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shadowhelm 's review for:
Tender Is the Flesh
by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am having a hard time rating this book for a few reasons.
First, it is just an uncomfortable read. it deals with a very dark subject, legalized cannibalism, and it doesn't shy away from some of the logical results of such a legal policy. I completely understand that this is a way of shining light on the meat industry and how humans treat animals. It isn't trying to be subtle in that regard. It is just disturbing in that way and if you decide to read the book you need to understand this is what you are getting into.
Second, and this is what I think may be more relative to my rating, I don't think once the book sets up its premise and purpose that it goes anywhere interesting. The book basically sets up the premise, gives some detail of the main character's daily life in this world, shows the character struggling with his reality, and then ends with him ultimately not doing anything different or evolving as a human. This is what I find most egregious. the book just doesn't have anything else to say once it sets up its main ideas and the main character's growth is minimal at best. There was an opportunity for the author to really say something interesting about humanity and human nature but instead just went with "yeah, we suck."
I guess this book received most of its attention due to the shocking nature of the central idea and maybe not so much as a complete narrative. It was kept me interested but the end just didn't deliver anything of note.
First, it is just an uncomfortable read. it deals with a very dark subject, legalized cannibalism, and it doesn't shy away from some of the logical results of such a legal policy. I completely understand that this is a way of shining light on the meat industry and how humans treat animals. It isn't trying to be subtle in that regard. It is just disturbing in that way and if you decide to read the book you need to understand this is what you are getting into.
Second, and this is what I think may be more relative to my rating, I don't think once the book sets up its premise and purpose that it goes anywhere interesting. The book basically sets up the premise, gives some detail of the main character's daily life in this world, shows the character struggling with his reality, and then ends with him ultimately not doing anything different or evolving as a human. This is what I find most egregious. the book just doesn't have anything else to say once it sets up its main ideas and the main character's growth is minimal at best. There was an opportunity for the author to really say something interesting about humanity and human nature but instead just went with "yeah, we suck."
I guess this book received most of its attention due to the shocking nature of the central idea and maybe not so much as a complete narrative. It was kept me interested but the end just didn't deliver anything of note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail