Tender A Novel
Tender, a novel by Belinda McKeon, published by Little, Brown on February 16, 2016, spans 416 pages and is presented in English. This narrative explores the complex dynamics of longing, intimacy, and obsession through the lives of Catherine and James, who meet in Dublin during the late nineties. As Catherine, a sheltered college student, grows closer to the adventurous artist James, their friendship evolves amidst the backdrop of a changing Ireland. The story delves into the challenges they face as their paths diverge, revealing the delicate balance between helping and harming those we care about.
Readers will find a rich exploration of human relationships and the psychological intricacies that accompany them. The novel addresses themes of first love, lost innocence, and the impact of personal crises on friendships. Through its vivid portrayal of characters navigating their desires and fears, Tender offers insights into the lies we tell ourselves and the societal expectations that shape our lives. This standard edition invites readers to engage with a narrative that is both exhilarating and devastating, reflecting McKeon’s significant contribution to contemporary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
An Electric Literature Best Book of the Year
A Lithub Best Book of the Year
A searing novel about longing, intimacy and obsession from the award-winning author of Solace.
When they meet in Dublin in the late nineties, Catherine and James become close as two friends can be. She is a sheltered college student, he an adventurous, charismatic young artist. In a city brimming with possibilities, he spurs her to take life on with gusto. But as Catherine opens herself to new experiences, James’s life becomes a prison; as changed as the new Ireland may be, it is still not a place in which he feels able to truly be himself. Catherine, grateful to James and worried for him, desperately wants to help–but as time moves on, and as life begins to take the friends in difference directions, she discovers that there is a perilously fine line between helping someone and hurting him further. When crisis hits, Catherine finds herself at the mercy of feelings she cannot control, leading her to jeopardize all she holds dear.
By turns exhilarating and devastating, Tender is a dazzling exploration of human relationships, of the lies we tell ourselves and the lies we are taught to tell. It is the story of first love and lost innocence, of discovery and betrayal. A tense high-wire act with keen psychological insights, this daring novel confirms Belinda McKeon as a major voice in contemporary fiction, joining the ranks of the masterful Edna O’Brien and Anne Enright.
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