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4.0 

Elena Knows

By Claudia Piñeiro & Frances Riddle
Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro & Frances Riddle digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

SHORTLISTED for the International Booker Prize 2022

After Rita is found dead in a church she used to attend, the official investigation into the incident is quickly closed. Her sickly mother is the only person still determined to find the culprit. Chronicling a difficult journey across the suburbs of the city, an old debt and a revealing conversation, Elena Knows unravels the secrets of its characters and the hidden facets of authoritarianism and hypocrisy in our society.

2266 Reviews

4.0
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, and I’m astounded by the impact it had on me. Despite its short length, it packed a powerful emotional punch. There is a fair amount of repetition throughout, which I found a bit frustrating at times, especially given how short the book is. However, I also believe that every line was chosen deliberately. The repetition, while occasionally annoying, ultimately made sense within the context of the story and served a purpose. What truly stood out to me was the way this book explores motherhood in all its complexities, alongside the powerful theme of bodily autonomy. I’d argue that’s the central message of the story, and it’s delivered with such clarity and intensity. By the time I finished, it felt like a punch to the stomach. The emotional impact was so strong, it left me breathless.”
“Literary fiction tends to be a hit or miss for me, mostly because they are short and I love expansive worlds. However, this one ruminated on how we never know who we will be become in certain situations and that we could even become diametrically opposed to who we were before. I found the exploration of this theme to be beautifully handled.”

About Claudia Piñeiro

Born in Buenos Aires in 1960, Claudia Piñeiro is a best-selling author, known internationally for her novels that, while rooted in the crime genre, frequently address social issues. She has won numerous national and international prizes, including the Pepe Carvalho Prize, the LiBeraturpreis for Elena Knows and the prestigious Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize for Las grietas de Jara (A Crack in the Wall). Many of her novels have been adapted for the big screen, including Elena Knows (Netflix). Piñeiro is the third most translated Argentinean author after Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar. She’s also a playwright and scriptwriter (including popular Netflix series The Kingdom ). Her novel Elena Knows was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.

Frances Riddle

Frances Riddle has translated numerous Spanish-language authors including Isabel Allende, Claudia Piñeiro, Leila Guerriero, and Sara Gallardo. Her translation of Theatre of War by Andrea Jeftanovic was granted an English PEN Award in 2020. Her work has appeared in journals such as Granta, Electric Literature , and The White Review , among others. She holds a BA in Spanish Language Literature from Louisiana State University and an MA in Translation Studies from the University of Buenos Aires. In 2022, Frances’ translation of Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Originally from Houston, Texas she lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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