A review by zayzay2
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

challenging dark mysterious medium-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? No

3.0

I knew what this would talk about, I have seen everyone read and talk about it. When I started reading I didn't realise how graphic it would be with talking about the canabalism it was disturbing. I'm not the type to get too grossed out so it wouldn't DNF a book because of that, the characters were grey and I usually enjoy that  more than 'good' characters. The main ml was annoying half way the book till the end, I was sick of the sister I hoped he would cut her off honestly she got on my neves. When he got the women pregnenant I was shocked honestly, he usually followed rules and I thought he would never commit such a crime but he did and I was disappointed but that's the point of 'grey' characters they are complicated beings. Before I got the end I thought of a plan for him when it came to the baby, I thought to my self the best thing to do is tell the wife that 'we will rase the kid as our own and get rid of the other women'. The way I saw it either he, the baby and the women would be killed for the crime or he would have to kill her, take the kid and rase it as he's and he's wife as they already lost a child and this can be their second chance even thought it's unfair and unethical. I didn't like the fact that he had sex with the women as I didn't think it could ever be consensual, the other women doesn't even know how to shower, hold a door, open the fridge and he thought having sex with someone who might as well have a Childs brain was okay ? that was very unethical to me. He should have never had sex with her but since he did I thought what he did was the smartest, even thought all of it is wrong the world they live in is wrong, what they do day to day is wrong, everything is wrong so where do we draw the line. In the last chapter the women gives birth to the child and he's wife is holding him, he says he's staying with us and the wife says 'what should we call you?'. He killed the women and it was obvious that was the smartest way to get out of this otherwise he would have be caught and he would be in the saloughter house with the women and the child. He was very obsessed with the idea of the child and not jasmine, he wanted another child since he's other child died. I liked the pace of the book, the writing, the concept of him not participating in the cannibalism but also still having he's hand in it as he works in the slaughterhouse. Interesting book over all shows us how far we would go as humans if everyone does something we are too afraid to stand out so most people follow, he didn't believe the animals had a virus therefore it shows it's a fear tactic and everyone follows what the government said and no one suspects the governments involvement maybe they do but are too afraid to speak up. Also shows how easy the world can change as the shift of them eating animals and not too long them eating humans and normalising it like it's a chill thing shows how fast the world and people can change. scary thought but true.