Tenderness (novel)

The novel "Tenderness" was written by Robert Cormier in 1997. [cite news |title= CULTURE ZONE; The Outlook's Bleak |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05E4DA143FF931A3575BC0A96E958260 |work=New York Times |date=1998-08-02 |accessdate=2008-02-25 ] It is the basis for John Polson's 2008 film of the same name. [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 ]

Plot summary

The novel deals with Eric Poole, a convicted teenage serial killer, and Lorelei "Lori" Cranston, a troubled 15 year old girl, whose lives intersect as they 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 becomes clear, later in the book, that the definition of "tenderness" is quite different to both Eric and Lori.

Lorelei Cranston prefers to be called Lori and is described as a beautiful girl with a very mature body at a not so mature age. As a consequence she constantly deals with both the wanted and unwanted sexual attention she receives from men. The absence of her father is attributed to his death, struck by a car when Lori was only two, leaving her and her mother to fend for themselves. The pair live on the east coast and are constantly moving. Her mother, an alcoholic, has had a history of troubled and abusive relationships. Her latest and ongoing relationship is to a man named Gary, who has also taken a sexual interest in Lori. Upon arriving in a new town she beings working as a waitress, and drinking so much she forgets her daughter's birthday. This causes Lori to feel sad, yet in denial about her mother's problem finding excuses and rationalizing her mother's behavior. Despite this, she decides to run away leaving her mother a note in which Lori says she'll be staying with friends for awhile. 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, but simply doesn’t care.

Eric Poole's story begins when he is just a little boy in England. In accordance with one of the traits on the McDonald Triad, (used in identifying early characteristics of serial killers) Eric begins by torturing animals, namely kittens. The book describes how he enjoys feeling the bones under the kitten's fur and the breaking them. 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 becomes a fixation, as he soon seeks to move on to larger prey, namely people. Though the book does not clarify whether or not they were murdered first, he is tried and convicted for murdering only his mother and step father, whom he hates. He explains he murdered his mother in resentment for marrying his step father. Though there are three more victims: all female, dark-haired, dark-eyed and slender. Eric describes the feeling of murdering girls with these specific characteristics as tenderness. This type of tenderness however, is associated with sexual desire. A direct contrast can be seen, when he meets Lori, who is the complete opposite of his usual M.O. (a blond, childish girl with large breasts), yet he also feels tenderness for her, though this type of tenderness is associated with the need to protect her. Eric is a tall, slender, blond, blue eyed and charming boy of 15 when he commits his first murders, and has no trouble luring away his victims with an innocent smile which he practices in the mirror. Because Eric burned his arm with cigarettes and purposefully broke his own arm with a hammer, he managed to prove he was abused by his parent's and was therefore convicted as a minor for his parents' murders. Yet he did not manage to fool everyone, especially Jake Proctor who keeps a close eye on him through out.

On his 18th birthday Eric is released from the facility where juveniles who have committed crimes are kept. His release causes a controversy in the community causing media circus outside the facility. It is during a broadcast of his release that Lori first see's Eric, and her fixation begins. During his stay in the facility he keeps to himself as much as possible and becomes know as the "ice man." One day as he is on the verge of raping and killing another inmate he changes his mind last minute, and instead instructs him to stop bothering another inmate known as "Sweet Lefty" Afterwards Sweet Lefty is indebted to him and comes into play later in the story, as he helps Eric out in various situations. Also, during his stay in the facility, he meets Maria Valdez, whom he calls the Seniorita. She fits the description of his usual 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. Eric one day spots her on the front page of a news paper, known simply as, "Ms. Anonymous." Her face sparks a memory about the fourth and possibly last murder he was taken to the facility. Soon After receiving his driver's license he begins his planned road trip to find the seniorita, Maria Valdez. Little does he know the surprise hiding in the back seat.

Once he realizes Lori is in the back seat he agrees to drop her off at the next town. In the next town he gives 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 finds himself unable to do so. Lori wakes up and realizes whats going on and is happy. The next day at a carnival Eric meets the senorita. He attempts to murder her but Lori steps in and warns him that Maria is a cop and its a set up. Eric goes to a river nearby with Lori and goes on a boat where Lori falls and drowns. She makes an attempt to bring Eric with her. The cops show up and thinks Eric killed her and lock him up. 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.

Supporting Characters

Lieutenant Jake Proctor
Retired cop, and now detective labeled Eric a psychopath and a monster incapable of feeling. With the good reason, as the Lieutenant doubts Eric's accusations of abuse, and strongly suspects him of having committed at least three other murders. The two seem to like each other but are ultimately rivals as one is a detective and other a serial killer. Jake Proctor takes Eric's case personally, as 20 years before he let another young man also suspected of murder and similar to Eric in appearance go free when he had equally strong doubts. Now he is determined to prove Eric’s guilt and put and bring him to justice, this time as an adult and hopefully put an end to the nightmares of murder victims without justice which 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 offered Eric a place to stay once he was released from the facility. Maria Valdez The beautiful dark haired and 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.

Jimmy
The young cop who is helping the 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 easy going and usually well liked inmate who is picked on by other inmates but "rescued" by Eric.

Ross Packer
Young reporter at the Wickburg Telegram who writes the Ms. Anonymous piece on Lori which Eric later reads.

Gary
One of the nicer men, Lori's mom had dated, who also feels attracted to Lori.

Dexter
An ex of Lori's Mom who beat her giving her a black eye and fled soon afterward.

Mr. Clayton
The driver of the van who picks up Lori when she picks up Lori when she hitchhikes and succumbs to her seductions. Lori steals his wallet and decides to mail it back to him, though she never does because it is later stolen from her.

Phyllis Kendall
Beautiful old woman with white hair, who is also the Caretaker and mentor at the teen pregnancy center, Harmony House.

Mrs. Hornsby
A the out of place cook at the teen pregnancy center, Harmony House.

Debbie
An exceptionally big pregnant teen at Harmony House

Chantelle
Also a very pregnant teen girl, who is having trouble moving and perspiring quite a bit.

Tiffany
The frail tiny girl who is also Lori's rival, and tries to frame her of theft, at Harmony House.

Rory
Leader of a gang

Crystal
A plump girl who is a member of the gang, and later become pregnant and attends Harmony House teen pregnancy center.

Bantam
Described as a skinny little kid who wanted to act tough, and was also part of the gang.

Trivia

The town of monument, also mentioned in other Cormier books, is also mention in Tenderness as Mr. Clayton's place of residence.

References