A review by orangeslices
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

dark emotional tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Any living being can be meat - humans forget that unless under duress, when they realize how fragile they are. Objectification and dehumanization serves as humanity's tool to oppress and extract what they need. I felt like it was an intentional choice that the main character was a man: most of the relationships with women in the book are laced with misogyny and characters are only seen through roles that women play for him. His mother is dead, his wife is an intentionally absent presence throughout the book, he has an affair with a butcher whom he loathes and wishes to dominate, there's a nurse that takes care of his father, his sister, his business partners, and his "head." There's little to no affection that can be felt between the women in his life except for his idealized, human pet. The most warmth that Marcos can conjure is for animals and his father. 
It's really tough book to read because it's rife with any and all crimes that humanity is capable of - and infuriatingly capable of justifying. Liked it and would never read again. 
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