Book Review - Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica

Title: Tender is the Flesh
Author: Augustina Bazterrica
Genre: Horror/ Dystopia/ Fiction
Published: 2017
 
Description: Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans – though no one calls them that anymore.
 
His wife has left him, his father is sinking into dementia, and Marcos tries not to think too hard about how he makes a living. After all, it happened so quickly. First, it was reported that an infectious virus has made all animal meat poisonous to humans. Then governments initiated the “transition”. Now, eating human meat – “special meat”- is legal. Marcos tries to stick to numbers, consignment, processing.
 
Then one day he’s given a live specimen of the finest quality. Though he’s aware that any form of personal contact is forbidden on pain of death, little by little he starts to treat her like a human being. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost – and what might still be saved.
 
Review: Augustina Bazterrica’s “Tender is the Flesh” is a dystopian novel that offers a grim view of a world where a virus has rendered animal meat unfit for consumption, leading to the normalization of human flesh as a food source.
 
The story is set in a convincing, alternative world where human flesh is the norm. The author creates a compelling and oppressive story by detailing the gruesome details of the meat industry. It’s realistic, because she describes it as it goes with animals, but replaces them with people. The book encourages reflection on the morality of human consumption, the dehumanization of others and the consequences of normalizing barbaric practices.
 
The plot is well constructed, with an unexpected twist. But the characters were the only problem for me. They never really grabbed me, didn’t find them interesting enough.
 
“Tender is the Flesh” is definitely not a book for everyone and I wouldn’t recommend it to just everyone either. It’s gruesome, shocking, gross, very descriptive. It’s one of the most disturbing books I have ever read. Not for the weak stomach.
 
Rating: 4/ 5