Scan barcode
A review by eleanor_rose22
Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was such a poignant read about motherhood, aging, women’s relationships to their bodies and their families, societal and religious perception of women, and explored the nuance of taboo topics in Argentina like suicide, abortion and euthanasia.
‘Piñero questions the extent of women’s bodily autonomy - what happens when is your body no longer your own, when it is taken into the hands of another - the state, the church, disability, a man, morherhood?
Elena is such a admirable protagonist in her quest to understand her daughter’s death, embarking each day with the parkinsons that is destroying her, and it was a real eye-opening account of degenerative disease as well as the caregiver’s experience.
On reflection this book made me very sad, esp the ending, but so thought provoking - will really stick with me
‘Piñero questions the extent of women’s bodily autonomy - what happens when is your body no longer your own, when it is taken into the hands of another - the state, the church, disability, a man, morherhood?
Elena is such a admirable protagonist in her quest to understand her daughter’s death, embarking each day with the parkinsons that is destroying her, and it was a real eye-opening account of degenerative disease as well as the caregiver’s experience.
On reflection this book made me very sad, esp the ending, but so thought provoking - will really stick with me