Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Η Ελένα ξέρει by Claudia Piñeiro

26 reviews

mmccombs's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I thought I knew where this story would go and it completely took me by surprise. This was one of the finest uses of the “unreliable” narrator I’ve seen, I was right along with Elena for the entire book, wholeheartedly believing her perspective until the final scenes that make you realize that her “knowing” is not all that it seems. This was a book about bodies and who gets to control them, whether it be by others or even an illness. It explores disability while using Elena’s experience with Parkinson’s as a device to further limit the scope of what the audience is able to perceive, resulting in a restrictive feel to the narrative. This book used flashbacks very well, and the organization of the plot into Elena’s pill schedule was effective. For such a short book, this sure does pack a punch, I would highly recommend for great translation work and a wonderfully nuanced story about motherhood, disability, and what we are truly able to “know” about ourselves and others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Chronic illness, and Suicide

Moderate: Abortion and Death

viictoriaa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

este es un libro perfecto, cada palabra tiene su significado y su propósito. claudia piñeiro es una genia y ojalá pudiera abundar más pero es que las palabras no me dan

increíble y si sigo analizando, se pone cada vez mejor. espero verla ganar un nobel de literatura fr fr, todos sus libros se volverán clásicos

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death, Chronic illness, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Mental illness, and Child death

mik_yekcuts's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Chronic illness, Grief, Medical content, Body horror, and Excrement

Moderate: Sexual violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Rape

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

firmino_g's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Grief, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Death

jouljet's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Grief, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Ableism, Medical trauma, Rape, and Suicide

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

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

your_true_shelf's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief

Minor: Vomit

bethantg's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Abortion, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Cursing, Sexual violence, Death, Grief, Ableism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Pregnancy, Violence, Excrement, and Vomit