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A review by booxoul
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I recently read Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. Boy, I literally felt as if I had been plonked in a vat full of the grim sarcasm of humanity and those traits which make us as “inhuman” as we are and can be at any point in time during the existence of our species.
The vividness and graphical descriptiveness used to explain the entire aspect of cannibalism-aka legalising eating human flesh-made me feel nauseous, which I am sure you will agree is a very tantalising culture shock in and of itself. The way people were encouraged to incorporate flesh-eating into their lives more out of compulsion and necessity than for any other reason, made me sick to accept this concept completely.
However, after the initial culture shock had worn off, I could see what Agustina was conveying. The initial discomfort actually set the ball rolling for the incredible read that was about to follow because as I progressed, I realized that not only was I intrigued to the point of crazy, but there was a grim, demon-like sort of acceptance even in the manner in which I seemed to comprehend and accept everything that was thrown my way by way of the story, plot, and characters.
For me, Marcos was an idealistic representation of who we humans truly are, and that is what we represent today, tomorrow, and in the dystopian future.
As grotesque and barbarous as the depiction is, we cannot help but believe and accept that yes, this is truly who we are and what we are on the verge of becoming: a bloody, emotionless species only interested in keeping their own selves alive and kicking, even if it means harming another being. We become so self-centred and consumed by our own free will that we fail to show even a sliver of emotion and apathy towards another soul, degrading our emotions to nothingness in the process.
The vividness and graphical descriptiveness used to explain the entire aspect of cannibalism-aka legalising eating human flesh-made me feel nauseous, which I am sure you will agree is a very tantalising culture shock in and of itself. The way people were encouraged to incorporate flesh-eating into their lives more out of compulsion and necessity than for any other reason, made me sick to accept this concept completely.
However, after the initial culture shock had worn off, I could see what Agustina was conveying. The initial discomfort actually set the ball rolling for the incredible read that was about to follow because as I progressed, I realized that not only was I intrigued to the point of crazy, but there was a grim, demon-like sort of acceptance even in the manner in which I seemed to comprehend and accept everything that was thrown my way by way of the story, plot, and characters.
For me, Marcos was an idealistic representation of who we humans truly are, and that is what we represent today, tomorrow, and in the dystopian future.
As grotesque and barbarous as the depiction is, we cannot help but believe and accept that yes, this is truly who we are and what we are on the verge of becoming: a bloody, emotionless species only interested in keeping their own selves alive and kicking, even if it means harming another being. We become so self-centred and consumed by our own free will that we fail to show even a sliver of emotion and apathy towards another soul, degrading our emotions to nothingness in the process.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Cannibalism