, and I mentioned somewhere else (the "Now reading" thread?) that it seemed a bit derivative of Chandler... other posters assure me that MacDonald gets better and better as you read through the 1950s and 60s novels.

Nah, McDonald is just a watered-down Soulive.

Guy

Edited October 22, 2006 by Guy

[BERIGAN]

Ghost, never tried it, so take it with a grain or 2 of salt, but I recall someone at a fancy-smanchy book store suggesting taking a smelly old book and burying it in a box filled with fresh kitty litter for a few days. Obviously you would have to cover the box if you have cats!

[Brad]

That happened to me with a book I got from Ebay about the North African War in WW2. It got better but I wound up buying a replacement from Abe Books. It was just too annoying.

[Jim Alfredson]

That does help--thanks much, Rostasi! In fact, I seem to recall now that a book dealer once told me a long time ago that baking soda might do the trick. I think what I'll do is seal the book in a container next to some baking soda for 2-3 weeks.

Nate, I'm currently reading THE DROWNING POOL, and I mentioned somewhere else (the "Now reading" thread?) that it seemed a bit derivative of Chandler... other posters assure me that MacDonald gets better and better as you read through the 1950s and 60s novels.

Nah, McDonald is just a watered-down Soulive.

Guy

Lol!

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

I've bought a few cds and box sets from a boardmember which reek of nicotine. I left them out in the open for a few days and it seemed to help, but the smell hasn't quite been erased.

Odd, I had the same issue with a box set (wonder if it was the same guy). I may have to try some of these suggestions.

By my count, there are at least 3 guys. The goods have a unique scent that allows me to file by brand (Salem, Winston, American Spirit) rather than by artist. Not that I'd ever complain.

[DukeCity]

By my count, there are at least 3 guys. The goods have a unique scent that allows me to file by brand (Salem, Winston, American Spirit) rather than by artist. Not that I'd ever complain.

But like, Dude, you don't understand. American Spirits are like totally natural. I mean, it comes from the earth! So, those are almost like good for you.

[GA Russell]

I read all of MacDonald's novels in 1980, listening to Mike Nock's In Out & Around the whole time. The perfect CD to read hard boiled detectives by!

I liked MacDonald, but it seemed like he was writing the same story over and over again. After a while, I forgot what the plots of the books I had read were because they were so similar.

I agree that Hammett and Chandler are the best, but I'm open to suggestions!