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Tender Is the Flesh

By: Agustina Bazterrica
Narrated by: Joseph Balderrama
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Summary

It all happened so quickly. First, animals became infected with the virus and their meat became poisonous. Then, governments initiated the Transition. Now, 'special meat' - human meat - is legal.

Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans, only no one calls them that. He works with numbers, consignments, processing. One day, he's given a gift to seal a deal: a specimen of the finest quality. He leaves her in his barn, tied up, a problem to be disposed of later.

But the specimen haunts Marcos. Her trembling body, her eyes that watch him, that seem to understand. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost - and what might still be saved...

©2020 Agustina Bazterrica (P)2020 Audible, Ltd
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What listeners say about Tender Is the Flesh

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic premise which left me hungry for more

Overall, this dystopian world was brutal, despicable, and intriguing. I found myself with many unanswered questions and feel that the world building could have been more specific. The protagonist held my attention, and the narration was fantastic. However, the ending felt rushed, and almost nonsensical, as the pacing seemed to go out the window at the last hurdle. I understand why the decision was made, but the set up was not there. Fantastic for the most part, lacked attention to detail.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Harrowing and compelling

This is by no means an easy listen, but it feels essential. Realistic and shocking, it should make anyone who listens question the “humanity” of factory farming and how we treat living creatures. The end will stay with me for a long time

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

There is nothing tender in the writing of this book. Tenderness, love and care are all merely giblets and offal.

An awful, miserable and foreboding image of humanity presented as a matter of fact. The book deserves 5 stars for gore and achieving it's shock value, but (and I know it's the point) there is little sense of self awareness and development in the characters, they are just meat on the hook of this vile and gripping vision of the future. One that has you in a vice from the onset and relentlessly drags you through mindless butchery till the very end.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Intriguing concept

Very interesting concept, very detailed and a frightening but very possible reality. **Graphic**
I found the descriptions could go over the top and drag a little bit.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wow

the most thought provoking book I have ever listened to/read. there's little that disturbs me but this book did and that takes some going. such a deep story when you compare every part of it to the slaughter of our beautiful animals. thank you for an amazing book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Woahhh

This book broaches the essence of a proper, unyielding, and brutal dystopia. It represents a theme obviously explored before in fiction, but it is delivered in a uniquely bleak, violent, and tragic way. I won't give anything away, but I'll just say it's not for the faint of heart. The narration is beautifully delivered, and captures the essence of where the action happens so well. This is an unforgettable audiobook.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping from start to end

This book is more than just a role reversal of the meat industry. Not only does this book at its core have strong messages about the patriarchy and elitism but it is as a whole an intriguing book that follows a complex main character and how they traverse the “transition”.
If you leave this book still wanting to eat meat then I will be shocked, the parallels between the human “farming” in Tender is the Flesh and animal agriculture in our world are uncanny.
If you love Chuck Palahnuik’s more gruesome work then you will love this.
The narrator did an excellent job at creating the world in which Tender is the Flesh is set in and really helps to flesh out (pardon the pun) our main character. The narrator was wonderful at changing their voice in order to help create an image of other characters I felt as if I had been dropped into the world of Tender is the Flesh whenever I listened to this book.
This book was one of those books that you don’t want to finish and yet you can’t put it down.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Well that was a very random journey

This book makes you think about the what if life was like this, how would you cope would you be the meat or eat the meat? Quite unsettling, but not as unsettling as the ending!! What! Why! It is worth a listen but I don’t rate it as highly as it was made out

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

deaply disturbing

deaply disturbing allegory for late stage capitalism and consumerism. bleak and terrifying ending. Narrator is one of the best I've heard. worth the read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Really made me think!

This was recommended to me and described as a story that makes you think about how humans behave.

I really felt very disgusted at times and I guess that’s the point - how can we eat the flesh of animals and turn our noses up at the flesh of humans?

I should say that I’m not vegetarian or vegan but after reading this, I have started to question if I should be eating meat.

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