Reviews tagging 'War'

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

5 reviews

eliof's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ajf335's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

 This was so disturbing that for the first 60 or so pages I really almost just DNF-ed it. However, the writing style is so immersive and flows so well and quickly that I couldn't. And it really has to be for this book to be readable(hence why it's a novella). That isn't a dig at the plot or the book itself, it's legitimately just that horrifying, and that is precisely the point, as is the fact that as you get used to the story it stops being as horrible as it was when you started; you get used to it, the same way people in the book got used to the cannibalism(I think it worthwhile to mention right after I finished this, I saw an instagram post about the canabannalism joke). Can't give it 5 stars because I can literally never read this book again, however the story and specifically the ending made it all worthwhile. Not a lot of books have me saying "oh my actual god" and wanting to jump up and down, and be so satisfied about an ending to a story and character arc, but this did.  That said, literally all of the trigger warnings. All of them.

The way Cecelia and Marcos are instantly on the same page about the baby makes me think they're meant for each other in the worst way possible. But it frankly makes so much sense. They're given a way to get what they want and eliminate the source of what could have been their biggest problem. Looking back, the foreshadowing was so there, just hidden in a way that has you looking back like oh my god it's obvious. Cecelia's grief held back my realization just enough for the ending to have that effect. I was wondering how this was going to resolve since Marcos was so deadset on recouping his losses that the two of them finally submit to the culture that they have unwillingly become a part of. I don't like the idea of people being "sheep" but jesus, everyone in this world, the everyday man, your general person has just given up their humanity to "go with the flow" and "not cause waves" They're the perfect example of not necessarily make the best of a bad situation, but also like what could they really do? are they morally supposed to kill themselves and Jasmine and the baby? I'm not saying anything in this book was moral, but in the context of the story, was this the worst option? They're cutting their losses and learning to adapt to their environment and that is really the defining moment. They're bad people sure, but this is the exact moment that switch flips. They've become exactly like everyone else and conformed, and their conscience about it, is, in terms of the story, gone. I can't really put into words the point but if you finish the book, you'll get it. 

This is such a masterpiece of thought on the concept of what can happen when people are too scared to stand up for fear of rocking the boat. It does require some suspension of disbelief in terms of just how far people can go in their loss of humanity while still "keeping their humanity". It really showcases the us vs them mentality and plays with the concept of how far do you extend your compassion? How far removed from your life and family are people willing and capable of caring? At a certain point do you have to just move on from the suffering certain groups endure? Evidently all the people who care more die, are killed, or kill themselves, so what does that say about who's left?

I think I could talk about this book for hours, which is such a shame because I cannot see anyone I know ever reading it, nor do I think I could realistically ask them to. I think this is one of those books that if you can't get through it, you just can't. No shame, it's a lot. okay also though, upon reading more reviews on different site, I think if you think this is a take solely on veganism(which sure was there, but like in no way way the main point, dig a lil deeper pls), then you have missed the point entirely. like look way up there, there it goes, over your head. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Excrement, Dementia, Trafficking, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death and Pedophilia

bookmom91's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is an amazing and gripping read. Once you start you are transported to an alternate world you can't leave till the end. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and War

readwithsian's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-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

0.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

rkorevenge's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This made me queasy and the ending is horrific. Not for the faint of heart. Seriously, check trigger warnings. This was the most vicious storytelling I’ve ever encountered and it just doesn’t stop. It’s just absolutely brutal from the first page to the last. The ending literally made me throw the book across the room in anger. I’ve never had such a visceral reaction to a book. It’s a good book but I will never read it again. I don’t have to read it again honestly because the last line will haunt me for the rest of my life. This is a truly horrific imaging of atrocities that our infrastructures, languages, cultures, and governments are capable of implementing and justifying- and how quickly we would allow it to happen. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism