Tender is the Flesh
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.
“The human being is the cause of all evil in this world. We are our own virus.”
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.
“She had the human look of a domesticated animal.”
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.
“Does this pose a moral dilemma for you? Do you find it atrocious?”
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?
“The words are there, encapsulated. They’re rotting behind the madness.”
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!