Reviews

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

ravenmstene's review

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

4.0

ionaw26's review

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3.0

it was decent but sometimes spelled things out far too literally to be actually enjoyable 

vickizliu's review against another edition

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3.0

This was so disturbing, then the last line was like bruhhhh

indigolenom's review against another edition

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4.0

Muy real. Se que es un escenario distopico pero siento que esto en realidad pasaría. Una enfermedad, la "normalizacion" del canibalismo como si no hubiera otra opción, el terror hacia los animales, la nostalgia de los animales. Este no es un libro para que decidas hacerte vegano, aquí se habla más sobre la pérdida de la humanidad. Como los humanos perdemos los estribos, nos aprovechamos de los demás y de todo a nuestro paso. En sí las descripciones del libro no son grotescas, ni dan asco, son reales. Son cosas que siento que pasarían, porque en ningún momento de la novela se confirma que en realidad los animales tenían una enfermedad que los hacía peligrosos, muy probablemente era algo inventado para reducir la sobrepoblacion y comenzar a hacer del canibalismo un acto "normal", cosa que creo que muchos gobiernos en situación de desesperación harían.

Como dice en el libro, la "carne con nombre y apellido" es especial, es más rica. Aunque no se pudiera nombrar a las personas comestibles como personas sino como cabezas, hembras, machos, no los dejas de ver como alguien que pudo haber tenido una historia; ¿porque yo estoy aquí, teniendo el derecho de matarte, comprarte, comerte, si somos lo mismo? Que me dio ese estatus en primer lugar??? Sin duda el libro te hace ponerte en los zapatos no solo del personaje principal, sino de la situación en general. ¿Que tanta sensibilidad tendríamos que perder como para ir a la carnicería a comprar algo que sabes que pudiste haber sido tu?

De los personajes no quiero hablar porque cada uno tiene historias y complejos diferentes, pero el final,.. ahí me di cuenta que los humanos no cambiamos ni en la peor de las circunstancias.

No es el mejor libro que he leído, pero si uno de los que se quedarán en mi mente para siempre. Cuatro estrellas porque me hubiera gustado que el libro fuera más largo jaja. Lo devoré (perdón que mal chiste) literalmente.

Pd: no lo compren en inglés!!!!!!! En español es el idioma original del libro y se pierden muchas cosas en la traducción, y no creo que tenga el mismo impacto en inglés que las palabras son más "suavecitas"

vegankitkat8's review

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

jojothefool's review against another edition

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

4.5

This book……… is so messed up. I really enjoyed myself. But basically after every chapter I would put the book down and reflect, “….. what the HELL am I reading?” And then I’d pick it back up and keep going. Very dark, very disturbing, but really makes you think about kind of everything? Government corruption, the meat industry, the class system, the inherit value of man……. I can’t give it 5 stars because it messed with me too hard, but it was very well written and a very interesting read that I would recommend if you can handle the content warnings. 

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athenap93's review

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challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ashleysnerdyworld's review

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4.0

It was interesting

vengefuldime's review

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3.0

While the comparison to factory farming is easy to make, what I was thinking of the most while I read this book was the politics of who gets to be human. If it is only exaggerating the current realities of food, it doesn't feel quite the same, especially as it does not delve very deep into other perspectives within the world. The larger worldbuilding is summarized in order to focus on the personal experiences of the protagonist. Through his eyes, the reader can see the many ways that something terrible can become commonplace. There are no heroes- through power, status, money, vague well-meaning, fear, and taboo desires everyone has some motivation to keep the status quo. The fact that the explanations are flimsy doesn’t seem to matter, and language is twisted to make things a bit more palatable. What is unspoken is distasteful, without even considering the danger of being killed yourself. It becomes very easy to claim that that other group is fundamentally different, and therefore should be treated differently. This translated easily into what kind of person "counts"- but I don't know that it comes across as fully intended. It definitely has intentions that I find interesting, but it feels shallower than I would expect for the topics.

I do like the ending. I was surprised but it makes sense, and wraps up the plot while also showing how little changed. The writing is matter-of-fact and sometimes cold, while the action switches between the many ways the new society is disturbing and the protagonist’s unhappy life. While the reader is never in danger of becoming attached, it is easy to see why he thinks the way that he does. It’s a sad snapshot of dehumanization. It’s hard to read at times (especially concerning children), but there is also a kind of distance from the tragedies- the “heads” are literally voiceless. The simplicity I can see driving people away, as well as the government/shadowy figures conspiracy to fake the disease. It brings up questions rather than diving deeply into the subjects within, and then cuts away.

baynick72's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75