Customer Reviews

Nectar: A Novel of Temptation

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well, I have to say I did read this book even after i realised it isn't a particularily good one, but it was more of a habit than of interest. There's only one thing to say: in this book's storyline there are events happening after one another, but there's no actual STORY. Honestly. It takes more than coming up with "funny" things your main character could do to make a good, or even a descent novel.

Pardon my english, bit rusty at the moment.

This imaginative and undemanding comedy relates the rise and fall of Ramona Drotteveo, a country chambermaid whose scent turns men into obsessive fools and women into jealous enemies. A perfidious coquette, Ramona keeps lovers only as long as they are able to give her exactly what she desires--which is seldom longer than a day. Her misdeeds result in exile to Naples, where she schemes to become a world-class opera diva--in spite of her ear-shattering vocal limitations. Eventually, her scent (like beauty) vanishes, and she loses her primacy to the daughter she despises.

In spite of its numerous sexual references and innuendoes, "Nectar" is more impish than pornographic. The story goes down easily and, depending on how much one appreciates sheer silliness, it is often quite funny--although, admittedly, it rarely transcends the genre of "guilty pleasure." In fact, it's not an easy book to categorize: unlike a fable or fairy tale, it has no moral; if it is meant as a satire, the object of ridicule (beauty? fashion? narcissism?) is lost on me. Instead, the book seems a blend of camp and ribaldry--Chaucer Extra Lite, if you will.

A quick entirely diverting read, full of the rich prose Lily Prior does so well. Although more concerned with smell than with taste, as in her first novel, LA CUCINA, she does include a rather scrumptious feast of words in a chapter or two. Sensation is everything here and the sparkling and lively tale is amazingly delicious, delectable, and drolly naughty. Ramona, our decidedly unpleasant heroine, delights even as she disgusts. Prior and her sister novelists Laura Esquivel and Joanne Harris are giving the old guard magic realists a true challenge with each new work. This is great escapist fiction in a time we need more fantasy and romance.

This is a boring, stupid novel based on a promising premise. Should've been much better - don't waste your time!

The only upside to this book is that it is a very unusual story.
Other than that it is a story of utterly dislikeable characters discarding and being discarded by one another, with none of the sensuality and warmth (for people or food) of `La Cucina'.

Normally I come to [Amazon.com] to see what others have to say about books before I purchase them at discount houses. This one had two good reviews, so I went ahead and purchased it for a few dollars. I can't believe that anyone would find this book entertaining. Granted the author is poking fun at humans worst characteristics, but there was nothing at all enjoyable about reading this book. I forced myself to finish this, but there is no way I would pass this book on to anyone else, it's in the trash.

I don't know how she does it, but I can't seem to put Lily Prior books down. She has filled a book with totally unlikable characters and she has made it thoroughly enjoyable. I don't love this book as much as I truly loved La Cucina - the language didn't seem quick as poetic, but as long as you can handle the light and airy way of dealing with sexuality (I won't be giving this to my Mom!) I think you'll enjoy the book. And, while the premise is obviously fantasy/mythical, I believe Lily Prior truly has insight into what really controls the world...

I have read two Lily Prior novels recently (it is my policy to read at least two novels by an author to judge whether or not I like them) and am frankly unimpressed. The story is ridiculous and the writing not much better.

This is the first book that I read from this author.

The title caught my eye, and I read the description.

This book is about an odd looking girl in Italy. She is an albino with a smell that eminates from her skin that drives men completely wild and sometimes so wild to point of them comitting suicide if they don't have sex with her. She loves that she has this "power" over men and get them to do whatever she wants.

She thinks she finds "true" love and it turns out he is driven by madness because of her first dead husband, who kills himself because he and Ramona are caught having sex. They have a child and the child aquires the scent and Ramona looses it.

The rest is great because in the end, she gets what is due her-
very amusing, my only complaint is the names of the Characters are "old" italian names and they can get alittle confusing.

Enjoy!!

Ellen