In spite of the inane quotes from Angela Davis and Rebecca Solnit, I still decided to give Claudia Piñeiro’s novel a chance and ploughed on until the bitter, bitter end. And bitter it was, indeed, because it turned out that the whole point of The Time of the Flies is that any man has “the right to be a woman” and it’s “a right that must be recognized.” These are quotes, in case anybody didn’t catch on.
As I’ve been saying, the narrative of “rights” leads to very insane places if we don’t approach this concept carefully and intelligently.
Aside from Piñeiro’s insistence that it’s crucial to trans children in schools and keep it secret from their parents (which is hard to ignore because it’s what the novel is about), nothing about the book works. The way it’s put together is clumsy. The characters make no sense. Everything is fake. And I swear, she used to be an excellent writer. When she wrote about Argentina and things that are happening in Argentina and are relevant to Argentineans, she was an excellent bloody writer. But then, for some utterly confusing reason, she decided to abandon all that and write for the English-speaking admirers of Angela bloody Davis, and I’m so upset because this was one of my favorite Latin American authors and now she’s all “rah-rah, let’s prattle on about the stupid Anglo fixation on transing kids like it’s the most important issue on the planet.” It’s so subservient, so pathetic. The woman threw away her God-given talent for … this? To appeal to some marginal group of overheated Anglos?
I’m really upset right now. I could have spent these two days reading something worthwhile and instead got saddled with this crap.
Clarissa's Blog 
A breasty breast breast liberated woman’s crime and mystery novel. Fifteen years after poisoning her husband’s lover, Inés and her old friend Manca, open a business together. This business named: FFF (Females, Fumigation, and Flies)–pest control and private investigation, all run by women, for women.
This novel jumps into the cold shower of naked marital abuse, violence against women, and the corrupt system: as the themes of justice, power, and resilience. The difficulties confronting women about navigating a Man’s-world stacked against them.
Piñeiro has a history of writing on subjects where she dissects societal norms, flaws and farts. Time of the Flies, a sequel to her debut work, Tuya(also known as Yours). In that earlier book, the protagonist, Inés, committed a murder—killing her husband’s lover. The murder that shaped her past still haunts her, but she’s determined to move forward.
FFF is dedicated to pest control and private investigation, and it’s run exclusively by women, for women. While there are elements of the detective genre, she subverts its rules. Her books have layers—different entry points for readers.
Buenos Aires, at the heart of Pineiro’s work. Clarissa do you find the exploration of femicide and women’s agency in literature particularly thought-provoking?
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The only act of violence against women in these novels is when a woman murders her husband’s mistress. The original novel was funny and quirky but since its publication, Piñeiro read some really outré theory and is now trying to turn her books into political manifestos. The result is very poor.
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Treating my Type II Diabetes
Mankai plant, a variety of duckweed. Mankai packs a protein punch. It’s one of the few plant-based foods that provides all the essential amino acids your body needs. Mankai contains a form of protein that our body can readily absorb. Mankai rich in protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals Vitamin B 12. Mankai, rich in chlorophyll, which may help detoxify the body and improve digestion.
The small intestine is about 10 feet long—more than 100 times the surface area of our skin! This large surface area simply crucial for digestion and absorption. The small intestine wall—lined with villi and microvilli increases the absorptive capacity, allowing Mankai’s nutrients to be efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream. A diet rich in nutrients supports overall gut health. Enteritis refers to inflammation of the small intestine. Rest, hydration, and replenishing fluids with electrolyte solutions: essential.
Mankai primarily digested through the duodenum, the jejunum, and ileum of the small intestines. These two latter parts of the small intestines, they serve to absorb food nutrients into the blood stream. Drinking a Mankai beverage after dinner results in an approximate 20% reduction in post-meal blood sugar levels. It also lowers peak sugar levels and helps you return to baseline levels faster.
What food repairs damage to the jejunum, and ileum of the small intestines? Clear liquids like water, broth, and herbal tea provide hydration without putting stress on the digestive system. Protein is essential for tissue repair, their amino acids aid in healing and maintain muscle strength. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. They can help reduce inflammation in the gut. Combining foods, like pairing vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich plant foods (e.g., spinach with citrus), enhances nutrient absorption.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods: Apples, Avocados, beans, berries, broccoli, cherries, kale, spinach, collard greens, all gentle on the gut. Salmon, sardines, mackerel rich in omega-3. Inflammatory Foods: gluten, processed foods, high-fat dairy, artificial sweeteners. Asian medicine relies upon maintaining health by emphasizing the diet. Lean proteins like chicken, fish, tofu, and eggs most easily absorbed by the small intestines. Cooked apples, melons, and bananas also gentle on the gut.
The small intestine, associated with the emotion of joy. Imbalances result in irritability and anxiety. Malabsorption occurs when your body struggles to absorb nutrients effectively. It often involves damage to the mucous lining of the small intestine. Herbs like ginger, turmeric and fenugreek support digestion and nutrient absorption. Stress impacts digestion. Important to do reflexology in tandem with meditation. Minerals iron, zinc, and magnesium. Liver, lentils, chickpeas, black beans provide plant-based iron. As do spinach, kale, and Swiss chard. Pumpkin seeds cashews and almonds contain zinc. As do Quinoa, raw oats, chickpeas, lentils, cheese and yogurt.
Magnesium contained in nuts and seeds, legume beans, whole grains, kale, spinach and collard greens. Variety by mixing all these foods together, very important for digestion. Incorporating fermented foods (such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and yogurt) can enhance gut health by introducing beneficial probiotics. Studies suggest that plant-based diets can lower the risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, while promoting gut health. Spices like cumin and coriander also have anti-inflammatory properties.
A diet rich in nutrients supports overall gut health. Enteritis refers to inflammation of the small intestine. Rest, hydration, and replenishing fluids with electrolyte solutions; fluids rich in sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium like as found in coconut water, watermelon water and other fruit juices. Pedialyte contains a precise mix of electrolytes—sodium, potassium, chloride, and zinc. It contains 33% more electrolytes lost during dehydration. It supports our immune system. Personally never heard of Pedialyte before this investigation. Coconut water a viable alternative. Beyond coconut water, consider natural electrolyte drinks made from blending fruits like watermelon or oranges with a pinch of salt.
Incorporating healthy fats (like olive oil or avocado) can enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) from foods. The trillions of bacteria in our gut play a crucial role in digestion, immune function, and even blood sugar regulation. A healthy gut microbiome can help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. Curcumin, extracted from turmeric. Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce gut inflammation.
Sleep hygiene, important to emphasize the strong link between sleep deprivation and diabetes. Lack of sleep can lead to insulin resistance and increased blood sugar levels. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.
In conclusion, the health of the small intestine is closely tied to the overall balance of the gut microbiome. Maintaining a diverse and thriving gut microbial population supports nutrient absorption, immune function, and even mental well-being. Prebiotics, like those found in Mankai, can help nourish the beneficial bacteria in the gut.
There is a strong bidirectional communication system between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis. Imbalances in the gut microbiome have been linked to various neurological and mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Addressing gut health can have a positive impact on mental and emotional well-being. Chronic stress can have a detrimental effect on gut health by disrupting the gut-brain axis and altering the gut microbiome. Incorporating stress-reducing activities, such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness practices, can help support overall gut and mental well-being.
Foods like garlic, onions, leeks, and bananas act as prebiotics, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supporting digestive health. Intermittent fasting improves insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation, beneficial for diabetes management. Herbs like dandelion and burdock root can stimulate digestion and improve liver health, assisting in nutrient processing.
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The question is: if you are a woman, why do you think anybody can “become” one?
What does that say about the concept of “identity” if not that it is a peculiarly American idea in its confused, misconceived, preposterous garb?
Because there is no doubt that it is overwhelmingly white middle-class women who support the transgender craze. What does this say about their idea of what being a woman means?
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It’s very, very bizarre that the entire journey of feminism would culminate in the idea that men make better women than women. People who say they could have predicted it are fantasizing. This is too bizarre and random for anybody to predict.
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This review
https://wordswithoutborders.org/book-reviews/i-am-the-fly-reinvention-and-revenge-in-time-of-the-flies-claudia-pineiro-frances-riddle-liz-wood/
says the book is very woman-centered. And to me that suggests how feminism can be so pro-trans. It wants a world in which women are at the center of everything. But what can be the role of men in such a world? Well, one good thing they can do is become women too!
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I just read this comment right after posting precisely about this. Yes, Piñeiro’s male characters are women, in the most reductive, pathetic rendering of womanhood.
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[feminism] wants a world in which women are at the center of everything.
Well, if that kind of feminism succeeds, it fails. A man cannot become a woman: he can act like one, he can undergo surgery to resemble one, he can even learn to modify his voice in order to sound like a woman, but he will never become one. He is merely impersonating – to varying degrees of success – someone who, by definition, he will never be.
I am a same-sex attracted man: I may, if I wished to, and with superhuman effort, force myself to have sex with a woman, marry one and have children with her, but I will always be a homosexual. Always, till the day I die. Nothing that I do will modify that fact.
The ineradicabilty of such fundamental facts may explain why so many transgender activists seem to pursue their ideology with a fervor that annihilates anyone who as much tries to stand in their path.
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