Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is an unforgettable and shocking novel highlighting the dark realities of a post-apocalyptic world.
This book uses raw and powerful prose to explore the ethical and moral implications of a global crisis and its effects on human society.
Plot
The story follows Marcos, who after a mysterious virus has decimated global populations, finds himself living in a dystopic Buenos Aires of the future.
As an employee of a meat component processing plant, he is assigned the task of processing human meat that is being sold as a new source of protein.
As he struggles to adjust to his new reality and the utter horror of his job, we follow Marcos’ journey of survival and his ultimate confrontation with his moral self.
Writing Style
The writing of Agustina Bazterrica is both delicate and sinister. She elegantly but effectively portrays a world that is frighteningly unrecognizable but at the same time has an eerily familiar feel.
The author lures readers into an uncomfortable state of understanding and with each passing chapter, the shock and horror of a future full of unimaginable atrocities is intensified.
Her style is effective in conveying the dire circumstances of a post-apocalyptic world, making it hard to put down the book.
Themes
Tender is the Flesh is a story of survival and humanity in its rawest form. Bazterrica paints a stark portrait of a world gone mad, and raises questions of morality, ethics, and human nature.
As Marcos makes his way through a world without rules, the reader is left questioning their own boundaries of right and wrong and confronting their own capacity for resilience and compassion.
Conclusion
Tender is the Flesh is a riveting novel that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished. With its unflinching force, vivid descriptions and intense scenes, the novel is truly a must-read.
Agustina Bazterrica explores the depths of a world at its worst, but with a powerful and optimistic outlook, reminds us of the strength and beauty that lies within us.
