Source: Purchased
Audiobook, 6+ hrs.
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Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, narrated by Joseph Balderrama, is a translated work in which a dystopian world of cannibalism emerges after a virus makes all other meat inedible. Marcos is the main character who is the supervisor of the local “specialty meat” plant. His father has dementia and he is paying for all his care, but his wife left him and his only child is dead.
Much of this book is stomach-churning, and while I see it as a commentary on the meat production industry and the industry/money driven industry’s influence over government policy. It’s interesting to me that the author chose this topic after I learned that Argentina is one of the largest meat consumers in the world. Marcos is so detached from his family, his emotions, his interactions with others, and while the gift he is given later on is supposed to make us believe he is reconnecting with his humanity, I don’t believe it. I was unconvinced. The ending wasn’t a shock.
I can see how this would be a good book club selection because there are a number of themes to explore and discuss, but the characters were very flat and didn’t evolve much throughout. Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is an odd dystopian novel set in Argentina where cannibalism is the norm out of necessity, but little is examined about the moral or ethical challenges of this decision. What’s worse is the conspiracies about it being a government hoax are never explored.
RATING: Tercet
About the Author:
I thought the same about the flat characters and plot. There was so much that could’ve been explored, but the author spent too much time focused on the gore.
I just wasn’t thrilled with the narration or the characters in this. There was so much more that could have been explored. I’m ok with horror, but this one seemed to have no purpose and the gore didn’t add anything to the story.
I wonder if the current rise in the number of people who can’t eat red meat because of a tick bite will make this novel more popular?
Possibly. I’m not familiar with the tick bite situation, but I can see how not being able to eat red meat would be something to worry about, though there are alternative proteins.