But to imagine a world where one of these senses is defunct or lost would, indeed, be appalling; it would significantly alter the perception of not only our surroundings but also the sense of self. Such is its indispensability to the objective perception of reality that when Totaro lost her sense of smell (she recalls the exact date and time), it felt like a “light turning off”. Thereafter, her quest to regain her lost sensory ability, including a weighty focus on scent-training that will resonate with Covid survivors experiencing anosmic tendencies, propels the narrative forward. Totaro approaches her syndrome with a sense of bereavement. When she finally gets her sense of scent back, it is, interestingly, through the memories of her late grandmother.

Source: The Telegraph September 15, 2023 18:03 UTC