Tender Is the Flesh

By: Agustina Bazterrica

Narrated by: Joseph Balderrama

Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

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, consignments, processing.

Then one day he's given a gift: 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.

©2017 Agustina Bazterrica. English language translation ©2020 Pushkin Press Limited. Originally published in Argentina in 2017 by Alfaguara as Cadáver Exquisito. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Audible, Ltd. All rights reserved.

captivating

jaw dropped multiple times when I listening. incredible, original.


The performance transform fiction into reality

sublime writing, perfect narration

Of course, this is a disturbing story. The premise is horrific; but it is also timely in its scope. But the writing is a revelation, so like the topic, you find yourself savoring the taste of the words even as you realize that what they are saying is obscene. I am reminded of Saramago and Camus. The narrator provides the perfect pacing, inflection, and emotion.

Loved it!!

Kept me hooked!! The audio narrator had an accent making some words and phrases difficult to understand.

Interesting concept. pretty well executed.

I enjoyed most of it. it was very dark and very graphic. I don't imagine many people finishing this book. especially if they have a weak stomach. the narrator did a great job. the writing was at sometimes way too drawn out. but over all the book was great. dark dystopian future where we become cannibals and grow humans like livestock. very very cruel. Definitely one of the darkest sides of humanity that I have ever witnessed. Not to mention the ending was SUPER dark and made me respect the main character very much

A really good time

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the voice acting by the speaker and how they were able to convey the emotions of the cast of characters in the story. My only issue with the story was that I personally found the world building to be a little nonsensical, but if I were to ignore that its easily still an awesome listen.

Disturbing yet beautifully written

I was appalled from the beginning, yet I couldn’t put it down. The ending of the book was an absolute gut punch!

Graphic and Gory - but worth the read

if hearing very detailed and graphic descriptions of slaughter and death makes you uncomfortable - don't read this. if you can stomach that stuff - the story, themes, and imagery are very unique and interesting throughout this book.

Profound but abrupt ending

I think the best thing about this books is the way it portrays grief--love lost, loved ones lost, a way of living lost. The main character is deeply sympathetic, a man who keeps going in the face of all the challenges. The premise is grim, but honestly not as disturbing as people claim. This book was on pace to be perfect. But the ending happens so suddenly, and the reaction of the characters is so strange that I don't know how to feel about it. Right whenever the main character is becoming more human and standing up for himself, he does something monsterous. I didn't expect a happy ending, but the ending seemed inconsistent with the trajectory.

I don't even know what to think

I really wish that this incredibly well written book was about *any other topic*.

Moving.

This is a very interesting book. The writing is very beautiful, and the narration was stellar.