Horror

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, consignments, processing.

Then one day he’s given a 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.

First Impressions: Stepping into the Slaughterhouse

I stepped out of my comfort zone with this read, wanting a more complex and thought-provoking story than my usual picks. This book was exactly that, and on an even deeper level than I could ever imagine. Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is one, if not the most disturbing book I have ever read, and I hate to say that I loved it because of how unsettling it was. It took me a while to read, as I had to take so many breaks to just sit and stare at the wall and really think about what I was reading. It is so well-written that it made it almost difficult to read because of how much it gets you thinking, and how sick it will make you feel. I am not a vegetarian, nor have I ever been, but this book gave me more of a glimpse into the moral dilemmas of eating meat than anything ever has.

The Story: A Terrifying Reality

I had very little idea as to how disturbing this story would be, but as I continued to read page after page, I began to realize this story would not simply pass me by; it would stay with me forever. In a broad overview, the story itself moved relatively slowly, but this did not make it any less engaging. If anything, it made the story that much more tense, like you were hanging on to every word. As if the story itself was taunting you. As we follow our main character, Marcos, who is a meat factory executive, through a new world where eating human meat has been legalized, it is terrifying to see how easily the world adjusts. This story is a new, deeply disturbing twist on post-apocalyptic viruses and the dangers of human consumption. No matter how dystopian this story is, you can’t help but feel the reality of it pushing up through the cracks.

The Themes: Morality Under the Knife

This was the first book I read that delved into the ideals of cannibalism and vegetarianism, and there are no words to describe how moving it really was. As I witnessed the emergence of themes surrounding morality and human consumption, it was almost as if I was watching a parallel of our world. The way they described the “special meat” as if it were just simply animal meat was nauseating, and seeing as it became the norm proved the limits that humans would go before they realize it’s wrong. Marcos is battling with these feelings firsthand as he grapples with what he is told to believe and what he is starting to believe. When everyone agrees with a new sense of reality that goes against everything you believe in, what, if anything, do you do to stop it?

Final Thoughts: Forever With You

As much as I would recommend this book, there are many trigger warnings to keep an eye on, such as cannibalism, animal cruelty, and highly disturbing themes. It is not an easy read, but it is a great one, and you will be terrified to keep turning the page, but you will be unable to stop. For those of you with strong stomachs, happy reading!

They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But none of them can withstand the force that has drawn them back to Derry to face the nightmare without an end, and the evil without a name.

First Impressions: Floating into Derry

I had been wanting to read It by Stephen King very badly, especially after watching the film IT (2017). The film is one of my favorites of all time and serves as a constant source of comfort for me, so I had been wanting to give this book a try for quite a while. The one thing stopping me, however, was the length. While I am an avid reader, I had never read a book more than 1,000 pages before. This book even surpassed this number, totaling almost 1,200 pages. But I put myself to the test and began reading.

This book took me almost 3 months to read, which sounds crazy, being on the other side of it. While I did have to take many breaks due to schoolwork and such, I put as much time as I could into reading. The long hours spent were so worth it, though, and I immensely enjoyed it. Knowing the story beforehand, it was interesting to see everything they changed from the book to the film. There were so many differences that I was never bored with the story, and I still got to have many surprises throughout.

The Setting: The Complexity of Derry

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the setting, and how it brings complexity to the themes of the story. While people are going missing and being murdered as a killer clown is targeting kids, there are so many more horrors that lie in the town of Derry. The book touches upon heavy topics of racism, abuse, and the dangers of being an outsider in a small town. It felt so much deeper than your average horror story, and this complexity is what drew me in.

The Characters: The Heart of the Losers Club

What makes IT (2017) one of my favorite films is the characters and their dynamics with one another. I was so glad to see even more of this in the book, and the characters are such a central part of the story. Each character is so drastically different from the other, which makes their dynamics work out so well. I love the way they are all so terrified of what is going on, but they do whatever they can to protect each other. They came together because of the events happening in their town, but their connection is what kept them as friends long after they initially defeated Pennywise. Being able to see their adult versions come back together and have the same dynamics as when they were kids was heartwarming, and while they are together, it feels as though there are no horrors bearing down on them.

What I found interesting was that the film ended up changing Richie Tozier’s sexuality from the source material. In both films, it felt like Richie being gay and in love with Eddie Kaspbrak was a main part of his character’s identity, and this was something I rather enjoyed in the films. I do wonder why they made this choice since this part of his character was not stated in the book, but I support it. I feel it adds even more complexity and depth to Richie as he battles with internal and external homophobia, and allows the story to dive deeper into themes of homophobia in such a small town.

Some Complaints: A Troubling Chapter

As much as I loved this book, I had some complaints about one specific part, causing me to rate it only ⅘ stars. If you have not yet read the book, I would definitely steer you away from this part of the review, since I may touch upon minor/major spoilers.

After the kids initially defeat Pennywise and become lost trying to get out of the sewers, there is a moment where every single member of the Losers Club shares a deeply intimate moment with Beverly, to complete their bond and find their way out of the sewers. King says that this was done to solidify the book’s theme of moving forward into adulthood and leaving childhood behind. This was changed in the film adaptation, with the kids instead doing a blood oath, signifying their connection and their promise to come back in 27 years should Pennywise return.

I had many problems with this part of the book, and it immediately threw me off as I was reading. I can understand that this book dives into very difficult themes; it is a horror novel, so it is expected that there will be uncomfortable aspects to it. I just feel as though King took this too far, especially since these are very young kids he is dealing with. I also found it immensely disturbing that King made Beverly initiate this, being the one girl in the Losers’ Club. King even goes as far as to describe this intimate moment in graphic detail for 6 pages, drawing out a severely uncomfortable and disturbing moment for much longer than necessary. Seeing as the kids’ connections growing stronger could be shown in many other ways, I found it alarming that King chose this approach, and it caused me to take a step back from reading before I could continue.