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Tender Mark Illis

Tender By Mark Illis

Tender by Mark Illis


$13.69
Condition - Very Good
Only 3 left

Summary

Tender is the story of the Dax family. Over thirty years we watch their iives unfold in ordinary and extraordinary ways as they try to cope with life, and each other. They're a family with a history that develops in front of your eyes. A family with stories to tell.

Tender Summary

Tender by Mark Illis

Tender is the story of the Dax family. Or the stories of the Dax family. When Ali and Bill meet it's 1974, she's a physiotherapist with a broken heart, he's a cycle courier who dreams of writing a Hollywood film. In the next story it's their first wedding anniversary, in the next Ali's pregnant, and so we go on, revisiting the family on key occasions over thirty years, watching relationships develop, children grow up, big moments occur, as life unfolds in its normal, and sometimes far from normal, way. The point of view shifts from story to story, so that we see things first through Ali's eyes, then Bill's, and later through the eyes of their children, Sean and Rosa. And then there's Ali's brother, Frank, popping up now and then with his own unique way of viewing the world. And what happens? At various times, Ali has murder on her mind, Bill fears his life is turning into sit-com, Rosa is bullied, Sean plots escape and Frank ... no one really knows what's going on in Frank's head. Just an ordinary family, then, trying to cope with life, and each other. A family with a history that develops in front of your eyes. A family with stories to tell.

Tender Reviews

On A Chinese Summer: Haunting and perceptive.

* Books *

On A Chinese Summer: Excellent first novel.

* Literary Review *

On A Chinese Summer: Rich in passion and promise.

* New York Times Book Review *

On The Alchemist: Freely enjoyable, smart, wry-humoured, even poetic.

* London Review of Books *

On The Alchemist: Moving and entertaining.

* Times Educational Supplement *

On The Alchemist: The main attraction is Illis's ability to dazzle with character and imagination.

* Evening Standard *

On The Alchemist: Illis has the gift of the philosopher's stone.

* The Times *

On The Feather Report: This very intelligent book is refreshingly sane, and it gives a funny but compassionate picture of the human need for order, the different ways that people try to cope with life, and the almost universal madness involved in reading the world.

* Times Literary Supplement *

Tender can mean loving. But in this coolly observed, meticulously crafted family drama, one is reminded that it also means damaged, and acutely vulnerable to further hurt.

* Independent *

Illis has an engaging style and his prose is vivid and inventively colloquial

* TLS *

Tender can mean loving. But in this coolly observed, meticulously crafted family drama, one is reminded that it also means damaged, and acutely vulnerable to further hurt.

* Independent *

Illis has an engaging style and his prose is vivid and inventively colloquial

* TLS *

About Mark Illis

Mark Illis had three novels published by Bloomsbury before he was 30. He's now one of Salt's best-selling authors. He's been writing for TV for 15 years and has had several radio plays broadcast.His stories have been published in many magazines and anthologies. Born in London, he now lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and two children.

Table of Contents

1974: The Last Person To Swim The Channel, Ever

1977: Deep Water

1984: A Man In Space

1989: Being Nice

1995: There's A Hole In Everything

1999: The Pretty Horse

1999: The Realm of the Possible

2000: Hiatus

2000: Gladness

2001: Houdini

2001: War and Fish

2002: On The Heart, and Other Muscles

2004: The Death of a Friend of a Friend

Acknowledgements

Additional information

GOR001310353
9781844715268
1844715264
Tender by Mark Illis
Used - Very Good
Paperback
Salt Publishing
20090417
160
Long-listed for Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award 2010 (Ireland) Long-listed for Edge Hill Prize for the Short Story 2010 (UK)
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Tender