Is Tender is the Flesh Worth the Hype? A Raw and Unconventional Review

Hey there, fellow book lovers! Today, we're diving into the dark and twisted world of Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. This raw and confronting novel has been making waves in the literary world, so the big question is: is it worth the hype? Let's find out.

A Gripping Dystopian Tale

Set in a dystopian world where all animal meat has become infected and poisonous to humans. To counter this pandemic, humans decide to legalize the processing and farming of humans for meat consumption. Tender is the Flesh pushes boundaries and challenges readers to confront uncomfortable ideas about what extent humanity would go to survive. Bazterrica doesn't shy away from the gruesome details, painting a visceral picture of a world gone mad.

The Unforgettable Protagonist

Our protagonist, Marcos, is a complex character who navigates through a morally challenging time that delves deep into the ethical dilemmas of his job. Working in a processing plant that transitions from slaughtering animals to humans for food, Marcos finds himself at the center of a disturbing shift in societal norms. The tragic loss of his child and wife further deepens Marcos's turmoil, pushing him to the brink of despair.

Just when he feels like he is drowning in a sea of moral ambiguity, an unexpected gesture from an old friend introduces a new dynamic. The arrival of a live specimen in the form of a woman not only challenges Marcos's perception of humanity but also leads to his transformation.

The Relationship between Marcos and Jasmine

At the heart of Tender is the Flesh lies the intricate connection between Marcos and Jasmine. Their relationship is a tangled web of emotions, desires, and secrets. When a female specimen arrives at Marcos’s house, he already understands that any emotional or personal contact is forbidden and punishable by death. However, as time goes on, the line between right and wrong begins to blur.

In part two of the book, Marcos finally crosses the line with Jasmine and sleeps with her. The book jumps a few months into the future, and we learn that Jasmine is now eight months pregnant with Marcos’s child. This is a time in Marcos’s life when he seems to be happy. He is no longer begging his wife to let him visit. He is also ready to quit his job and move on with his life. At this point, the only thing he thinks about is going home to Jasmine. Jasmine, the female specimen he was gifted, who now wears clothes, is chained inside his bedroom so she doesn’t hurt herself and is learning the ways to become a “proper” human. At least, this is what Marcos hopes. It becomes apparent that Marcos grows to care for and love Jasmine. This is why the ending was so shocking.

The Ending

When Jasmine is ready to give birth, Marcos recognizes that there is something wrong and he is risking losing both Jasmine and the baby. With no other options, Marcos calls his wife, who is a nurse, to come help. The wife comes right away and offers assistance when she realizes the child is Marcos’s. As the wife delivers the child, Marcos goes to Jasmine and slits her throat, killing her. The wife's response was the most surprising part for me. She questioned, "Why did you do that? She could have given us more children!" This indicates that the wife's intense desire for additional children to alleviate her emotional emptiness led her to come to terms with her husband's unlawful act of impregnating a woman who was intended for consumption. Everything about that last sentence is tragic.

This book was gruesome, gory, and disturbing. However, I like to think that a good book will always invoke some type of feeling whether it be joy, sadness, or disturbing feelings. This book did just that. Although I may need to scrub my brain after this read, it made me feel truly disturbed. Invoking emotions is what a good book should be able to do.

Bazterrica's Writing Style 

It is important to keep in mind that this novel was originally written in Spanish and then translated into English. I think this impacted the writing style and format of the book. However, Bazterrica's writing is uncompromising and unapologetic. The brutal honesty in her prose forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of humanity and the consequences of a society driven by greed and power. Tender is the Flesh is not a light read, but its impact is thought-provoking.

Is it Worth the Hype?

So, after diving into the raw and unsettling world of Tender is the Flesh, the big question remains: is it worth the hype? The answer is yes. Bazterrica's novel is a provocative piece of literature that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It challenges the concept of societal norms, provokes introspection, and sparks important conversations about morality and ethics.

In conclusion, Tender is the Flesh is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to venture into its disturbing depths, the rewards are worth it. It's a book that will make you question the very essence of humanity and the lengths we will go to in the name of survival.

So, if you're ready to embark on a journey that is as unsettling as it is compelling, pick up a copy of Tender is the Flesh and prepare to be taken on a thought-provoking ride through the darkest corners of the human psyche.

Remember, sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that make us the most uncomfortable.

Happy reading!

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