Reviews with content warning for Vomit - Η Ελένα ξέρει

Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Η Ελένα ξέρει by Claudia Piñeiro

24 reviews

ericj32's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.75

This novel opens with the mystery of Elena’s daughter’s suspicious death - she’s found hanging in the belfry of the local church. The death is ruled a suicide by the police, but that doesn’t make any sense to Elena, so she’s determined to figure out what really happened. The chapters alternate between Elena’s current search for answers and flashbacks that provide context. The whole narrative encompasses just one day, following Elena’s excruciatingly slow journey via multiple modes of transportation to ask an old acquaintance for assistance in investigating her daughter’s death. The identity of this acquaintance and Elena’s connection to her is kept a secret from the reader until the end of the novel, when Elena finally arrives on her doorstep. The ending is somewhat surprising and emotionally heavy. In some ways, it seemed to introduce new themes that didn’t feel very connected to the rest of the narrative. But overall, the story was engaging and the characters felt frustratingly lifelike in their flaws and contradictions. It also gives you an intimate insight into the experiences of living with Parkinson’s disease and also the rationale of why a woman may want and need access to abortion services.

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rideauriverreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

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klabardee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

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vbarsi's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

themes of pro/anti-abortion, struggling with being a caretaker for someone with a terminal illness

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ccerpa's review against another edition

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4.25

very interesting, but very heavy (though short) reflection on the challenges and lack of support that caregivers of people (old & young) with chronic illness and children. when the big parallel was drawn at the end, I had to sit with it for a while, it was rough!! but so good!!!

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jesselopod's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

I don’t think I have ever read anything like this. Very complex characters, an unlikely protagonist for a crime novel both in age and physical state, and ultimately an incredible commentary on bodily autonomy, societal expectations and motherhood, but the less spoken about aspects of motherhood beyond the rose-tinted version we’re comfortable with. The writing style really helped the story match the struggles of the protagonist, but without the standard disability tropes and inspiration porn, she was tenacious and determined, hard and unlikeable, but with some cutting moments of vulnerability.

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