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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.

1748 Reviews

4.0
“Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro is a novel that, in all honesty, proved difficult for me to truly dive into. Perhaps that was partly my own fault—when the book was recommended, I was under the impression that the protagonist, Elena, had Alzheimer's rather than Parkinson's. That, to me, would have made for a compelling and poignant storyline, especially with the investigation surrounding her daughter's death. In full transparency, I found myself struggling with the author’s writing style. Despite the book being relatively short, I found certain sections dragging on far too long, and I began to feel as if I was just skimming over the text instead of being immersed in the story. Rather than feeling captivated, I was often wishing it would be over. This is a surprising reaction to me, especially given the praise this book has received. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right mindset, or maybe my expectations were misplaced—I do plan to revisit it at some point, but for now, I remain uncertain. I can, however, recognise what Piñeiro was attempting to achieve. The novel clearly strives to be introspective, resisting simplistic answers and evolving from a mystery about Rita’s death into a broader meditation on motherhood, morality, and the human need for control. The novel’s power seems to lie in its ability to make readers question their own judgments and assumptions, and that, I do appreciate. Yet, for all its philosophical depth, the novel felt like it lacked something. It left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied, like there was an element I couldn’t quite grasp. Maybe it was the pacing, or the way the narrative unfolded—it’s hard to pinpoint. But it didn’t quite leave the lasting impact I had expected. Ultimately, Elena Knows is a book that will provoke thought, but for me, it didn’t fully live up to the hype. Perhaps on a second read, I'll find the pieces I missed, but for now, I remain uncertain about my connection to this story.”
“Poignant, honest, raw, and bold. This book delves into deeply sensitive and profoundly human topics, such as the complex relationship between mothers and daughters, the struggles of people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers, the influence of religious dogma on thoughts and actions, and the challenges women face in an unjust world. At first, I thought this book was simply about solving the mystery of Rita’s death—the main character’s daughter. But it turns out to be so much more than that. Claudia Piñeiro sheds light on issues often overlooked in society, such as how the world is not designed to accommodate women, people with illnesses and disabilities, and caregivers. She masterfully depicts the unfairness of this reality, and in many ways, I found it deeply relatable, as both a woman and a former caregiver myself. The narration is vivid and raw, allowing me to feel the frustration, stress, and exhaustion that Elena and Rita endure every day. One notable aspect of the writing style is how conversations are presented—there are no quotation marks to set off spoken words. While I personally didn’t find it difficult to follow, I can see how this might be challenging for some readers. The twist at the end is powerful, reminding us that people have different perspectives on motherhood and that we cannot impose our beliefs on others. I also loved the ending—how Elena finally finds closure.”
Loudly Crying Face“This is a book that builds empathy by being devastating.”

About Claudia Piñeiro

Born in Buenos Aires in 1960, Claudia Piñeiro is a best-selling author, known internationally for her crime novels. 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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