Review: Tender Is the Flesh, Novel by Agustina Bazterrica, 2017

Tender Is the Flesh, Novel by Agustina Bazterrica, 2017
I rate this translated novel 4.75 out of 5 stars.

 A Disturbing Reflection of Our Humanity: A Review of "Tender Is The Flesh"

 

Agustina Bazterrica’s award-winning novel "Tender Is The Flesh" is a bone-chilling exploration of a dystopian future where cannibalism has become the norm, and human meat is not only legal but in high demand. The protagonist, Marcos, works in a slaughterhouse, a job that requires a cold detachment from the horrors that unfold around him daily. Much like the "gestation crates" and "insemination phases" of our industrialized farming world, this novel utilizes euphemisms to mask the ghastly truth, turning humans into mere "heads" on the meat circuit.

 

Despite his gruesome profession, Marcos is a character with whom readers can sympathize. This is a man who has lost a child, whose wife has retreated to her mother's house to grieve in isolation, and whose father is slipping into dementia. His personal struggles, layered upon the societal horrors around him, make him a relatable figure in an otherwise alien world. Yet, a shocking act towards the end of the novel abruptly severs this sympathy, a twist that will leave readers stunned and questioning the very nature of humanity.

 

The world Bazterrica constructs feels eerily familiar, not far removed from our current existence. The normalization of cannibalism, though initially shocking, mirrors our society's acceptance of morally questionable practices. In this sense, "Tender Is The Flesh" is a thought-provoking critique of our collective ethical complacency.

 

Bazterrica's clever use of language to obscure horrifying realities is another standout feature of this novel. Like Orwell's "1984" and our modern-day slang, the narrative demonstrates how we speak the unspeakable, constructing a world where "special meat" is a euphemism for human flesh, and a human hand served on a bed of lettuce is referred to as an "Upper Extremity".

 

The novel's unsettling blend of revulsion and arousal adds to its visceral impact. Scenes intertwining sex with butchery are particularly disturbing, challenging the reader’s comfort zone and highlighting the stark extremities of this dystopian world.

 

With "Tender Is The Flesh", Bazterrica has crafted a chilling, thought-provoking narrative that holds a mirror to our society, forcing us to confront our ethical complacency and to consider the importance of preserving our collective human decency. This book is not for the faint-hearted, but its ability to provoke discomfort and contemplation is the power of Bazterrica's storytelling. It's a novel that will undoubtedly linger in your mind long after the final page.

 

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