Status
Available
Description
1867. Winter has just tightened its grip on Dove River, an isolated settlement in Canada's Northern Territory, when a man is brutally murdered. A local woman, Mrs. Ross, stumbles upon the crime scene and sees tracks leading from the dead man's cabin north toward the forest and the tundra beyond. But soon she makes another discovery: her son has disappeared and is now considered a prime suspect. A variety of outsiders are drawn to the crime and to the township--but do they want to solve the crime or exploit it? One by one, searchers set out to follow the tracks across a desolate landscape, variously seeking a murderer, a son, two sisters missing for seventeen years, and a forgotten Native American culture before the snows settle and cover the tracks of the past for good.--From publisher description.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member brenzi
Stef Penney dug deep into the history of Canada’s far North to write a debut mystery that had me turning pages well into the night. It’s 1867 and there’s been a murder in the small settlement of Dove River near Canada’s Georgian Bay. The victim is a local trapper who lives alone and has no
With this premise in place, the search is on for the killer and, the most likely suspect, Francis Ross. Mrs. Ross, upset that her husband will not look for his son, decides to accompany the recently released prisoner and half breed, William Parker, in a search for her son and the real killer. Another search team consisting of Donald Moody, agent for the Hudson Bay Company, and his assistant Jacob, set out a few days earlier. Neither team knows about the other.
As the search progresses, Penney describes the conditions in the frigid north of Canada in great detail. The atmosphere that she portrays is key to the allure of this mystery. Bitterly cold winds across windswept plains, drifting snow piles, blinding sun all come together to describe brutal conditions that all the searchers must endure. And the ever-present wolves. Throw in some romance, the disturbingly provocative stranger, a wide assortment of suspects, and you’ve got a ripping good tale.
Penney’s strong point is the strength of her characterizations. From the lonely Mrs. Ross to the angst-filled teenager Francis, to the astute Maria Knox, to the conniving Mr. Sturrott, each character is fully fleshed and three dimensional. Also, the writing is top-notch; here Mrs. Ross is ruminating on her first night in the tundra:
“The aurora shimmers in the North like a beautiful dream, and the wind has gone. The sky is vertiginously high and clear, and the deep cold is back---a taut, ringing cold that says there is nothing between me and the infinite depth of space. I crane skyward long after it sends me dizzy. I am aware that I am walking a precarious path, surrounded on all sides by uncertainty and the possibility of disaster. Nothing is within my control. The sky yawns above me like the abyss, and there is nothing at all to stop me from falling, nothing except the wild maze of stars.” (Page 223)
My one quibble would be that Penney threw in a few too many story lines that were never really resolved. I would like to have known more of the of the mysterious tablets and the fate of the two missing sisters. Still, a minor quibble for what is a solid debut. I will be looking for this author’s second effort.
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family. Someone was seen leaving the premises late one night and heading north into the deep forest and tundra. Coincidentally, a seventeen year old boy, Francis Ross, goes missing at the same time. Is there a connection? Who is the murderer and what reason could anyone have for killing the trapper?With this premise in place, the search is on for the killer and, the most likely suspect, Francis Ross. Mrs. Ross, upset that her husband will not look for his son, decides to accompany the recently released prisoner and half breed, William Parker, in a search for her son and the real killer. Another search team consisting of Donald Moody, agent for the Hudson Bay Company, and his assistant Jacob, set out a few days earlier. Neither team knows about the other.
As the search progresses, Penney describes the conditions in the frigid north of Canada in great detail. The atmosphere that she portrays is key to the allure of this mystery. Bitterly cold winds across windswept plains, drifting snow piles, blinding sun all come together to describe brutal conditions that all the searchers must endure. And the ever-present wolves. Throw in some romance, the disturbingly provocative stranger, a wide assortment of suspects, and you’ve got a ripping good tale.
Penney’s strong point is the strength of her characterizations. From the lonely Mrs. Ross to the angst-filled teenager Francis, to the astute Maria Knox, to the conniving Mr. Sturrott, each character is fully fleshed and three dimensional. Also, the writing is top-notch; here Mrs. Ross is ruminating on her first night in the tundra:
“The aurora shimmers in the North like a beautiful dream, and the wind has gone. The sky is vertiginously high and clear, and the deep cold is back---a taut, ringing cold that says there is nothing between me and the infinite depth of space. I crane skyward long after it sends me dizzy. I am aware that I am walking a precarious path, surrounded on all sides by uncertainty and the possibility of disaster. Nothing is within my control. The sky yawns above me like the abyss, and there is nothing at all to stop me from falling, nothing except the wild maze of stars.” (Page 223)
My one quibble would be that Penney threw in a few too many story lines that were never really resolved. I would like to have known more of the of the mysterious tablets and the fate of the two missing sisters. Still, a minor quibble for what is a solid debut. I will be looking for this author’s second effort.
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LibraryThing member msf59
Looking for a cozy winter read? This might be the one. Set in the deep northern Canadian territory, late 1860s. Cold and remote. A French trapper is found murdered, which triggers a man-hunt involving many disparate characters, all tracking the killer down, across a relentless frozen landscape.
The author focuses on to many individual perspectives ,which slows the narrative at times, making this a longer read than necessary. Penney is a talented writer though and has created a memorable story.
Grab a hot chocolate and your fuzzy slippers and snuggle in.
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Each person harboring a dark secret. The author focuses on to many individual perspectives ,which slows the narrative at times, making this a longer read than necessary. Penney is a talented writer though and has created a memorable story.
Grab a hot chocolate and your fuzzy slippers and snuggle in.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
In the 1860s, Canada was a northern wilderness with fur traders and native people in tense coexistence. In the village of Dove River, a man is murdered. At the same time, a 17-year-old youth disappears and becomes a prime suspect in the murder. The disappearance rekindles memories of a long-ago
Stef Penney weaves a character-driven tale of adventure and mystery. The characters are complex, and the story far from formulaic. Penney paints such a realistic picture of the frozen Canadian wilderness, that I actually felt cold and had to snuggle up in a blanket while reading. And while I did figure out one of the subplots early on, it did not mar my enjoyment of the book. This debut novel and 2006 Costa Book of the Year winner was a very enjoyable read.
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tragedy, in which two sisters went off on a picnic and never returned. Local authorites and representatives of the Hudson Bay Company investigate the murder. And the boy's mother, Mrs. Ross, takes it upon herself to search for her son accompanied by a trapper named Parker as her guide. Stef Penney weaves a character-driven tale of adventure and mystery. The characters are complex, and the story far from formulaic. Penney paints such a realistic picture of the frozen Canadian wilderness, that I actually felt cold and had to snuggle up in a blanket while reading. And while I did figure out one of the subplots early on, it did not mar my enjoyment of the book. This debut novel and 2006 Costa Book of the Year winner was a very enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member dmsteyn
The Tenderness of Wolves is a good, plot-driven novel, which won the Costa Book of the Year award in 2006. The title is probably the best aspect of the novel, but that isn’t meant to disparage Penney’s book. I really enjoyed the story, which has pace and interesting plot twists. The writing is
It is 1867. A trapper is brutally murdered in rural Canada, and a young man from the same community goes missing. Suspicions immediately fall on the missing man, but things are not all that they seem. The young man’s mother, desperate to find her son and prove his innocence, sets off into the wilderness on his trail. The book’s other characters get embroiled in this story, as they either assist or block her attempts to find her son. The plot also involves the discovery of a Native American written language and stolen furs.
As I mentioned, I enjoyed the story. I thought it could have been more streamlined, but as it was Penney’s debut, I guess that’s forgivable. I’m not much for thrillers, but I’m not sure that this really was a thriller or crime novel. It is much more of a human drama, though it certainly has elements of the abovementioned genres.
I should mention that I read the book a few weeks ago, and the characters have already grown dim in my memory – I cannot even recall the name of the main character (the mother). Whether this is because of bad memory, or because the book is forgettable, I don’t know. I can recall the details of the plot, however.
So, an enjoyable book, but not a great one. I’m not sure I’ll be reading more of Penney’s. I guess it’ll depend on the subject matter of her newer books.
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strong without being exceptional, and the characters are clearly delineated. There were a few too many of them, however, and some of them get lost (figuratively, though several get literally lost as well) towards the end of the book.It is 1867. A trapper is brutally murdered in rural Canada, and a young man from the same community goes missing. Suspicions immediately fall on the missing man, but things are not all that they seem. The young man’s mother, desperate to find her son and prove his innocence, sets off into the wilderness on his trail. The book’s other characters get embroiled in this story, as they either assist or block her attempts to find her son. The plot also involves the discovery of a Native American written language and stolen furs.
As I mentioned, I enjoyed the story. I thought it could have been more streamlined, but as it was Penney’s debut, I guess that’s forgivable. I’m not much for thrillers, but I’m not sure that this really was a thriller or crime novel. It is much more of a human drama, though it certainly has elements of the abovementioned genres.
I should mention that I read the book a few weeks ago, and the characters have already grown dim in my memory – I cannot even recall the name of the main character (the mother). Whether this is because of bad memory, or because the book is forgettable, I don’t know. I can recall the details of the plot, however.
So, an enjoyable book, but not a great one. I’m not sure I’ll be reading more of Penney’s. I guess it’ll depend on the subject matter of her newer books.
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
a layered, multi-faceted, intricately woven story of love, betrayal, greed, murder, and survival. Set in the frigid lands of northern Canada, the story revolves around the murder of a French trader, Laurent Jammet, and the search for his missing friend Francis Ross. Did Francis kill him? Is
Central to the story is Francis' mother, Mrs. Ross (we never learn her first name), and she is a major narrator. The other point of view comes in the third person from Donald Moody (the company's accountant), Francis himself, and from various Norwegian settlers who appear in about the middle of the book.
This one is a slow starter, but that pace allows the reader to absorb the many intertwined lives and facts needed to carry the story forward. It is incredibly well-written. In spite of the numerous story lines, and a large number of characters, all the characters are well defined, and the back stories fill out the plot as it marches inexorably to its climax. All along the reader experiences the bitter, numbing, killing cold, the blinding sun on snow, the howling wind, the soul squelching weather elements making life as barren as it was for both humans and animals. Bleak landscapes are blended with human kindness, as well as greed and deceit to build the tension as the search moves further and further into the wilderness. The ending is stunning, not unexpected but well portrayed and believable.
This is a masterful piece of storytelling, sure to please the outdoorsman, the romantic, and those who love a good mystery.
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that why he hasn't been seen since Jammet's body was found? Since both the victim and the missing boy are at least loosely connected to the Hudson Bay trading company, and since the company seems to have territorial jurisdiction over the area, the company's factors and magistrates undertake to determine what happened and why.Central to the story is Francis' mother, Mrs. Ross (we never learn her first name), and she is a major narrator. The other point of view comes in the third person from Donald Moody (the company's accountant), Francis himself, and from various Norwegian settlers who appear in about the middle of the book.
This one is a slow starter, but that pace allows the reader to absorb the many intertwined lives and facts needed to carry the story forward. It is incredibly well-written. In spite of the numerous story lines, and a large number of characters, all the characters are well defined, and the back stories fill out the plot as it marches inexorably to its climax. All along the reader experiences the bitter, numbing, killing cold, the blinding sun on snow, the howling wind, the soul squelching weather elements making life as barren as it was for both humans and animals. Bleak landscapes are blended with human kindness, as well as greed and deceit to build the tension as the search moves further and further into the wilderness. The ending is stunning, not unexpected but well portrayed and believable.
This is a masterful piece of storytelling, sure to please the outdoorsman, the romantic, and those who love a good mystery.
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LibraryThing member kambrogi
This 2006 Costa award winner is pure pleasure from start to finish, if you enjoy a complicated plot and multifaceted characters. It is 1867 in the wilds of Canada as a bitter winter begins to settle in. Mrs. Ross, a Scottish immigrant with a difficult history, discovers that a neighbor has been
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brutally murdered. Even worse, her troubled seventeen-year-old son has disappeared, apparently following the trail of another man. Before the story is finished, more than fifteen characters will head out into the deadly winter landscape in pursuit of truth, justice, love, power or an elusive piece of valuable property. But there is much more to this book than its murder mystery premise or its dazzling descriptions of the Canadian landscape. The ensemble cast is beautifully rendered, their personal stories moving and complex, while each chapter introduces one more layer to its intricately woven, thoroughly exciting, plot. Unfortunately, the author has attempted more than she could fully realize in a novel of 371 page, so not every conflict is fully resolved, nor every detail adequately explained . Still, the book manages to offer outstanding entertainment and excellent writing – a fine novel in the classic tradition of storytelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member phebj
I ended up liking this book, even loving it at times, but it didn't really grab me until about p. 130 and the ending was a little bit of a let down because some plot lines weren't wrapped up.
It's a murder mystery set in the northern territory of Canada in 1867 and the reason it took so long to get
They all end up traveling on foot through the snow and ice in the winter on their separate searches and probably my favorite part of the book was this setting. Penney does a great job describing the landscape and it's affect on people--some of whom go mad dealing with the isolation.
Penney is a screenwriter and this is her first novel (it was the Costa Award Book of the Year in 2006). In the author interview at the end of the book she talks about writing it like a film script--with many short chapters and many points of view. For me, it didn't completely work but I think she's a great writer and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her books (and her films).
It's a murder mystery set in the northern territory of Canada in 1867 and the reason it took so long to get
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into was there were too many different characters telling their stories (at least 7 of them). I liked the characters--native Indians, a French trapper, various current and former employees of the Hudson Bay Trading Company, and a woman and her son--one of whom is the murder victim and the rest of whom are trying to find the murderer and knowing it's probably one of them. They all end up traveling on foot through the snow and ice in the winter on their separate searches and probably my favorite part of the book was this setting. Penney does a great job describing the landscape and it's affect on people--some of whom go mad dealing with the isolation.
Penney is a screenwriter and this is her first novel (it was the Costa Award Book of the Year in 2006). In the author interview at the end of the book she talks about writing it like a film script--with many short chapters and many points of view. For me, it didn't completely work but I think she's a great writer and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her books (and her films).
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
This is a well-written novel that opens with the discovery of Laurent Jammet's body and the disappearance of Francis Ross. As parties leave the trading post of Dove River for parts north, each member has his/her own agenda. This tale is told through the perspective of many narrators although the
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word "I" is generally associated only with Mrs. Ross, the mother of Francis. Coming of age issues such as sexuality are explored, not always with the culturally acceptable outcome. Other social issues such as alcoholism, infidelity, and domestic violence also make an appearance in this historical mystery set in the 1860s in northern Ontario. There is a lot of time for reflection during the course of the novel. The competitive nature of the fur trade business is shown by the way that one company tried to silence the competition, particularly when those who began the rival business were seen as "traitors." While the main mystery was resolved satsifactorily, I still had a lot of unanswered questions at the close of the novel. I don't know if the author will explore some of these questions in future sequels or not, but I would not mind revisiting Dove River and places north in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member bibliobibuli
As it turned out, this book was just the read I needed: a rattling good yarn I could slip into my bag and read in odd moments.
Stef Penney sets her novel in mid C19th Canada and chucks in a whole load of ingredients ... murder, mysterious disappearances, codes to be cracked (one which may hold the
If the story has a weakness it is that I think the author tried to cram in too much, and in parts, especially where the backgrounds of various characters were fleshed out, it seemed terribly rushed. There were an awful lot of threads to bring together by the end of the book, and whilst Penney largely managed this, some parts were left hanging.
I was sad that we did not have a chance to see the protagonist Mrs. Ross (what is her first name??) reunited with her adopted 17 year old son Francis after she finally (and how could she really miss all the clues?) realises that he is gay and that the murdered man was his lover.
And why was she in an asylum in Scotland ... and what does that have to do with the main drift of the story?
And why was there so little about the wolves?
The cast of characters is also very large - and some came alive rather more than others. Francis intrigued me. I liked the warm-hearted but bumbling accountant, Donald Moody, still trying to find his feet with the Hudson Bay Company.
But I loved the huge and ugly half-Mohawk, half-English trapper William Parker, and was so glad that Mrs Ross ended up warming her frostbitten fingers in his armpits ... even if I'd have liked something a lot steamier to melt the frozen Tundra.
Some characters didn't rise very far of the page though, including Knox and his wife and daughters. Others were well drawn but didn't have enough of a role in the book in my opinion, e.g. Jacob and Sturrock.
I also felt that the narration worked best in Mrs. Ross' first person, and got annoyed with the godlike omniscience with which the other chapters were narrated.
But as I say, a very good read which I'd recommend as I think many of you will enjoy it.
And I wouldn't be surprised to see it makes New York Times bestseller list.
Stef Penney sets her novel in mid C19th Canada and chucks in a whole load of ingredients ... murder, mysterious disappearances, codes to be cracked (one which may hold the
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secret of an ancient written Native American language and the other a fortune in furs), love stories (gay and straight).If the story has a weakness it is that I think the author tried to cram in too much, and in parts, especially where the backgrounds of various characters were fleshed out, it seemed terribly rushed. There were an awful lot of threads to bring together by the end of the book, and whilst Penney largely managed this, some parts were left hanging.
I was sad that we did not have a chance to see the protagonist Mrs. Ross (what is her first name??) reunited with her adopted 17 year old son Francis after she finally (and how could she really miss all the clues?) realises that he is gay and that the murdered man was his lover.
And why was she in an asylum in Scotland ... and what does that have to do with the main drift of the story?
And why was there so little about the wolves?
The cast of characters is also very large - and some came alive rather more than others. Francis intrigued me. I liked the warm-hearted but bumbling accountant, Donald Moody, still trying to find his feet with the Hudson Bay Company.
But I loved the huge and ugly half-Mohawk, half-English trapper William Parker, and was so glad that Mrs Ross ended up warming her frostbitten fingers in his armpits ... even if I'd have liked something a lot steamier to melt the frozen Tundra.
Some characters didn't rise very far of the page though, including Knox and his wife and daughters. Others were well drawn but didn't have enough of a role in the book in my opinion, e.g. Jacob and Sturrock.
I also felt that the narration worked best in Mrs. Ross' first person, and got annoyed with the godlike omniscience with which the other chapters were narrated.
But as I say, a very good read which I'd recommend as I think many of you will enjoy it.
And I wouldn't be surprised to see it makes New York Times bestseller list.
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LibraryThing member kewing
A wonderfully written, engaging and intriguing, novel of backwoods Canada in winter. The tapestry of characters and interwoven mysteries captivate--often leaving the reader wanting to know more. For this part of Canada, the winter seems mild, but the characters ring true for the most part. A worthy
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recipient of the Costa Prize. Show Less
LibraryThing member lorraineh
If you only read one book off my list, then its this one. Beautifully written.
For me, it was a love story so subtly written that its creeps up on you and only when the book ends do you see how gentle it is.
My book club have all read this, we are male and female and all of us saw something lovely
READ READ READ!
For me, it was a love story so subtly written that its creeps up on you and only when the book ends do you see how gentle it is.
My book club have all read this, we are male and female and all of us saw something lovely
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about this bookREAD READ READ!
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
I liked the pace of this novel -- a balance between activity and reflection. As I read it, a few linguistic anachronisms stood out, but in the end I don't think it matters. I don't believe this was meant to be first and foremost a historical novel.
The author's use of multiple narrators allows the
The novel reminded me that seemingly insignificant decisions I make may be of great consequence to someone else. It also reminded me to be charitable toward others who act differently than I think I would under the same conditions, because they may know something that I don't know.
The author's use of multiple narrators allows the
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reader to learn more than any single character in the book. The characters act based upon their individual perceptions and limited knowledge of situations or events, often lacking information that might have altered his or her course of action. The decisions the characters faced were more subtle than choosing between right and wrong; the characters had to identify their desired outcome, then choose the option most likely to achieve their desired outcome. The novel reminded me that seemingly insignificant decisions I make may be of great consequence to someone else. It also reminded me to be charitable toward others who act differently than I think I would under the same conditions, because they may know something that I don't know.
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LibraryThing member Schmerguls
Th8is is a 2006 novel written by a woman in Scotland who had never been to Canada. It is laid in 1867 in the country around Hudson Bay. There is lots of treking through snow and cold, as a number of people try to determine who killed and scalped a French trader. Mrs. Ross seeks to show it was not
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her son, though the son does not do things to avoid suspicion. I found the splotchy way of telling the story less than enlightening and would have liked a clearer denouement. And wolves played little role in the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member borbet
It's simply an old-fashioned, exciting tale. By 'old-fashioned', I mean it's a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end; solidly drawn characters; exciting action that moves crisply along and a setting that is a character is its own right.
Set in the Canadian winter wilderness of the mid 1860's,
Blends elements of a murder mystery, romance and historical fiction in one pleasing package.
Set in the Canadian winter wilderness of the mid 1860's,
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the harshness of the natural surroundings is a major element in the story.Blends elements of a murder mystery, romance and historical fiction in one pleasing package.
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LibraryThing member BCCJillster
This one surprised me. I don't know what I expected, but it was a quasi-mystery/suspense with a good assortment of characters. Parker was particularly intriguing and I couldn't help but be reminded of Richard Parker in Life of Pi--fanciful I know, but hey, it's my head and I can play inside it
Since I had just put down (unfinished) a book set in a similar landscape because it was so bare and bleak (Ordinary Wolves), I was doubly pleased by how satisfying Tenderness was.
I don't care for plot outlines in reviews because they invariably tell me more than I want to know. Sufficed to say adept writing (hard to believe it's her first novel), self-aware female lead I could root for, some history, some intrigue, an all-too-human thus less-than-perfect supporting cast. Well done. I particularly appreciated that Penney didn't cave in at the end and give us a pablum ending.
My online group is going to discuss this on 9/26 and I can't wait to see what others think. Karen, Sandra, and my other Book Bunch buddies who are here--how about you?
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LOL.Since I had just put down (unfinished) a book set in a similar landscape because it was so bare and bleak (Ordinary Wolves), I was doubly pleased by how satisfying Tenderness was.
I don't care for plot outlines in reviews because they invariably tell me more than I want to know. Sufficed to say adept writing (hard to believe it's her first novel), self-aware female lead I could root for, some history, some intrigue, an all-too-human thus less-than-perfect supporting cast. Well done. I particularly appreciated that Penney didn't cave in at the end and give us a pablum ending.
My online group is going to discuss this on 9/26 and I can't wait to see what others think. Karen, Sandra, and my other Book Bunch buddies who are here--how about you?
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LibraryThing member juliette07
A dramatization on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour lured me into reading this novel set in Canada of 1867. In essence it is a tale that sets out to solve the mysterious murder of a fur trader Laurence Jammet. Into this murder investigation a number of sub plots are weaved along with themes of love,
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jealousy and greed. I am not sure that the number of sub plots added to the overall substance and for me there were coincidences beyond belief. Throughout the story the voice of the narrator changes and I enjoyed this variation as it added to the development of the characters. Overall a good read and one that is deserving of the award. Show Less
LibraryThing member saucyhp
There was a lot of hype about this book, personally I don't think it really matters whether the writer has been to Canada or not. It was a good read.
LibraryThing member eembooks
Warning: this review reveals the ending. And to be honest I would need to reread this book to understand more of meanings and nuances of this novel which won the Costa award in 2007. It is beautifully crafted writing that starts as an intriguing murder mystery; however it’s the development of the
Francis has been both sexually and emotionally abused by the murdered man but always considers that he truly loved the man who treated him so unkindly in many ways. Donald as “the company man” strives to be the upstanding law and order citizen, always follow the rules, to love the right and beautiful girl but in the end realizes her sister would have been the much more interesting and better companion. William Parker we get to know mostly from his gestures toward his dogs and people, his quietness and strength to search for the right answers. We can only guess what Parker would have really liked and we learn almost nothing about his past.
It is a story of the Indian culture, the difficulty for women to achieve an honored place in the world especially those who have no husband, a story of loss – girls who disappear, a bone tablet dropped in the snow a tablet which might have explained a lost Indian language and also a lost compass which could lead a woman and her two children to a new life. All these facts weave in and out of the fabric of the narrative. The book cover called this a serpentine novel and truly it is that.
The last section is called “The Sickness of Long Thinking” which is an apt description for ordeal of the end of the search and many of the issues which stay unresolved at the end of the novel Although the murderer is indentified we never see him nor really learn much about him and it is assumed he will die of his wounds somewhere in the wilderness. While on the one hand much seems unfinished at the characters have grown, perhaps only to consider a life that might have been.
What I would want to know if read this work again:
1. What caused Mrs. Ross to spend years in an asylum?
2. I would pay more attention to Half Man – he was ordered to commit the murder by Stewart because Stewart thought Laurent was going to steal the furs.
3. Elizabeth Bird is Eve Seton and married to Nepapanees is that all true?
4. Amy Seton is never accounted for.
5. Why did Stewart have Nepapanees killed or kill himself?
6. Why are the characters Line and Espen in this story.
7. Who is Kanon’wes?
If anyone reading this has suggestions about answers to these questions would love to hear what have say on these issues.
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characters as they take on the arduous search through barren snow covered Canada looking for the murderer which becomes the real story. There is the stoic Mrs. Ross (we never do learn her first name yet most of the characters have a first names), Francis her adopted son, William Parker, and Donald. There a host of other characters who also weave in and out of the story. As the hunt for the villain continues we learn more and more of the main characters past. As a young girl Mrs. Ross lived in an asylum and was sexually abused by the superintendent but she never dwells on this tragic part of her life she moves on to try to understand her son, her feelings about a man she at first considers almost a savage. Francis has been both sexually and emotionally abused by the murdered man but always considers that he truly loved the man who treated him so unkindly in many ways. Donald as “the company man” strives to be the upstanding law and order citizen, always follow the rules, to love the right and beautiful girl but in the end realizes her sister would have been the much more interesting and better companion. William Parker we get to know mostly from his gestures toward his dogs and people, his quietness and strength to search for the right answers. We can only guess what Parker would have really liked and we learn almost nothing about his past.
It is a story of the Indian culture, the difficulty for women to achieve an honored place in the world especially those who have no husband, a story of loss – girls who disappear, a bone tablet dropped in the snow a tablet which might have explained a lost Indian language and also a lost compass which could lead a woman and her two children to a new life. All these facts weave in and out of the fabric of the narrative. The book cover called this a serpentine novel and truly it is that.
The last section is called “The Sickness of Long Thinking” which is an apt description for ordeal of the end of the search and many of the issues which stay unresolved at the end of the novel Although the murderer is indentified we never see him nor really learn much about him and it is assumed he will die of his wounds somewhere in the wilderness. While on the one hand much seems unfinished at the characters have grown, perhaps only to consider a life that might have been.
What I would want to know if read this work again:
1. What caused Mrs. Ross to spend years in an asylum?
2. I would pay more attention to Half Man – he was ordered to commit the murder by Stewart because Stewart thought Laurent was going to steal the furs.
3. Elizabeth Bird is Eve Seton and married to Nepapanees is that all true?
4. Amy Seton is never accounted for.
5. Why did Stewart have Nepapanees killed or kill himself?
6. Why are the characters Line and Espen in this story.
7. Who is Kanon’wes?
If anyone reading this has suggestions about answers to these questions would love to hear what have say on these issues.
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LibraryThing member Citizenjoyce
Mrs. Ross is one of fictions great characters. As narrator of the book she discusses her experiences past and present in a very straightforward manner that overwhelms the reader with her strength and competence. In her younger years she was in a mental institution, she describes a few of her
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experiences, never pitying herself, but doesn't say how she got out. I read an interview with the author in which she mentions a play she wrote about her meeting her husband and emigrating from Scotland to Novia Scotia. How I wish it were available. Life just keeps dishing obstacles at Mrs. Ross, and she meets each head on. She sees what needs to be done and she does it without regard to society's expectations, prejudice, or the "frailty of the female gender". The only problem I had with the book was its abrupt ending. Penney stated in the interview that she loved the ending. I wanted more or at least a follow up. I want to know more about what happens to these characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member sels61
Decided to read after I saw a great review in Newsweek. It's a very good book -- makes no difference that Penney had never been to Canada; her imagination, research and writing more than compensate. It wasn't however a page-turner for me. Glad I read it, but I wasn't glued to it.
LibraryThing member suztales
I enjoyed this book—unlike one of the Canadian reviewers, I haven't read a lot of stories that took me on a trek through the incredible winter weather of a Canadian wilderness, and I loved it. All the characters are well defined, but the sections about Mrs. Ross are the only ones told in first
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person. This narrative change is sometimes annoying, but not so here. The slow, steadily evolving relationship between Mrs. Ross and Parker, a half-breed, as together they brave the chilling north winds in search of her son, Francis, is thought-provokingly sensual. The beautifully written plot twists and turns and when it ended, this reader was left wanting more. I will read this book again. Show Less
LibraryThing member MeePuak
Great location and timing potential abandoned to 'who cares' characters, snail's pace story development and tedious female perspective. A complete waste of time for me.
Having now read the reviews of others, who apparently generally thought the book was great, all I can add is that it is just as
Having now read the reviews of others, who apparently generally thought the book was great, all I can add is that it is just as
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well that not everyone likes the same thing - I can see the craft of the author, but the application was turgid in the extreme. Show Less
LibraryThing member mrstreme
The Tenderness of Wolves, the Costa Winner by Stef Penney, was the story of murder and intrigue set against the beautiful but harsh Canadian landscape. Penney utilized the multi-narrator technique for her story, and her talent as a screenwriter showed through as she described every detail in the
In summary, The Tenderness of Wolves centered on the murder of Frenchmen, Laurence Jammet, whose body was found by Mrs. Ross, a Scottish wife and mother. As the murder was investigated, Mrs. Ross’s son, Francis, went missing suspiciously. Throw in some private investigators and treasure hunters, and you have a wild tale in the Canadian forest.
Overall, the characters were complex yet compelling. Because of the hopscotch narrative method, it was hard for me, though, to fully enjoy each character. I felt like I was introduced to two-thirds of each character – and never learned about the remaining third. This was especially true for Mrs. Ross, who had a difficult and interesting past. Through my reading, I wished Penney made Mrs. Ross the only narrator. In my opinion, it would have moved the story at a better pace.
While I was impressed with Penney’s sense of place and detail, I was underwhelmed by The Tenderness of Wolves. It had great potential, but the lack of character development and slow-moving plot burdened the story for me.
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story. In summary, The Tenderness of Wolves centered on the murder of Frenchmen, Laurence Jammet, whose body was found by Mrs. Ross, a Scottish wife and mother. As the murder was investigated, Mrs. Ross’s son, Francis, went missing suspiciously. Throw in some private investigators and treasure hunters, and you have a wild tale in the Canadian forest.
Overall, the characters were complex yet compelling. Because of the hopscotch narrative method, it was hard for me, though, to fully enjoy each character. I felt like I was introduced to two-thirds of each character – and never learned about the remaining third. This was especially true for Mrs. Ross, who had a difficult and interesting past. Through my reading, I wished Penney made Mrs. Ross the only narrator. In my opinion, it would have moved the story at a better pace.
While I was impressed with Penney’s sense of place and detail, I was underwhelmed by The Tenderness of Wolves. It had great potential, but the lack of character development and slow-moving plot burdened the story for me.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The 1976 Costa Book of the Year, The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney is a complex story of life and murder in a small Canadian wilderness community during the winter of 1867. Lucy Ross discovers the body of her fur trapper/trader neighbour, scalped and with his throat slashed, and as the hue
The story it told mostly by Lucy Ross, but shifts to other characters’ point of view in alternating chapters. This, for me, kept me both from becoming attached to any character and also for the story to become rather drawn out and muddied. The characters in this story come across as real and well fleshed out, but there were so many side stories that the book eventually became a rather frustrating read. Stories about two young girls who went out berry picking and disappeared into the wilderness, a Norwegian couple who indulge in an adulterous affair, and mysterious carvings that could possibly be proof of a Indian written language. These were all intriguing and would almost warrant their own book but in this book they eventually became distractions that pulled the readers’ attention away from the main plot.
There is no doubt that Stef Penney is an extremely talented author, but for me, I would have preferred a shorter, tighter story that kept the main story more as the main focus of the book.
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and cry rises, it is also found that her seventeen year old son has gone missing. The son, Francis, becomes the main suspect and the trail leads to another small community founded by a Norwegian religious sect and on to a Hudson’s Bay Post.The story it told mostly by Lucy Ross, but shifts to other characters’ point of view in alternating chapters. This, for me, kept me both from becoming attached to any character and also for the story to become rather drawn out and muddied. The characters in this story come across as real and well fleshed out, but there were so many side stories that the book eventually became a rather frustrating read. Stories about two young girls who went out berry picking and disappeared into the wilderness, a Norwegian couple who indulge in an adulterous affair, and mysterious carvings that could possibly be proof of a Indian written language. These were all intriguing and would almost warrant their own book but in this book they eventually became distractions that pulled the readers’ attention away from the main plot.
There is no doubt that Stef Penney is an extremely talented author, but for me, I would have preferred a shorter, tighter story that kept the main story more as the main focus of the book.
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LibraryThing member LDVoorberg
An amazing story of search and mystery in the days when Canada was nothing but wilderness, ruled by the Hudson Bay Company and travelled by fur traders and Natives.
Searchers follow searches, all trying to unravel various mysteries about murder, codes, and disappearances. There are many POVs, which
If you liked [book:The Last Crossing] by [author:Guy Vanderhaeghe] you should read this book! (Or vice versa)
Searchers follow searches, all trying to unravel various mysteries about murder, codes, and disappearances. There are many POVs, which
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allow the reader clues to the story as it slowly, artfully unravels. It's both good and bad that the various different story lines are not all neatly tied up at the end, but they are in a (mostly) satisfactory way.If you liked [book:The Last Crossing] by [author:Guy Vanderhaeghe] you should read this book! (Or vice versa)
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Awards
Women's Prize for Fiction (Longlist — 2007)
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — First Novel — 2006)
Audie Award (Finalist — Fiction — 2008)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2007)
British Book Award (Shortlist — Newcomer — 2008)