Elena Knows Audiobook By Claudia Piñeiro, Frances Riddle - translator cover art

Elena Knows

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Elena Knows

By: Claudia Piñeiro, Frances Riddle - translator
Narrated by: Sally Masterson
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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.

©2021 Claudia Piñeiro and Frances Riddle (P)2023 Charco Press Fiction Genre Fiction Political Women's Fiction World Literature

Critic reviews

International Booker Prize (Shortlist)

Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award—Fiction (Shortlist)

LiBeraturpreis (Winner)

"Short and stylish…a piercing commentary on mother-daughter relationships, the indignity of bureaucracy, the burdens of caregiving and the impositions of religious dogma on women."—New York Times

"A lyrical portrait of a woman unable to grieve...incisive commentary on Catholic society’s control of women’s bodies."—Publishers Weekly

"Its true brilliance, though, is in how it flips Elena’s insular daily reality into a much broader commentary on how the hypocrisy of Catholic society manifests in the lives and judgments of ordinary people. A highly accomplished and original novel, translated with great sensitivity to tone and atmosphere by Frances Riddle."—Irish Times
All stars
Most relevant  
Story was dismal. Make sure to speed up to at least 1.1
Narrator superb

Parkinson's Disease
Caregiver Burden
Disability
Loneliness
Abortion Right to Choose vs Right to Life
Who does a Human Body belong to?

Super depressing but extremely well written and narrated

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Great story that vividly gets across the author’s specific position. I loved the audiobook narrator’s voice, but found she read a bit too slowly.

Elegant, sly, unapologetic

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Overall the story was quite nice and covered a lot of themes: women’s autonomy being taken away, the effects of religion, and it had some pretty interesting scenes in the middle going towards the end. There really isn’t much of a “mystery” as, considering Elena’s condition, you could probably deduct that she actually doesn’t know. But yeah, I’d recommend if you’re looking for something a little more somber, gloomy, or low-key.

Good

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I did not see it going the way it went but wow. Amazing. Great narrator too.

I’m not crying your crying

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Wish more of Pineiro’s work was available in English audiobook editions. She is a remarkable writer.

Fine performance of a spare, intelligent novel

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