Review by ambivalentneb - Tender Is the Flesh

ambivalentneb 's review for:

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

3.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I feel like it attempted to draw a line between what defines humans and other animals. Humans are more sentient and able to experience more complex thought, but by consequence deviate from the innate blank slate and develop nuanced emotions and motives. Animals, not capable of as much sentient thought are defined by having more innate and “natural” feelings that can be interpreted as seen at face value. Such as Tejo, who you could feel empathy for his misanthropic views but you see he is still susceptible to flaws of characters and judgement as given his power dynamic of Jasmine and her death. While the example of animals is given as Jasmine and the puppies, who are portrayed as simpler but more pure.

Also I really didn’t think the world building clicked, they say you need meat in the book to love but they feed grain to the stock humans and they live sooo..

So I guess everyone is just a cannibalistic freak by nature or the society in this books lacks critical thinking skills as a whole, but who am I to complaint about the world building of a book about government sanctioned cannibalism.

Content Warnings