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12th out of 77 books
—
65 voters
Nectar: A Novel of Temptation
by
Lily Prior
Ramona Drottoveo, an albino, is a chambermaid at a lush Italian estate. Distinguished by the intoxicating scent she exudes, Ramona is despised by all women and adored by all men, whose inexhaustible lust she eagerly satisfies. Life changes when her husband dies after discovering his bride with another man on their wedding night. Blamed for his death, Ramona and her lover a...more
Paperback, 248 pages
Published
July 1st 2003
by ecco, an imprint of Harper Collins
(first published January 1st 2002)
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I'm meh about this book.
It was solid enough to spark my curiosity to keep reading but I wasn't mind blowing, let alone the "funny, enchanting novel" I though it was going to be based on the blurb.
I think was hurt this book for me was not the author's style or the story itself but the over abundance of minor characters who are given details but are never truly developed. Even our main character, the albino Ramona, isn't fully developed. She's all broad stokes, nothing about her is tangible. And...more
It was solid enough to spark my curiosity to keep reading but I wasn't mind blowing, let alone the "funny, enchanting novel" I though it was going to be based on the blurb.
I think was hurt this book for me was not the author's style or the story itself but the over abundance of minor characters who are given details but are never truly developed. Even our main character, the albino Ramona, isn't fully developed. She's all broad stokes, nothing about her is tangible. And...more
This was a fast read, but that's pretty much all it had going for it. In fact, I think I read it quicker to get the thing done with once and for all. I did keep hoping that the book would redeem itself, but got through the whole thing feeling it lacked any redemption for the characters or plot. There was no sense that the story meant anything, and I went through the whole thing without sympathy for any of the characters or situations. The surreal sense of it all being a fairy tale would have bee...more
The book Perfume: The Story of a Murderer springs to mind.
The main character remained this amoral mysticalwoman creature throughout the whole book. I dont think we were intended to understand her but this book is more about peoples reactions to her than its a story about her feelings and dreams.(I dont think she had any..except for being rich and having sex constantly)
The main character remained this amoral mystical
The promising elements of magical realism (my favorite!) were decently developed, but the magic was hindered by flat characters both unlikable yet not worthy of contempt. Similarly, the plot laudably refused to give in to the human desire for fairness or karma, but utterly failed to arouse any caring on the reader's part. I thought maybe I just wasn't in the mood, but other reviews strike the same chord as my experience. Alas!
I liked it well enough I think. It truly was a beautifully written short novel. Magic realist, or even fable in the least, it was a rather delightfully funny read. The only real problem that I had with the novel was that in the end it really was just a story of one persons life. I almost expected something to happen. But it didn't really. All in all, still pretty cool.
This was an easy, simple read with splendid quirks, written and translated with great senses of humour. I was extremely busy when I picked the book up, but even though I read it at work (meaning I had to pause and lay it down all the time) and just before falling asleep, I didn't lose my touch on either the storyline or the characters, all of which, by the way, were constructed brilliantly. The setting was pretty, the translation was smooth and I had quite a few laughs following the life of a gr...more
Enjoyable once I could start to think of it as part comic. It is a bit like a fairy story for grown ups. A foray into the fantastical whilst in the theoretically real.
Not sure if I liked it but it was a good story with great descriptions and exaggerated, mostly unlikeable, characters.
Not sure if I liked it but it was a good story with great descriptions and exaggerated, mostly unlikeable, characters.
Nectar is a fun little book, not literary genius or anything like that but it keeps you turning the pages. It's whimsical, light, airy, worth the read. If you enjoyed it you should read Of Bees And Mist or Like Water For Chocolate or maybe another Lily Prior book La Cucina which was a little more realistic.
Ramona is just awful.... but I like her spunk. Akin to Perfume. Weird and wonderful and gets you cringing. If it was a movie I would be peeking through my fingers
Aug 01, 2011
Dottie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
I wouldn't
Shelves:
bookpeopleshelf,
2011
Kept reading -- probably should have given it up. It had moments but overall I'm left feeling a bit -- ho-hum. If a person wants a romp like that why not reread the classics?
I didn't like this plot and the ending especially upset me. The idea was lovely, but i didn't appreciate the execution. Magical realism was good though.
I adored this..beauty and the most basic of instincts all rolled into a feast for the brain.
May 20, 2013
Shadallark
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one!
This was definitely not a book for me. I am sure that there are many people who will like this book, I unfortunately am not and will not be one of them. Whatever it is that the author was trying to impart to me did not come across.
I found the main character to be arrogant, selfish, self centred, and annoying, but not in a manner that allowed me to like her, to detest her, or to really care one way or the other what happened to her. The odd child with the strange powers of growth and development...more
I found the main character to be arrogant, selfish, self centred, and annoying, but not in a manner that allowed me to like her, to detest her, or to really care one way or the other what happened to her. The odd child with the strange powers of growth and development...more
Written in a folk tale style. Very clever and off the wall. Really enjoyed it.
This book stuck with me, although it took me a few years to remember the title!!!!
I like it, but… I am not too fond of her writing. Interesting little book.
Very good strange but super good read, keeps u involved want to find out more!!
Jan 25, 2009
Bonnie Jeanne
marked it as to-read
Nectar: A Novel of Temptation by Lily Prior (2003)
A little bazaar at times but a short easy read novel
This was one hell of a book, I loved it.
Delightful.
trash
WTF. That is all.
Este foi o segundo livro que li desta autora. Apesar de o nível de escrita dela estar longe de ser brilhante, as histórias são muito criativas onde as personagens têm características quase bizarras. E são também muito italianas. Néctar não foi excepção. Retrata a vida de Ramona, a criada albina que enlouquece todos os homens da região com o seu cheiro muito apelativo. É muito engraçado e uma boa leitura leve de quem não procura mais do que entretenimento.
An adult fairy tale. Outlandishly funny.... quirky humour and an imagination run amuck! Was just what I needed... a good giggle!!!!
Loved this book! Maybe this is magical realism??
A bit of a fairy tale (a black comedy fairy tale!), bizarre characters and story -- but bizarre in the best possible way!
One of those "I can't believe I waited so long to read this" books!
A bit of a fairy tale (a black comedy fairy tale!), bizarre characters and story -- but bizarre in the best possible way!
One of those "I can't believe I waited so long to read this" books!
what a treat!
A quickly read story fully of naughtiness and silliness with glorious tales of exaggerated tales of Italian superstitions.
Not deep and meaningful but fun
Not deep and meaningful but fun
This book was so-so. It didn't seem to go into much detail, just skimming over the storyline albeit a good one.
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Apr 14, 2012 05:40pm