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A review by catlandia91
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So this book was definitely wild, bleak, and uncomfortable. It's definitely a pretty basic vegan parable/fable, so I can see why some people who are already vegan or vegetarian might find this pretty unoriginal or adding nothing to the conversation. It may not be groundbreaking, but this is the first of this type that I've read, and I found the messaging pretty effective. I'd say 3.5/5 stars, happy to round up.
In terms of prose, I found the writing/translation fairly engaging. There was a sense of distance and numb horror, like we're watching the slaughter from a sterile environment. I think that this was in line with the story and characterization of Marcos.
Bazterrica drops a lot of interesting tidbits into the world, but there are some plot points that require a bit of hand waving to accept. I think this book is more interested in a commentary than a logical dystopia, which I don't mind, but some might find that frustrating.
Subtle, this book is not. It's pretty in your face with the criticism of the meat industry, the way we dehumanize the poor, the way women are viewed as things to own, the callback to Black bodies as commodities, the way we treat animals as objects.
SPOILER
I've read some other reviews/discussions about the ending, and how some people were so shocked by the "twist" and I find that so interesting. Marcos' grief serves as a distraction to the reader, the author wants us to think he'll be the change in this broken world. But once Marcos uses Jasmine for his own gain, he's perfectly happy to slaughter her. You want him to be better, to rise above. But how could he ever be better? He never thinks of Jasmine as human. She's no better than a pet, and only when he wants to use her. Not to mention his treatment of his estranged wife and the butcher.
But the most uncomfortable part is -- am I any different than Marcos? Don't I just ignore the suffering of sentient creatures for my own pleasures? Don't I make excuses when there are no good ones?
This was one I'll think about for a while.
In terms of prose, I found the writing/translation fairly engaging. There was a sense of distance and numb horror, like we're watching the slaughter from a sterile environment. I think that this was in line with the story and characterization of Marcos.
Bazterrica drops a lot of interesting tidbits into the world, but there are some plot points that require a bit of hand waving to accept. I think this book is more interested in a commentary than a logical dystopia, which I don't mind, but some might find that frustrating.
Subtle, this book is not. It's pretty in your face with the criticism of the meat industry, the way we dehumanize the poor, the way women are viewed as things to own, the callback to Black bodies as commodities, the way we treat animals as objects.
SPOILER
I've read some other reviews/discussions about the ending, and how some people were so shocked by the "twist" and I find that so interesting. Marcos' grief serves as a distraction to the reader, the author wants us to think he'll be the change in this broken world. But once Marcos uses Jasmine for his own gain, he's perfectly happy to slaughter her. You want him to be better, to rise above. But how could he ever be better? He never thinks of Jasmine as human. She's no better than a pet, and only when he wants to use her. Not to mention his treatment of his estranged wife and the butcher.
But the most uncomfortable part is -- am I any different than Marcos? Don't I just ignore the suffering of sentient creatures for my own pleasures? Don't I make excuses when there are no good ones?
This was one I'll think about for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Death of parent