“From the first words of the Argentine novelist Agustina Bazterrica’s second
novel, “Tender Is the Flesh,” the reader is already the livestock in the
line, reeling, primordially aware that this book is a butcher’s block, and
nothing that happens next is going to be pretty.”
—New York Times Book Review
"The novel is horrific, yes, but fascinatingly provocative (and Orwellian)
in the way it exposes the lengths society will go to deform language and
avoid moral truths."
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue
“Taut and thought-provoking...a chilling and alarmingly prophetic
book...this is an urgent cautionary tale...timely, crucial.”
—Words Without Borders
"A ruthlessly clever, Orwellian satire of our dog-eat-dog, er, man-eat-man
modern world."
—NJ.com
“It is a testament to Bazterrica’s skill that such a bleak book can also be
a page-turner. An unrelentingly dark and disquieting look at the way
societies conform to committing atrocities.”
—Kirkus Reviews
"Propulsive and deranged, Tender Is the Flesh is a weird and quick read that
strays far enough from our current reality to be utterly engrossing... and a
book that will stick with you for a long time."
—Thrillist
“This translated prizewinner by Argentinian novelist Bazterrica exquisitely
dishes up an intricate tale of a systematized dystopian society… a sagacious
and calculated exploration of the limits of moral ambiguity; it sears and
devastates.”
—Booklist, starred review
"This book will pull you in, take hold, and not let go until you reach the
final page—perhaps far longer than that. Without a doubt, my favorite read
of this year.”
—Christina Dalcher, author of Vox
"What a compelling, terrible beauty this novel is. My heart was breaking
even as my skin was crawling.”
—Lisa McInerney, author of The Glorious Heresies
“Provocative, muscular, and entirely unforgiving, this terrifying novel is a
timely reminder that words have the power to strip us of our humanity. I
gulped it down with my heart racing.”
—Sue Rainsford, author of Follow Me to Ground
“A brutal tale of what humans are capable of inflicting on themselves when
social norms collapse. Grotesque, gloriously nasty. Utterly compelling.”
—Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of Water Shall Refuse Them
"A skin-crawling yet compelling read."
—Refinery29
"Grimly engrossing with a sucker-punch ending."
—The Times
"This is a hideous, bold and unforgettable vision of the future. Just make
sure you've eaten before picking it up."
—i-D Magazine
"[A] thrilling dystopia that everyone should read for Bazterrica's stunning,
electrifying language and story-telling—that is, if you can stomach it."
—Dazed & Confused Magazine
"Horribly effective... This provocative novel expertly wields a double-edged
cleaver..."
—The Guardian
"A compelling dystopian novel."
—The Independent
"Told with a chilly allofness that makes the horror of it all the more
disturbing."
—Financial Times
Agustina Bazterrica is an Argentinian novelist and short story writer. She is a central figure in the Buenos Aires literary scene. She has received several awards for her writing, most notably the prestigious Premio Clarin Novela for her second novel, Tender Is the Flesh.
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