Nectar Fragments [Paperback]

Michael Hoffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2006

The four stories of Part I vary in setting from Shinobazu Pond to 19th-century Germany, where Dostoevsky toils in despairing, poverty-stricken exile on Crime and Punishment. The "Nectar Fragments" of Part II are linked short stories set in the fictional Montreal suburb of Nectar, where an aging recluse living like a prisoner in the house in which he grew up struggles to recast the story of Abraham and Isaac into modern form. Was Abraham a saint, or a murderer? No one suspected the recluse himself had a son - who one day appears, seemingly out of nowhere...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Hoffman, born in Montreal, Canada, has lived in Japan most of his adult life. He is the author of The Coat that Covers Him and Other Stories (2004), Withdrawal (2003) and The Empty Caf¿ (2001). He and three other "old Japan hands" co-wrote the bestselling Tabloid Tokyo (Kodansha International, 2005), a collection of short pieces about some of the quirkier aspects of life in Japan. His short fiction has appeared in various North American and Japanese magazines. As a freelance journalist he is a regular contributor of essays, book reviews and translations to Japan''s English-language media.

Product Details

• Paperback: 564 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (July 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425913865
• ISBN-13: 978-1425913861
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

More About the Author

Reviews of "Little Pieces: This Side of Japan," along with other things hopefully of interest, are posted at www.michaelhoffman.squarespace.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars the town of Nectar, August 30, 2006

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Reader Views "Reviews, by readers, for readers" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nectar Fragments (Paperback)

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (8/06)

"Nectar Fragments is a thought provoking collection of short stories by Michael Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman's book is unique. His style is quiet drama. This book is divided into two sections. The first section titled "The Presentiment" varies in setting from Shinobazu Pond to 19th-century Germany, where Dostoevsky lives in despair and poverty. Part II is titled "Nectar Fragments". These short stories intertwined together.

Leonard Spector is a recluse writer living in Montreal who suddenly finds that he has a son. Spector is writing a story about Sara, Abraham and Isaac. In "Abraham and Isaac: 1" a couple desperately want a child but cannot conceive. Much as the Sara in the biblical story, this Sara takes matters into her own hands. A child is conceived through artificial insemination. They named the child Isaac. Abraham loves the child and the child returns that love. In "Lisa," Isaac age 5, sees his father Abraham, murdered.

"The Sacrifice" revisits and rewrites the biblical account of Abraham, Sara and Isaac. Sara has murdered her husband and is speaking with her defense attorney. She declares that her husband Abraham was mad. Sara speaks of God that she never believed in, leading Abraham to move and how she devotedly followed him. When God promised that He would make of Abraham a great nation through children Sara would give him, she recalls laughing. "Sara, he would say to me, Sara, my princess, don't be downhearted, the lord has promised us a child. I am to be the father of a great nation, and you the mother." When Sara realizes that Abraham plans to sacrifice Isaac to God, Sara strangles her husband. Only after much contemplation does she come to understand that Abraham never struggled with her.

"A Nameless Young Man" is thought provoking - a young man is caught stealing. After being arrested he is asked his name. He simply replies, "I have no name." This is the young man from "Bad" that has discovered that the man he loved as his father is not his biological father. He tells the defense attorney that he has become embittered of life. On her deathbed, his mother told him that he is the son of Lawrence Spector. A name gives one substance. A name makes one real. When Brian finds out that the name he'd claimed for years was in reality not his name, he is angry and despairs. Lawrence is quick to acknowledge Brian as his son. Brain is a young man with no name.

Henry Walsh is an aging writer and acquaintance of Lawrence Spector. Henry's martial life is not very satisfying and he searches elsewhere for satisfaction. He finds himself accused of molesting a young neighborhood girl. He seems to question his own innocence as he loudly proclaims it. Eventually Henry comes to the conclusion that he is aging and moving into a different aspect of married life.

I truly enjoyed the retelling of biblical account of Abraham, Sara and Isaac. It was thought provoking. This has always been one of my favorite Old Testament accounts. Through this retelling, I saw it from a different perspective, and began to ask myself questions. How did Sara react to Abraham's plan to sacrifice Isaac? Did Sara believe in the one true God? There are many unanswered questions in this story. Perhaps Mr. Hoffman desires the reader to search his own faith, to look deeply and see whether he truly believes that there is a God.

Mr. Hoffman has linked these short stories by scattering "Lawrence Spector's Diary" entries through out the section. Another link is the town of Nectar. "Everything is connected," said Leo Saxe. "Everything." At times the reader feels like one is looking through the windows of the residents of Nectar. The problem is I don't know why I want to look through their windows and peer into their lives. Most books leave me wanting more, this book left me wanting less. I can't say that I cared for any of the characters. Frankly, I didn't feel much of anything for them. I want to feel something when I read. I want to have an emotional bond to the characters whether it's love, like, disdain or dislike. But I felt nothing for the characters in this book. I tried hard to find redeeming qualities but alas there are few.

Received book free of charge.