FICTION

Tender

by Belinda McKeon
Lee Boudreaux: Hachette. Feb. 2016. 416p. ISBN 9780316344326. $27;ebk. ISBN 9780316344319. F
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In 1997, when Catherine Reilly and James Flynn meet in Dublin, she is gravitating toward arts journalism and he is pursuing dreams of becoming a world-class photographer. Their friendship is extraordinary for its intimacy, and though early in their acquaintance James sets limits on how close they'll get, Catherine falls in love with him. As they navigate the increasingly precarious boundaries of their relationship, Catherine's obsession with James ultimately destroys what they have. Sadder but wiser, they reconcile to an extent in 2012, with Catherine's youthful passion for James credited and redeemed.
VERDICT With the mastery of Anne Enright—and the influence of Maeve Binchy and Edna O'Brien also evident—McKeon delivers a heartfelt and tragic second novel (after Solace). The subtle narrative pacing and deep descriptions of both Dublin and the characters and their distinctive habits believably convey the often heartbreaking initiations of young adulthood. [See Prepub Alert, 8/3/15.]
Reviewed by John G. Matthews, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman , Feb 15, 2016
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