Rating: 
Summary: No absence of sadness in this book!
Review: Absence of Nectar by Kathy Hepinstall is a coming of age novel set in the early 70's in Texas. This was a strange and distrubing novel which tells of the life of a young 12 year old and her brother who is 14.
When their mother remarries these two children are afraid for thier lives as their step-father becomes more and more abusive. Parallel to this story is the tale of a young woman who has escaped from a prison and eventaully fits into the story of the two young protagonists.
This was the third book I read by this author and while I found it a worthwhile read, I found the two previous books I read, The House of Gentlemen and Prince of Lost Places more intriguing. Still, Hepinstall is a writer worth reading since she leaves you with a lot to think about. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: A ENJOYABLE SURPRISE
Review: Even though I read this book some time ago, I would like to say something about it. This was my first book by this writer and by the title I did not know what to expect. Let me say, I was pleasantly surprised by it and will read others by this author. If anyone has ever read BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA, TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD AND HUCK FINN well, put them together and this gave me some of the same feelings. I really enjoyed it.
Rating:
Summary: The Wicked Step-parent revisited! A Great Beach Book!
Review: I love a good coming of age story, and "An Absense of Nectar" does not disappoint in that department. Alice, Boone and Persely are three of the more memorable characters I have encountered lately. This story is both hilarious and heartwrenching, and I'll likely never forget the twin terrors that live next door!
As others have said, my only issues came with the very stereotypical characteristics assigned to the adults in the story (evil stepfather, ... mother, dimwitted law enforcement); and the ending was a little "much". That said however, this is still a thoroughly enjoyable story worthy of you time. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Could Not Stop Reading This Marvelous Story
Review: I rarely write reviews for books although I read as many as four books a week. The Absence of Nectar is poetry, awe-inspiring, impossible to put down. You care about the characters in the book and more importantly, they will stay with you long after you put the book down. I did not want this novel to end.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: If you're looking for a book to completely engross you, this is it. This is not a hard read and the story is compelling. Hepinstall does a great job of drawing the reader into the characters. Perfect vacation read.
Rating:
Summary: Hepinstall's second novel is a must!
Review: In "Absence of Nectar," Kathy Hepinstall's second novel, the author continues to give
readers a taste of real, rural East Texas, this time in the 1970s, when Alice Fendar, an
eleven year old, narrates a tale to evoke more suspenseful local color than Carson
McCullers ever could! Young Alice readily states her objective in the opening pages:
"Get rid of Simon Jester."
Simon has suddenly descended upon the tranquility of Alice's home life, when he rescues
her mother from drowning one hot East Texas afternoon. Meg, the mother, has recently
been abandoned (and divorced) by her husband and despite the efforts of Alice and her
14-year-old brother Boone to cheer her up, her life has slowly and surely slid into statis.
Or worse. Even her prize bees have begun dying due to her neglect. Hers is a life with the
absence of nectar, and without nectar, the "unexamined life is not worth living," to quote
Socrates. The author's use of this effective metaphor easily balances--and extends-- the
book's theme.
But Simon's opportune appearance seems to be exactly what Meg needs and wants. He
moves in; they soon become man and wife.
But Simon is an evil man; a man who certainly has a history of his own. He decidedly
does not like his two step children and goes to great extents to develop "tests of
loyalty"--which, of course, they fail. He prides himself as being "God's microphone" and
justifies all his actions with references to the Good Book. And while Meg loves her
children, her weakness for Simon is a tragedy a-waiting. Alice and Boone deduce that
Simon is actually going to poison them--they spend hours researching various toxins and
their characteristics; they refuse to eat anything that Simon comes near. Life grows more
unbearable and late on night, Meg comes in to say good night. "Tears begin to rull from
her eyes and a look crosses her face. She...takes a deep, painful breath, leans down to us
and whispers a wod that I know must cause her unbearable grief. Run."
To call Alice precocious is perhaps an understatement. Certainly for eleven years old, she
is more than merely perceptive. In addition, she also loves her older brother very much.
Boone, himself, is torn between juggling his own religious expectations and beliefs with
his love for Persely Snow, a teenage "monster" who continues to escape from an insane
asylum, where she's been confined for poisoning her own parents And Boone is very,
very much afraid of Simon Jester.
At times evocative of Richard Brautigan, Hepinstall's touch for the originality shines.
Alice has a crush on a neighborhood boy, who doesn't seem to know she exists. "Now he
approached me and watched me work, one shoulder slightly lifted, his arms still crossed, a
little red in the eyes as if the chlorine had followed him home like a bully and lived with
him all winter." Alice's first person account of the story is riviting in most places,
absorbing in the others. She is a characer to be reckoned with!
All Hepinstall's characters certainly hold their own, in their own uniqueness and in the
depths of their presentation. Whereas "House of Gentle Men" was more intriguing
reading, "The Absence of Nectar" combines the intrigue of the setting, the plot, the
characters with tightly controlled suspense. Mincing no words--and wasting no time--the
author marches to the exciting climax of the story--one that is not anticipated, yet it is not
the traditional "surprise" ending. Some men may truly be evil personified, with no saving
grace, and, if that is the case, Simon Jester qualifies. Examining this man is to look on the
Dark Side. It is not a pleasant sight. "The Absence of Nectar" will occupy your thoughts
far after you've finished reading it--its messages do not go gently into that good night.
Rating:
Summary: Hepinstall's second a 'must'!
Review: In Kathy Hepinstall's second novel, "Absence of Nectar," the author continues to give readers a
taste of real, rural East Texas, this time in the 1970s, when Alice Fendar, an eleven year old,
narrates a tale to evoke more suspenseful local color than Carson McCullers ever could! Young Alice readily states her objective in the opening pages: "Get rid of Simon Jester." Simon has suddenly descended upon the tranquility of Alice's home life, when he rescues her
mother from drowning one hot East Texas afternoon. Meg, the mother, has recently been
abandoned (and divorced) by her husband and despite the efforts of Alice and her 14-year-old
brother Boone to cheer her up, her life has slowly and surely slid into statis. Or worse. Even her prize bees have begun dying due to her neglect. Hers is a life with the absence of nectar, and
without nectar, the "unexamined life is not worth living," to quote Socrates. The author's use of
this effective metaphor easily balances--and extends-- the book's theme. But Simon's opportune appearance seems to be exactly what Meg needs and wants. He moves
in; they soon become man and wife.
But Simon is an evil man; a man who certainly has a history of his own. He decidedly does not
like his two step children and goes to great extents to develop "tests of loyalty"--which, of course,
they fail. He prides himself as being "God's microphone" and justifies all his actions with
references to the Good Book. And while Meg loves her children, her weakness for Simon is a
tragedy a-waiting. Alice and Boone deduce that Simon is actually going to poison them--they
spend hours researching various toxins and their characteristics; they refuse to eat anything that
Simon comes near. Life grows more unbearable and late on night, Meg comes in to say good
night. "Tears begin to roll from her eyes and a look crosses her face. She...takes a deep, painful
breath, leans down to us and whispers a wod that I know must cause her unbearable grief. Run." To call Alice precocious is perhaps an understatement. Certainly for eleven years old, she is more
than merely perceptive. In addition, she also loves her older brother very much. Boone, himself,
is torn between juggling his own religious expectations and beliefs with his love for Persely Snow,
a teenage "monster" who continues to escape from an insane asylum, where she's been confined
for poisoning her own parents And Boone is very, very much afraid of Simon Jester. At times evocative of Richard Brautigan, Hepinstall's touch for the originality shines. Alice has a
crush on a neighborhood boy, who doesn't seem to know she exists. "Now he approached me
and watched me work, one shoulder slightly lifted, his arms still crossed, a little red in the eyes as
if the chlorine had followed him home like a bully and lived with him all winter." Alice's first person account of the story is riviting in most places, absorbing in the others. She is a characer to
be reckoned with! All Hepinstall's characters certainly hold their own, in their own uniqueness and in the depths of
their presentation. Whereas "House of Gentle Men" was more intriguing reading, "The Absence of Nectar" combines the intrigue of the setting, the plot, the characters with tightly controlled
suspense. Mincing no words--and wasting no time--the author marches to the exciting climax of
the story--one that is not anticipated, yet it is not the traditional "surprise" ending. Some men
may truly be evil personified, with no saving grace, and, if that is the case, Simon Jester qualifies.
Examining this man is to look on the Dark Side. It is not a pleasant sight. "The Absence of Nectar" will occupy your thoughts far after you've finished reading it--its messages do not go
gently into that good night.
Rating:
Summary: Hepinstall's second a 'must'!
Review: In Kathy Hepinstall's second novel, "Absence of Nectar," the author continues to give readers a
taste of real, rural East Texas, this time in the 1970s, when Alice Fendar, an eleven year old,
narrates a tale to evoke more suspenseful local color than Carson McCullers ever could! Young Alice readily states her objective in the opening pages: "Get rid of Simon Jester." Simon has suddenly descended upon the tranquility of Alice's home life, when he rescues her
mother from drowning one hot East Texas afternoon. Meg, the mother, has recently been
abandoned (and divorced) by her husband and despite the efforts of Alice and her 14-year-old
brother Boone to cheer her up, her life has slowly and surely slid into statis. Or worse. Even her prize bees have begun dying due to her neglect. Hers is a life with the absence of nectar, and
without nectar, the "unexamined life is not worth living," to quote Socrates. The author's use of
this effective metaphor easily balances--and extends-- the book's theme. But Simon's opportune appearance seems to be exactly what Meg needs and wants. He moves
in; they soon become man and wife.
But Simon is an evil man; a man who certainly has a history of his own. He decidedly does not
like his two step children and goes to great extents to develop "tests of loyalty"--which, of course,
they fail. He prides himself as being "God's microphone" and justifies all his actions with
references to the Good Book. And while Meg loves her children, her weakness for Simon is a
tragedy a-waiting. Alice and Boone deduce that Simon is actually going to poison them--they
spend hours researching various toxins and their characteristics; they refuse to eat anything that
Simon comes near. Life grows more unbearable and late on night, Meg comes in to say good
night. "Tears begin to roll from her eyes and a look crosses her face. She...takes a deep, painful
breath, leans down to us and whispers a wod that I know must cause her unbearable grief. Run." To call Alice precocious is perhaps an understatement. Certainly for eleven years old, she is more
than merely perceptive. In addition, she also loves her older brother very much. Boone, himself,
is torn between juggling his own religious expectations and beliefs with his love for Persely Snow,
a teenage "monster" who continues to escape from an insane asylum, where she's been confined
for poisoning her own parents And Boone is very, very much afraid of Simon Jester. At times evocative of Richard Brautigan, Hepinstall's touch for the originality shines. Alice has a
crush on a neighborhood boy, who doesn't seem to know she exists. "Now he approached me
and watched me work, one shoulder slightly lifted, his arms still crossed, a little red in the eyes as
if the chlorine had followed him home like a bully and lived with him all winter." Alice's first person account of the story is riviting in most places, absorbing in the others. She is a characer to
be reckoned with! All Hepinstall's characters certainly hold their own, in their own uniqueness and in the depths of
their presentation. Whereas "House of Gentle Men" was more intriguing reading, "The Absence of Nectar" combines the intrigue of the setting, the plot, the characters with tightly controlled
suspense. Mincing no words--and wasting no time--the author marches to the exciting climax of
the story--one that is not anticipated, yet it is not the traditional "surprise" ending. Some men
may truly be evil personified, with no saving grace, and, if that is the case, Simon Jester qualifies.
Examining this man is to look on the Dark Side. It is not a pleasant sight. "The Absence of Nectar" will occupy your thoughts far after you've finished reading it--its messages do not go
gently into that good night.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Captivating Read
Review: Kathy Hepinstal has spun her magic again. This time in the form of a coming of age story laced with terror. The narrator, 12 year old Alice, spins the tale of a quirky mother, Meg, and her need for love...at any cost. Meg has sought love with an extremely abusive man with a questionable past. Terror comes in the form of Simon, a strong christian and bible quoting man. Meg is blind to her children's needs and fears. She is often not able or willing at times to protect her children, this is where the story begins... Alice, who is always on hyper-alert monitors every move in her home in order to keep herself and her brother safe. Her brother, Boone, somewhat obsessed with an alleged killer, begins to plot their escape. With many twists and turns, one can not help but remain captivated and sitting on the edge of their seat. A very different novel than Hepinstal's debut, 'The House of Gentle Men,' but equally as good; it remains suspenful and captivating until the last page. The Absence of Nectar will have you up late, anxiously tunring the pages to find out more. Hepinstall is a truly gifted writer and one to watch!
Rating:
Summary: A MASTERFUL AND COMPELLING TRIUMPH...
Review: This is an unusual and engrossing page turner of a novel, beautifully and deftly written. In this, her second novel, the author sustains the quality of writing found in her amazing first book, "The House of Gentle Men". Those readers, who have read and enjoyed the author's first novel, will certainly love this book. I know I did. "The Absence of Nectar" is a well crafted thriller, as well as an unusual coming of age novel. The author, a masterful storyteller, is highly adept at building suspense. This book will certainly keep the discerning reader turning its pages. The story involves a precocious eleven year old girl, Alice Fendar, and her brother, Boone, who is two years older than his sister. He has an unusual pen pal, Persely Snow, a teen age girl who was committed to a mental hospital for allegedly trying to kill both her parents and succeeding in killing one. Persely has become a local folk hero, because of her legendary escapes from confinement, and Boone fancies himself in love with her. Alice and Boone live with their mother, Meg, after their father abandoned the family over another woman. The mother eventually meets another man, Simon Jester, when he saves her from drowning, while she is swimming with her children. He later tells her that he is a widower, having lost his wife and three year old child in a drowning accident. She is swept off her feet by him, and they marry. For some reason, the sassy and intelligent Alice does not take to her new step-father. Something about him, to her mind, is just not right. She scoffs at his assertion that he is a widower who lost his wife and three year old child in a drowning accident. In fact, she feels that there is something about him that seems to be downright evil. As time passes, Simon begins to reveal more and more of his true nature, and it appears that Alice just may be onto something, after all. Meanwhile, Boone is oblivious to all but his obsession with Persely Snow. Alice, herself, falls prey to an obsession. She becomes convinced that Simon is trying to kill her and Boone. Her brother finds that the easiest course to take is that of the path of least resistance, and so he falls in with Alice in her schemes to thwart Simon. At times, the book is terribly funny, at other times, achingly sad. The events set into motion one night will reveal to the reader what is really going on. It will also reveal the role that Persely Snow ultimately plays in all their lives. It is a role that rises to almost mythic stature. This lyrically written book is strangely compelling, quirky, and riveting, holding the reader in its thrall. It is a stunning and triumphant tour de force by the author.
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