Yknow, I do understand why some people would be turned off by this book. It’s main form of disgust is how feces and defecation is mentioned all the time. There’s also the general grossness of the slaughterhouse…and the resulting beastiality.

However…I wouldn’t say that’s the true horror, at least in my opinion. It’s what happens to Steven that scares me. He’s a victim of long-term neglect and abuse from his mother that just wants a better life, but doesn’t know how to achieve it. But when he does (such as obtaining his slaughterhouse job and falling in love), those soon fall apart. It doesn’t help that others like Cripps attempts to manipulate him into sinking further into obscenity. And while the ending is written to be “happy”, it just feels tragic—he’s snapped and lost all awareness of reality, convinced that the herd is truly the best place for him to stay in.