Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Η Ελένα ξέρει by Claudia Piñeiro

36 reviews

stellarkai's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Ableism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Abortion and Sexual assault

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A heart-wrenching and at times harrowing story with the most extraordinary descriptions of living with advanced Parkinsons's disease. The author, Claudia Piñeiro, is known as an activist and this book covers many issues close to her heart. One that struck me was how lucky I am to live in a country with universal health care which, while far from perfect, doesn't require wrangling with insurance companies over every pill and which has care provision for this who need it. There are other, largely feminist, issues in here too. And examples of how many of us show love in our own way. This is a book which will stay with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Suicide

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy

grunbean's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A book that makes you reflect. I haven’t seen grief and acceptance explored like this before. I was on the verge of tears throughout.

I think a sharper reader would’ve seen the ending coming. That doesn’t change how much it winds you though. A moving novel with a lot to reflect on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death, Medical content, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

zoinkie's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Terminal illness

Minor: Rape

dakotahreads's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Death, and Suicide

phalanq's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pry this book from my cold dead hands

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Chronic illness, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

isabezza's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

Elena Knows is a heart wrenching novel about motherhood and how this influences a woman's perception of the truth. It's award winning quality is evident in the well-written contrast between Elena's assertive, forceful mind and her deteriorating, unreliable body. However, this novel was particularly challenging as central characters (who we likely wish to respect) have opposing values questionable stances towards women's issues which contradict most readers' opinions. Whilst this made the story evermore insightful and reflective, it increased the challenge of reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Body horror, Grief, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Alcoholism

jaiari12's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Suicide, Grief, Ableism, and Medical content

Moderate: Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abortion, Rape, Sexual violence, and Vomit

myparisbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Suicide, and Death

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Rape and Abortion

niallgoulding1's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Is it right to give 5 stars to a book that you didn't "enjoy" reading and found devastating?

The author is almost too successful in capturing her topics (degenerative illness, caregiving, suicide, abortion, fractious mother/daughter relationships). I indirectly felt the strain of living a day as the protagonist. I found it really powerful and think and talk about this book a lot since reading it. 

I've read many sad books but I've never been affected like this. That's largely down to the authors talent but also because this is such a universal story. I can be saddened by stories of the Holocaust, slave era America, growing up in seriously disadvantaged circumstances, etc but they are always at a safe remove. I personally am safe. But this hit home because these situations come to many of us and we do not know the hour when our life could change. 

An important book. As a society we have gotten too good at pushing these uncomfortable topics out of sight. Fair play to Pineiro and her publisher for dragging them back into the light

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Chronic illness, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Abortion