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{{About|the book|the film based on the book|Tenderness (2009 film)}} |
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{{Plot|date=February 2008}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| name = Tenderness |
| name = Tenderness |
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| image = |
| image = Tenderness (novel).jpg |
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| caption = First edition |
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| image_caption = |
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| author = [[Robert Cormier]] |
| author = [[Robert Cormier]] |
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| country = [[United States]] |
| country = [[United States]] |
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| cover_artist = |
| cover_artist = |
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| genre = [[Young adult novel]] |
| genre = [[Young adult novel]] |
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| publisher = |
| publisher = [[Dell Publishing|Delacorte Press]] |
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| release_date = 1997 |
| release_date = 1997 |
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| media_type = Print |
| media_type = Print |
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| pages = |
| pages = 229 |
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| isbn = |
| isbn = 0-385-73133-7 |
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| oclc = |
| oclc = |
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| preceded_by = |
| preceded_by = |
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| followed_by = |
| followed_by = |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Short description|1997 novel by Robert Cormier}} |
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| ⚫ | '''''Tenderness''''' is a 1997 novel written by [[Robert Cormier]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Culture Zone; The Outlook's Bleak |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E4DA143FF931A3575BC0A96E958260 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1998-08-02 |accessdate=2008-02-25 |first=Sara |last=Mosle |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022201708/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E4DA143FF931A3575BC0A96E958260 |archivedate=October 22, 2012 }}</ref> It is the basis for [[John Polson]]'s 2009 film, ''[[Tenderness (2009 film)|Tenderness]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=King of the shorts is still on a roll |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/king-of-the-shorts-is-still-on-a-roll/2008/02/15/1202760574142.html |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2008-02-16 |accessdate=2008-02-25 }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | '''''Tenderness''''' is a 1997 novel written by [[Robert Cormier]].<ref>{{cite news |
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Eric Poole is a convicted teenage [[serial killer]]. Lorelei "Lori" Cranston is a troubled 15-year-old girl. |
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| ⚫ | |||
Eric Poole is a convicted teenage [[serial killer]]. Lorelei "Lori" Cranston is a troubled 15 year old girl. Their lives intersect as they both search for "tenderness." The word tenderness itself is disputed as it is never clearly defined but is implied to be the struggle between love, lust, and the need for both, though it later becomes clear the definition of "tenderness" is quite different to both Eric and Lori. |
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Lori is described as a beautiful girl with a very mature body at a young age. Consequently she must constantly deal with the wanted, and unwanted, sexual attention she receives from men. Her father was struck by a car when Lori was only two, leaving her and her mother to fend for themselves. They live on the east coast and are constantly moving. Her [[alcoholism|alcoholic]] mother has a history of troubled and [[domestic abuse|abusive]] relationships. Her mother's latest ongoing relationship is to a man named Gary, who also has a sexual interest in Lori. Upon arriving in a new town Lori's mother begins working as a waitress, drinking so much she forgets Lori's birthday. This causes Lori to feel sad, yet remain in denial about her mother's problems, finding excuses and rationalizing her mother's behavior. Lori decides to run away leaving her mother a note in which Lori says she'll be staying with friends for a while. Though Lori admits that the friends mentioned in the note are a lie, she feels that she has successfully tricked her mother into believing they are real simply because her mother never asks about them, though other characters in the book imply that Lori's mom does know she has run away and simply does not care. |
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As a little boy in New England, Eric Poole already exhibited symptoms of a [[antisocial personality disorder|sociopath]]. He was suspected of murdering several young girls, but also murdered his mother and stepfather, and was convicted for those deaths. He convinced investigators that he killed his guardians out of self-defense with a false story of abuse. |
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As a little boy in England, Eric Poole already exhibited symptoms of a [[sociopath]]. In accordance with one of the traits on the [[MacDonald Triad]] (used in identifying early characteristics of sociopaths), Eric tortured small animals, namely kittens. He does not feel any remorse and instead feels he is controlling the feline population in his neighborhood. Eventually, he moves from torturing kittens to killing his aunt's canary. Once sparked, his enjoyment in killing soon becomes a fixation, and he seeks to move on to larger prey, namely people. Eric is described as a tall, slender, blond, blue eyed and charming boy of 15 when he commits his first murders, He has no trouble luring in his victims with his innocent smile which he practices in the mirror. Though the book does not clarify whether or not they were murdered first, Eric is tried for murder as a juvenile and convicted for murdering only his mother and stepfather, whom he hates. He explains he murdered his mother in resentment for marrying his stepfather. Because Eric burned his arm with cigarettes and purposefully broke his own arm with a hammer, he managed to convince people he was [[child abuse|abused by his parents]]. Yet he did not manage to fool everyone, especially Jake Proctor, a detective, who keeps a close eye on him through out the book. There are three more of Eric's victims: all female, slender, with dark-hair and eyes. Eric describes the feeling of murdering girls with these specific characteristics as tenderness — tenderness associated with sexual desire. When Eric meets Lori, he also feels tenderness for her — tenderness to protect her. |
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Lori is described as a beautiful girl with a very mature body at a young age. Consequently, she must constantly deal with the wanted and unwanted sexual attention she receives from men. She has a tendency to fixate on men, and will pursue them until she has put her mouth on theirs. |
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On his 18th birthday Eric is released from the juvenile criminal facility. His release causes a controversy in the community causing a [[media circus]] outside the facility. It is during a broadcast of his release that Lori first sees Eric and her fixation begins. During his stay in the facility, he kept to himself as much as possible and became known as "the Ice Man." One day, as he is on the verge of raping and killing another inmate, he changes his mind at the last minute and instead instructs him to stop bothering another inmate known as "Sweet Lefty." Sweet Lefty is indebted to Eric and comes into play later in the story, as he helps Eric out in various situations. Also, during Eric's stay in the facility, he meets Maria Valdez, whom he calls the Senorita. She fits the description of his preferred victims and he soon feels the need to have "tenderness" with her. Days before his release she gives him her phone number and he begins making plans to meet with her. Once out of the facility he moves in to his aunt's house in Massachusetts where the media circus follows, as well as Lori. One day Eric spots Lori on the front page of a newspaper, where she is known simply as "Ms. Anonymous." Lori's face sparks a memory about Eric's fourth and possibly last murder. Soon after receiving his driver's license Eric begins his planned road trip to find the Senorita, Maria Valdez. However, Lori is hiding in the car's back seat. |
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Detective Jake Proctor always suspected that Eric was guilty of killing the other girls and that he had fabricated his abuse story. He is determined to prove that Eric is a serial killer. |
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Once he realizes Lori is in the back seat he agrees to drop her off at the next town but instead shows Lori the time of her life before he attempts to kill her at night. After shopping and going to a diner, Lori falls asleep at an apartment where Eric tries to kill her, but he finds himself unable to do so. Lori wakes up and realizes what has occurred, and she seems happy. The next day at a carnival Eric meets the Maria. He attempts to murder her but Lori steps in and warns him that it's a [[entrapment|set-up]]. |
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At 18, Eric is released from the juvenile detention center and immediately starts looking for a new victim. Lori sees him on TV, fixates on him, and runs away from home to find him. During this time, Detective Proctor begins setting a trap to catch Eric before he can kill again. |
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Eric goes to a river nearby with Lori and goes on a boat where Lori falls and drowns. She makes an attempt to take Eric with her. The cops arrive and think Eric killed her, they incarcerate him. The book closes with Jake Proctor feeling guilty that it took the life of an innocent girl to lock Eric up and with Eric crying over his loss. |
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==Supporting characters== |
==Supporting characters== |
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'''Lieutenant Jake Proctor'''<br /> |
'''Lieutenant Jake Proctor'''<br /> |
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Retired cop, now a detective. Proctor labeled Eric a [[psychopath]] and a monster incapable of feeling. Proctor doubts Eric's accusations of abuse |
Retired cop, now a detective. Proctor labeled Eric a [[psychopath]] and a monster incapable of feeling. Proctor doubts Eric's accusations of abuse and strongly suspects Eric of having committed at least two other murders. The two seem to like each other but are ultimately at cross purposes. Proctor takes Eric's case personally, as 20 years before he let another young man, who resembles Eric and also suspected of murder, go free when he had equally strong doubts. Now Proctor is determined to prove Eric’s guilt and put and bring him to justice, this time as an adult. Proctor hopes this will put an end to his nightmares of murder victims denied justice that keep him up at night. |
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'''Aunt Phoebe''' <br /> |
'''Aunt Phoebe''' <br /> |
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A well |
A well-dressed, never married, and attractive woman, Eric's aunt is also the owner of the parrot murdered at Eric’s hands. She offers Eric a place to stay once he is released from the facility. |
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'''Maria Valdez'''<br /> |
'''Maria Valdez'''<br /> |
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The beautiful dark |
The beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed Hispanic girl who fits the usual look of Eric's victims. She gives Eric her number while in the facility and later meets him at the state fair. She is revealed to be working with police. |
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'''Jimmy''' <br /> |
'''Jimmy''' <br /> |
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'''Ross Packer''' <br /> |
'''Ross Packer''' <br /> |
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A young reporter at the ''Wickburg Telegram'' who writes the Ms. Anonymous piece on Lori |
A young reporter at the ''Wickburg Telegram'' who writes the Ms. Anonymous piece on Lori that Eric later reads. |
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'''Gary''' <br /> |
'''Gary''' <br /> |
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One of the nicer men Lori's mom has dated. Gary also feels attracted to Lori. |
One of the nicer men that Lori's mom has dated. Gary also feels attracted to Lori. |
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'''Dexter''' <br /> |
'''Dexter''' <br /> |
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An ex of Lori's mother who beat her, giving her a [[black eye]] |
An ex of Lori's mother who beat her, giving her a [[black eye]] and then fled soon afterward. |
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'''Mr. Clayton''' <br /> |
'''Mr. Clayton''' <br /> |
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The driver of the van who picks up Lori when she [[hitchhiking|hitchhikes]] and succumbs to her seductions. Lori steals his wallet and decides to mail it back to him, |
The driver of the van who picks up Lori when she [[hitchhiking|hitchhikes]] and succumbs to her seductions. Lori steals his wallet and decides to mail it back to him, but she never does because it is later stolen from her. |
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'''Phyllis Kendall''' <br /> |
'''Phyllis Kendall''' <br /> |
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'''Debbie''' <br /> |
'''Debbie''' <br /> |
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An exceptionally big pregnant teen at Harmony House |
An exceptionally big pregnant teen at Harmony House. |
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'''Chantelle''' <br /> |
'''Chantelle''' <br /> |
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Another very pregnant teen girl |
Another very pregnant teen girl. |
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'''Tiffany''' <br /> |
'''Tiffany''' <br /> |
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'''Rory''' <br /> |
'''Rory''' <br /> |
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Leader of a gang |
Leader of a gang. |
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'''Crystal''' <br /> |
'''Crystal''' <br /> |
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A plump girl who is a member of the gang, |
A plump girl who is a member of the gang, later becomes pregnant, and attends Harmony House teen pregnancy center |
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'''Bantam''' <br /> |
'''Bantam''' <br /> |
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A skinny little kid who |
A skinny little kid who wants to act tough and is also part of the gang |
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== |
==Reception== |
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In 1998, the [[American Library Association]] named ''Tenderness'' one of the top ten [[ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults|Best Books for Young Adults]] to be published that year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=American Library Association|date=2006-09-29|title=Best Books for Young Adults|url=http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklists/bestbooksya/1998top10best|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)|language=en}}</ref> |
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The town of Monument, also mentioned in other Cormier books, is also mention in ''Tenderness'' as Mr. Clayton's place of residence. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tenderness (Novel)}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tenderness (Novel)}} |
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[[Category:1997 novels]] |
[[Category:1997 American novels]] |
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[[Category:Novels by Robert Cormier]] |
[[Category:Novels by Robert Cormier]] |
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[[Category:American young adult novels]] |
[[Category:American young adult novels]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:24, 26 September 2023
.jpg) First edition | |
| Author | Robert Cormier |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 229 |
| ISBN | 0-385-73133-7 |
Tenderness is a 1997 novel written by Robert Cormier.[1] It is the basis for John Polson's 2009 film, Tenderness.[2]
Plot
[edit]Eric Poole is a convicted teenage serial killer. Lorelei "Lori" Cranston is a troubled 15-year-old girl.
As a little boy in New England, Eric Poole already exhibited symptoms of a sociopath. He was suspected of murdering several young girls, but also murdered his mother and stepfather, and was convicted for those deaths. He convinced investigators that he killed his guardians out of self-defense with a false story of abuse.
Lori is described as a beautiful girl with a very mature body at a young age. Consequently, she must constantly deal with the wanted and unwanted sexual attention she receives from men. She has a tendency to fixate on men, and will pursue them until she has put her mouth on theirs.
Detective Jake Proctor always suspected that Eric was guilty of killing the other girls and that he had fabricated his abuse story. He is determined to prove that Eric is a serial killer.
At 18, Eric is released from the juvenile detention center and immediately starts looking for a new victim. Lori sees him on TV, fixates on him, and runs away from home to find him. During this time, Detective Proctor begins setting a trap to catch Eric before he can kill again.
Supporting characters
[edit]Lieutenant Jake Proctor
Retired cop, now a detective. Proctor labeled Eric a psychopath and a monster incapable of feeling. Proctor doubts Eric's accusations of abuse and strongly suspects Eric of having committed at least two other murders. The two seem to like each other but are ultimately at cross purposes. Proctor takes Eric's case personally, as 20 years before he let another young man, who resembles Eric and also suspected of murder, go free when he had equally strong doubts. Now Proctor is determined to prove Eric’s guilt and put and bring him to justice, this time as an adult. Proctor hopes this will put an end to his nightmares of murder victims denied justice that keep him up at night.
Aunt Phoebe
A well-dressed, never married, and attractive woman, Eric's aunt is also the owner of the parrot murdered at Eric’s hands. She offers Eric a place to stay once he is released from the facility.
Maria Valdez
The beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed Hispanic girl who fits the usual look of Eric's victims. She gives Eric her number while in the facility and later meets him at the state fair. She is revealed to be working with police.
Jimmy
The young cop who helps Proctor catch Eric in the act, whether real or framed.
Sonny Boy
Sweet Lefty's torturer and resident bully at the facility.
Sweet Lefty
An easygoing and usually well-liked inmate who is bullied by other inmates but "rescued" by Eric.
Ross Packer
A young reporter at the Wickburg Telegram who writes the Ms. Anonymous piece on Lori that Eric later reads.
Gary
One of the nicer men that Lori's mom has dated. Gary also feels attracted to Lori.
Dexter
An ex of Lori's mother who beat her, giving her a black eye and then fled soon afterward.
Mr. Clayton
The driver of the van who picks up Lori when she hitchhikes and succumbs to her seductions. Lori steals his wallet and decides to mail it back to him, but she never does because it is later stolen from her.
Phyllis Kendall
A beautiful old woman with white hair who is also the caretaker and mentor at the teen pregnancy center, Harmony House.
Mrs. Hornsby
An out of place cook at the teen pregnancy center, Harmony House.
Debbie
An exceptionally big pregnant teen at Harmony House.
Chantelle
Another very pregnant teen girl.
Tiffany
A frail tiny girl who is also Lori's rival, she tries to frame her for theft at Harmony House.
Rory
Leader of a gang.
Crystal
A plump girl who is a member of the gang, later becomes pregnant, and attends Harmony House teen pregnancy center
Bantam
A skinny little kid who wants to act tough and is also part of the gang
Reception
[edit]In 1998, the American Library Association named Tenderness one of the top ten Best Books for Young Adults to be published that year.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Mosle, Sara (1998-08-02). "Culture Zone; The Outlook's Bleak". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ "King of the shorts is still on a roll". Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
- ^ American Library Association (2006-09-29). "Best Books for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Retrieved 2021-03-08.