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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
You know when you read a book and keep zoning out? Well this was me and this book.
Tender is the flesh is more of a greater social commentary on the meat industry than it is a fictional horror. Obviously, we don't consume humans but Bazterrica achieves the shock value in of todays meat industry (and even fashion industry) by replacing animals with humans.
Typically, I like to separate my fiction from politics and I did not know before reading the first chapter that this book was so heavily focused on politics and injustice. So perhaps be wary of that before picking this one up.
And although I tried to separate my reading experience from the rather obvious underlying message that the meat industry is so horrific, it was rather impossible to given how this book was written. The graphic descriptions of the processes of skinning, draining and much much more made this very clear of the books agenda. Which is totally fine, I just had no idea going into this book that it was that way inclined. It is graphic, gory and gross, I didn't enjoy the constant fixation on the processes of living breathing human to food that is edible on the plate. I was far more interested in the relationships between human to human, how people felt about the legalisation of cannibalism. But instead we got robotic like people who consumed humans without the blink of an eye. Ok I get it perhaps that is what many of us do with consuming meat but I struggle to see there wasn't any repulsion among the masses regarding human consumption. Where are the vegetarians? Where are the vegans?
This book was also incredibly slow, very descriptive and fairly dense for such a short novel. Which are the terrible three for me.
I do think this book contains so much for discussion, so much symbolism and that ending was absolutely superb. That being said, as skilfully as I think this was written that doesn't detract from my lack of enjoyment of this one. It was an uphill battle to read.
Tender is the flesh is more of a greater social commentary on the meat industry than it is a fictional horror. Obviously, we don't consume humans but Bazterrica achieves the shock value in of todays meat industry (and even fashion industry) by replacing animals with humans.
Typically, I like to separate my fiction from politics and I did not know before reading the first chapter that this book was so heavily focused on politics and injustice. So perhaps be wary of that before picking this one up.
And although I tried to separate my reading experience from the rather obvious underlying message that the meat industry is so horrific, it was rather impossible to given how this book was written. The graphic descriptions of the processes of skinning, draining and much much more made this very clear of the books agenda. Which is totally fine, I just had no idea going into this book that it was that way inclined. It is graphic, gory and gross, I didn't enjoy the constant fixation on the processes of living breathing human to food that is edible on the plate. I was far more interested in the relationships between human to human, how people felt about the legalisation of cannibalism. But instead we got robotic like people who consumed humans without the blink of an eye. Ok I get it perhaps that is what many of us do with consuming meat but I struggle to see there wasn't any repulsion among the masses regarding human consumption. Where are the vegetarians? Where are the vegans?
This book was also incredibly slow, very descriptive and fairly dense for such a short novel. Which are the terrible three for me.
I do think this book contains so much for discussion, so much symbolism and that ending was absolutely superb. That being said, as skilfully as I think this was written that doesn't detract from my lack of enjoyment of this one. It was an uphill battle to read.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Blood, Dementia, Cannibalism
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is one I think you should read if you can handle gore and general disgusting topics.
I read it because I was told it was gross and yes, I agree, it’s got gross parts but it’s thought provoking and probably won’t end how you think it does.
I read it because I was told it was gross and yes, I agree, it’s got gross parts but it’s thought provoking and probably won’t end how you think it does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Iedereen vegetariër! na het lezen van deze benauwelijke schets van wat Mss ooit bewaarheid wordt.
dark
reflective