The Tenderness of Wolves - A Novel [Paperback]

Stef Penney (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Book Club Edition edition (2006)
• ISBN-10: 0739491652
• ISBN-13: 978-0739491652
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,106,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stef Penney was born and grew up in Edinburgh. After earning a degree in philosophy and theology from Bristol University, she turned to filmmaking, studying film and TV at Bournemouth College of Art. On graduation she was selected for the Carlton Television New Writers Scheme. She is a screenwriter. The Tenderness of Wolves is her first novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Beach Book..., August 29, 2007

By 

Steven James (Washington State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel (Hardcover)

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book once I got into it, it was a challenge to figure out what was going on. The story itself is really interesting and the setting is fabulously well-drawn, but there are so many names to remember that it is kind of tough going, at times. The first 50 pages or so are completely hard to follow, but stick with it and it will begin to gel later on. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, and while interesting, it makes for a lot of head scratching. The names of many of the characters are similar, and we often go through 100 pages or more before a character is mentioned again. I would recommend this to the more sophisticated reader. This is not a book to be casually leafed through while sitting on the beach at Waikiki. One other thing, I can't imagine why the publishers decided to make this book a "summer release". The setting is so dark, cold, and snowy that it's difficult to even imagine what these people are feeling as we are suffocating of heat here in the Pacific Northwest in August. Overall, after a slow start, this book got under my skin and is now one of my all-time favorites. But it's not for everyone.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining novel, July 13, 2007

By 

Nicole Maier "nicole19" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel (Hardcover)

This novel ws very entertaining and kept me reading. I agree that after finishing I wondered why some of the many plots were relevant, because they didn't seem to come to a conclusion. It's an unsual story with many twists and likable characters. I was very engrossed in the characters' stories and would have liked to find out what happened to them. The ending just gave me hints ... instead I got the resolution of the murder mystery which wasn't that original. In any case, I don't mean to make it sound as if I didn't like it. I did, in fact I couldn't put the book down, it's a very likable story. If you're looking for a good and easy read I recommend this book. If you're primarily looking for a gripping murder mystery then better go and look for something else.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too many irons . . ., October 19, 2007

By 

betc2 (renton) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel (Hardcover)

I was initially intrigued with this book, but after a while it really began to drag. Someone else used the word "slog," and I think that is quite appropriate. The author tries to juggle too many sub-plots, characters and coincidences. Perhaps this is intentional. She chooses to evoke a slower, simpler time. But with all the violence and plot twists, it should have been a more exciting read. Disappointing.