- Hardcover: 566 pages
- Publisher: Harmony (Sep 5 1990)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0517576031
- ISBN-13: 978-0517576038
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 4.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,678,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
Tupelo, Mississippi's Leroy Kirby spends his early years in poverty as his parents move from place to place, one step ahead of the landlord's wrath, in search of work. His only joy lies in a mutually adoring relationship with his mother and the music that feeds his soul. A county fair talent show, his own guitar, and a determination to be famous leads to a recording contract with an obscure local company; the subsequent refinement of his sexy bad boy image brings him a phenomenal success the likes of which the entertainment world may never see again. Few readers will miss the parallels with another guitar-playing truck driver whose military induction became a media event and spelled heartache for the country's female population, but this is no mere roman a clef . The author of A World Made of Fire ( LJ 10/15/84) and V for Victor ( LJ 12/1/88) has written a realistic, moving account of the early days of rock 'n' roll.
-Judith A. Gifford, Salve Regina Coll. Lib., Newport, R.I.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
-Judith A. Gifford, Salve Regina Coll. Lib., Newport, R.I.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
"A big, all American, Technicolor dreamboat of a book...This is a great novel."
STEPHEN KING
In TENDER, novelist Mark Childress has redefined the American epic. He takes us on a wild ride through the last three decades as his fictional hero, Leroy Kirby, makes his meteoric rise to stardom, from the poverty-stricken child of an overprotective mother and absent father, to an icon who stands for everything American -- a role that will ultimately consume him.
From the Paperback edition.
STEPHEN KING
In TENDER, novelist Mark Childress has redefined the American epic. He takes us on a wild ride through the last three decades as his fictional hero, Leroy Kirby, makes his meteoric rise to stardom, from the poverty-stricken child of an overprotective mother and absent father, to an icon who stands for everything American -- a role that will ultimately consume him.
From the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
About 3 1/2 stars,
By Theresa W (mi, usa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tender (Paperback)
I'll admit, I've never liked Elvis. No particular reason, I guess being born in 1975 I never had an appreciation for him. However, reading this book, really gave me a newfound respect for him. Anyone who can turn nothing into such a powerful empire is something special. I liked the way the book started, I enjoyed getting to know Leroy's family & reading about their struggles, I think it helped set the stage for his stardom in the latter half of the book. However, I'll admit at times the first part dragged. It got very exciting when Leroy started to sing, bought a guitar & started working at being a star. I loved it when he went to the "black store" in town & bought the flashy clothes & wore them to school! When he was first starting out & becoming popular was my favorite part, I have to say that some of the final pages of the book dragged for me too. And I was disappointed that they didn't finish the story, you are kind of left hanging on the last page. This book didn't go into any marriages or love stories or kids. Not even into the fall from fame or much on the drug abuse. That didn't make sense to me. Over all I did enjoy the book & am very glad I read it. I think if you're an Elvis fan or would be interested in reading about what his life was like, I'd recommend this book to you.
3.0 out of 5 stars
The story of Elvis, but his name is Leroy,
By A Customer
This review is from: Tender (Paperback)
I was never a big Elvis fan, kinda before my time -- so i have to admit that i never knew much about his life or his music... well now i do! The start was ssslllooowww but it did pick up when he became a teenager- i read it 'cuz i LOVED Crazy in Alabama (by Childress) but honestly i was not impressed by this book, and the way it ended was so sudden. Guess i dont need to read up on Elvis (feel like i did). Read Crazy in Alabama, that is a great read!
4.0 out of 5 stars
You Ain't Nevah Been Good, Baa-bee!,
By geebs@erols.com (Takoma Park, maryland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tender (Paperback)
What a rocking ride of a book! I have never been particularly interested in Elvis Presley, but this book swept me along because it is such a great story, so well told. Childress does not miss a beat and there is a beat driving it along. The Leroy Kirby character is fresh and very sympathetic. Childress captures the hot, fast blooming of a new sound and star perfectly. I'm sure it helps that even those casually acquainted with Elvis like myself can conjure some of the real life sound and look of the performances that Childress renders so convincingly, but I was impressed nevertheless. The author's song titles and lyrics, which shadow the real ones, are spot-on, and in several cases seem an improvement on the original. Downside? The story lost some of it's oomph towards the end. Of course, the tale is a carbon copy of much of the first half of Elvis' life [as I have learned by refering to Peter Guralnick's Last Train To Memphis (biography)]. Many small incidents and even place names are reproduced, along with the general outline. So there's a nagging feeling that the book should somehow be discounted a bit, with Childress just redressing a heavily borrowed story. But what a job he has done in creating a full-developed, unique character. Reading Guralnick's fine book, I find Leroy Kirby far more interesting. The power of good fiction! I also don't recognize the writing/writer here from the other novel I've read by Childress (V is for Victor - good, but Tender is much better.
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