A review by barkatoustes
Elena sabe by Claudia Piñeiro

dark emotional 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

4.0

Elena knows:

+ complex relationship between mother/daughter

+ « Ella » personification of Elena’s illness. It almost feels like an initiation story.

+ How other people interact with a sick elder through the eyes of the person in question.

+ Social/economic context (including the sense of tradition/ religious importance).

+++ Final part: climax/ (p169)/Isabel challenges Elena’s story/daughter POV.

- Although, I believe it is relevant for the reader to understand how « Ella » is affecting every sphere of the life of Elena. The pace in the first half of the book is occasionally too slow.


—————————————————————
Fiction 

Perso: complex, pessimistic, flawed 

Structure: time jumps 

Style: raw, even when moving toward themes like suicide. (P183) Aligned with the personality traits of the protagonist.

Characterisation: the reader is getting to know Elena through her illness embodiment. There is an evident contrast between her physical reality (struggling movements) and her idealisation/nostalgia for a functional body. As a result, the reader empathises with Elena, although she is not an easy-loving protagonist.


Expand filter menu Content Warnings