NECTAR A Novel of Temptation

Narrator Carol Schneider's performance brings out the farcical quality of this whimsical story about Ramona, an Italian servant girl with an intoxicating scent. Schneider's evocative reading, with her lively, diverse voices, highlights the power of Ramona's elixir, which turns grown men into buffoons and, consequently, fills women with contempt for the foolish girl. Schneider portrays the 19-year-old Ramona as a high-pitched, ditzy simpleton. With a knowing tone, he conveys the frequent sexual innuendo and irony as Ramona clambers up the social ladder. Schneider's spirited reading consistently engages the listener with even the most absurd entanglements and conveys the poignancy of this tale of love and desire. M.F. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]