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whimsy_and_rigor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A horrifying look at a future society where animals do not exist because of a “virus” so now humans have turned to a different source of protein. 🤢 I truly thought the ending would be different but now I feel sad. Beautiful writing about a disgusting topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Cannibalism
dowryofbooks's review against another edition
I made it through [b:The Troop|17571466|The Troop|Nick Cutter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397768496l/17571466._SY75_.jpg|24510359] with my stomach contents and sanity in tact, but I can't do it with this book.
I read about half and then spent an hour reading spoilers and discussions about this book on Reddit. I think I know all I need to know. The themes are thought provoking, but I don't need this in my life.
I read about half and then spent an hour reading spoilers and discussions about this book on Reddit. I think I know all I need to know. The themes are thought provoking, but I don't need this in my life.
grimby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nataliecstrange's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gore, Cannibalism, and Rape
thebobsphere's review against another edition
4.0
As a reader I have quite a strong constitution. Very rarely do I get grossed out with gory details but Agustina’s Bazterrica’s novel about the meat industry did make me feel a bit queasy at times.
The setting is a near future world where people cannot eat animals anymore so it is decided that human beings should be farmed and used instead. Instead of being called humans the word head or product are used. The main protagonist Marcos is one of the top workers in a slaughterhouse; He gives tours, checks if work is being carried out properly etc. Although he is great at his day job, his personal life is the opposite: his wife as left him due to their baby dying ( not a spoiler) his dad is slowly dying and his relations with his sister is not good.
Then one day, as a gift , he receives a female head for farming or slaughter, except things take a rather interesting turn with her.
The main crux of the novel is about animal treatment for our consumption. There are some grisly scenes about how people, being the metaphor for farm animals we eat, are slaughtered and are sent to butchers and meat processing factories. One other disturbing scene involves a rich person who releases humans on his property just for hunting purposes.
Agustina Bazterrica also manages to squiggle in some other ideas; parenthood, treatment of animals, political corruption and familial relations have their part to play but it’s the meat eating sector which takes up the novel.
As this is a satire, world building is there just to get the message through but I thought it did the job and I have to mention, other than human cruelty there’s one scene of animal cruelty as well so squeamish people do approach with caution, although it’s the main message that’s one should pay attention too.
Tender is the Flesh is all kinds of ugly but really, you’d expect that when you read about cannibalism.
pjt8pt's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
4.75
This was daaaaark
honnari_hannya's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 Stars
A nasty, horrific little gem of a book that evoked a really strong reaction from me while reading—so props to Bazterrica and her translator for managing to evoke real, actual disgust.
This book sits squarely in the juncture of horror and sci-fi, set in a version of the world where a deadly virus has (supposedly) infected all animals, making them poisonous to eat. As a result, various governments have started sanctioning cannibalism as a way to supplement people's diets, creating industries based on the literal trade of human flesh. The protagonist of this story is a man who works as the foreman of a meat processing factory, who is well aware of the moral implications of treating human beings as "meat" and yet, for his own reasons, continues to work in this system as a means to survive. One day, he gets the unexpected gift of a female FGP—a first-generation pure human bred for eating, basically the equivalent of "ethically"-sourced organic meat—and quickly grows attached to her.
I really liked the premise of this, and I love how far Bazterrica pushed this plot in terms of what makes for a "believable" story. While I don't necessarily think this is what would happen in that sort of situation, I was able to suspend my disbelief long enough to get really into this world because of how brutal and clinical the process of human slaughter became. Especially when seen through Marcos' eyes, as he is well aware of the moral dilemma at the heart of this premise, about what makes a human—is it intrinsic or is it in the way we humanize/dehumanize them—and yet can rationalize away his own feelings of disillusionment and despair. In a sense, he helps rationalize this for the readers as well and makes us believe that even if this likely won't happen, it is not out of the question.
I did take it down from a 4 to a 3.5 because of the ending. The return of Marcos' wife and the subsequent shit storm of events that go down in those last few chapters felt rushed. It took a hard left turn and didn't feel fully developed enough, so that when it happened, I feel like I was thrown against the car door as we careened towards that final page. I'm not even saying I would change the ending—just wish there was a little more lead up to it. We spend so much time in Marcos' head that it feels a little off how quickly things escalated with the female FGP.
A nasty, horrific little gem of a book that evoked a really strong reaction from me while reading—so props to Bazterrica and her translator for managing to evoke real, actual disgust.
This book sits squarely in the juncture of horror and sci-fi, set in a version of the world where a deadly virus has (supposedly) infected all animals, making them poisonous to eat. As a result, various governments have started sanctioning cannibalism as a way to supplement people's diets, creating industries based on the literal trade of human flesh. The protagonist of this story is a man who works as the foreman of a meat processing factory, who is well aware of the moral implications of treating human beings as "meat" and yet, for his own reasons, continues to work in this system as a means to survive. One day, he gets the unexpected gift of a female FGP—a first-generation pure human bred for eating, basically the equivalent of "ethically"-sourced organic meat—and quickly grows attached to her.
I really liked the premise of this, and I love how far Bazterrica pushed this plot in terms of what makes for a "believable" story. While I don't necessarily think this is what would happen in that sort of situation, I was able to suspend my disbelief long enough to get really into this world because of how brutal and clinical the process of human slaughter became. Especially when seen through Marcos' eyes, as he is well aware of the moral dilemma at the heart of this premise, about what makes a human—is it intrinsic or is it in the way we humanize/dehumanize them—and yet can rationalize away his own feelings of disillusionment and despair. In a sense, he helps rationalize this for the readers as well and makes us believe that even if this likely won't happen, it is not out of the question.
I did take it down from a 4 to a 3.5 because of the ending. The return of Marcos' wife and the subsequent shit storm of events that go down in those last few chapters felt rushed. It took a hard left turn and didn't feel fully developed enough, so that when it happened, I feel like I was thrown against the car door as we careened towards that final page. I'm not even saying I would change the ending—just wish there was a little more lead up to it. We spend so much time in Marcos' head that it feels a little off how quickly things escalated with the female FGP.
shortybtrippin's review against another edition
4.0
Brutal. Well written. I was on the fence because people seem to either love this book or hate it but I did enjoy it.
gray541's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75