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hannahbean 's review for:
Tender Is the Flesh
by Agustina Bazterrica
I don't think this book was necessary.
I went into this knowing the general premise, and based on what I heard from various people, I knew to expect graphic scenes and disturbing content. I did not, however, expect for that to be pretty much all the book had to offer.
I understand the intended message on the ethics of meat consumption:
- At what point do you recognize sentience and value a life?
- Who are we, as humans, to determine who gets to live and who gets to suffer for other's pleasures?
- How is the mass killing and consumption of animals morally above the hypothetical equivalent of humans?
All that being said, I don't think this story was new or even necessary. I think the use of shock value to elicit disgust around this topic doesn't really land when the story takes it much further. The rape of a 14 year old girl cannot be compared to the killing of animals for food. I am not against the message, I just think the book was more shock value than anything.
I went into this knowing the general premise, and based on what I heard from various people, I knew to expect graphic scenes and disturbing content. I did not, however, expect for that to be pretty much all the book had to offer.
I understand the intended message on the ethics of meat consumption:
- At what point do you recognize sentience and value a life?
- Who are we, as humans, to determine who gets to live and who gets to suffer for other's pleasures?
- How is the mass killing and consumption of animals morally above the hypothetical equivalent of humans?
All that being said, I don't think this story was new or even necessary. I think the use of shock value to elicit disgust around this topic doesn't really land when the story takes it much further. The rape of a 14 year old girl cannot be compared to the killing of animals for food. I am not against the message, I just think the book was more shock value than anything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cannibalism