Thank you for including spoilers in the second half of the discussion! I read the book a month or so ago and have been so disappointed that all the reviews I found contained no spoilers, and therefore were actually unable to truly discuss the book in its entirety. I agree with your concise review, I see the book as being primarily about the role of the female carer - as mother and as daughter, and of course generally about anyone who has ever had the responsibility of caring for any vulnerable person be it an infant, an elderly parent, or even oneself (when one has a chronic illness). Warm regards, E.
Thank you so much! And glad to hear you enjoyed it- it’s such a meaty and interesting book that I felt like I wanted to go into spoiler territory for that! And I love how you describe the book- it’s such a gem, isn’t it?
I loved it too - shocking that it took so long to be translated into English. Agree with everything you said. I also thought their difficult relationship was portrayed well.
I hadn’t realised it had been out for so long before being translated to English! So glad we now have it in English! And yes! That relationship is so beautifully portrayed!
I finished this today, coincidentally on the day here in the U.S. when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. I agree with you that it is remarkable, stunning, and terribly sad. A sadness underscored by this awful decision to deny American women agency over their own bodies, one of the themes of the book, and a cause that Piniero has tirelessly worked for on behalf of women in Argentina. I am doubly gut-punched, both by the so-called Justices in Washington and this amazing, heart-breaking book.
Oh gosh, what a coincidence (and gut punch is right for both). Piñeiro sounds like a remarkable woman, and the book is incredible. I definitely agree- it’s such a brilliant and heart-breaking book! But yeah, I have no words left for the situation in the US- it’s just horrific and needlessly cruel.
I hear reviewers talking about Elena’s and Isabel’s lack of agency, but what about Rita’s? Like Isabel’s situation, Rita’s life is constrained by social expectations, the role of women as caregivers. Perhaps the reader feels less sympathy for Rita because she treats her mother so poorly.
Ooh, that’s such an interesting point. I found Rita such a fascinating and complex character- the dynamics between characters in this book are so well rendered!
I’m so glad you think this book so fantastic and great to hear your thoughts on it. I found it really emotional as well and you’re right the pacing is so well done.
Just a couple of hours ago I was checking if you had made a review on this one so I was so happy when I just saw you've uploaded this video, and that you loved the novel! I'm still thinking about this read, I think as you said, the pace is necessary to understand her mind and body, specially at the beginning. Thank you for sharing about your elderly parents, it's still somewhat a taboo to talk about the children's fears, specially if they are the carers. Every country should assist them psychologically, I hope this book helps in the conversation about it. Also, these days Claudia Piñeiro is receiving a lot of awards for the Netflix series she created and wrote, The Kingdom, about a very sensitive topic in my country, Argentina. If you or your community are looking for something more fast paced, you can check her hugely successful novel, Thursday Night Widows. But I think this is a superior work, she deserves this recognition. And yes, I love that cover :) Hugs!
Ahh, thank you! And yes, I think this is a book that will really stay with me! I totally agree with what you said about care and hopefully this book helping there (and thank you for being so kind!) Ooh, that’s so exciting to hear about Piñeiro’s other work- thank you! And fascinating about how she engages with Argentinian issues too.
I totally agree with you about Elena Knows and Tomb Of Sand. One of the two should take the International Booker Prize. They are both incredible pieces of work.
Totally agree with what you said Bob, about this wonderful book and that it or Tomb of Sand should win- although I did also love Cursed Bunny and think it would be great for a short story collection to win. The pacing seemed spot on to me, Elena’s voice and how her disability constrains her is so well done and the way she, and Rita misunderstand and assume things is brilliantly played out.
Yes! As much as I didn’t really get on with Cursed Bunny, I wouldn’t be angry if it won, but I adore Tomb of Sand and Elena Knows so much! And definitely agree about their relationship- so brilliantly done!
Thank you for this beautiful review Bob. I will give it a go but I was hesitating until now because of the heavy subject. Is it the Eiffel Tour behind you ? I love it !
Thank you! And it’s quite heavy in parts, but it also leaves a good amount of space for nuanced discussion, which I really enjoyed. And it is! There are lots of skylines in those pictures!
Excellent review. Brilliant book. Like you, I’d be delighted to see this win. Unlike you, my alternate choice to win is The Books of Jacob. So if Elena Knows wins, we shall both be pleased. 😁
It was very interesting to listen to your review. I liked that the main protagonist is an elderly woman who is chronically ill and also the theme of caring and that we can never know how something really feels like for someone, even if we think we do. So overall this was a good read, but I wasn't overwhelmed by it. At least I'm not so heavily disagreeing with you about this one as I do about Bewilderment. 😉
It is strange to find this book on the int. bookerlist for this year. It has been published in dutch in 2010 already and is no longer available as such :-)
I had no idea there had been such a gap before it coming out in English! Charco Press have really been doing a great job in getting out less known works out there!
Thank you for including spoilers in the second half of the discussion! I read the book a month or so ago and have been so disappointed that all the reviews I found contained no spoilers, and therefore were actually unable to truly discuss the book in its entirety. I agree with your concise review, I see the book as being primarily about the role of the female carer - as mother and as daughter, and of course generally about anyone who has ever had the responsibility of caring for any vulnerable person be it an infant, an elderly parent, or even oneself (when one has a chronic illness). Warm regards, E.
Thank you so much!
And glad to hear you enjoyed it- it’s such a meaty and interesting book that I felt like I wanted to go into spoiler territory for that!
And I love how you describe the book- it’s such a gem, isn’t it?
I loved it too - shocking that it took so long to be translated into English. Agree with everything you said. I also thought their difficult relationship was portrayed well.
I hadn’t realised it had been out for so long before being translated to English! So glad we now have it in English!
And yes! That relationship is so beautifully portrayed!
I finished this today, coincidentally on the day here in the U.S. when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. I agree with you that it is remarkable, stunning, and terribly sad. A sadness underscored by this awful decision to deny American women agency over their own bodies, one of the themes of the book, and a cause that Piniero has tirelessly worked for on behalf of women in Argentina. I am doubly gut-punched, both by the so-called Justices in Washington and this amazing, heart-breaking book.
Oh gosh, what a coincidence (and gut punch is right for both). Piñeiro sounds like a remarkable woman, and the book is incredible. I definitely agree- it’s such a brilliant and heart-breaking book!
But yeah, I have no words left for the situation in the US- it’s just horrific and needlessly cruel.
I hear reviewers talking about Elena’s and Isabel’s lack of agency, but what about Rita’s? Like Isabel’s situation, Rita’s life is constrained by social expectations, the role of women as caregivers. Perhaps the reader feels less sympathy for Rita because she treats her mother so poorly.
Ooh, that’s such an interesting point. I found Rita such a fascinating and complex character- the dynamics between characters in this book are so well rendered!
This is a very fancy setting.
Also, this book sounds great, I need to read it.
Haha, yes, my friend’s flat is gorgeous and I’ve decided I’m not letting him move back in 😂
I think you’d really like this book- it’s so beautiful!
I’m so glad you think this book so fantastic and great to hear your thoughts on it. I found it really emotional as well and you’re right the pacing is so well done.
Thank you! And yes, it feels so well handled- it really hit me harder than I expected!
I LOVED this one! About to film a review of it.
Ooh nice! Excited to see it!
Just a couple of hours ago I was checking if you had made a review on this one so I was so happy when I just saw you've uploaded this video, and that you loved the novel!
I'm still thinking about this read, I think as you said, the pace is necessary to understand her mind and body, specially at the beginning. Thank you for sharing about your elderly parents, it's still somewhat a taboo to talk about the children's fears, specially if they are the carers. Every country should assist them psychologically, I hope this book helps in the conversation about it.
Also, these days Claudia Piñeiro is receiving a lot of awards for the Netflix series she created and wrote, The Kingdom, about a very sensitive topic in my country, Argentina. If you or your community are looking for something more fast paced, you can check her hugely successful novel, Thursday Night Widows. But I think this is a superior work, she deserves this recognition. And yes, I love that cover :) Hugs!
Ahh, thank you!
And yes, I think this is a book that will really stay with me! I totally agree with what you said about care and hopefully this book helping there (and thank you for being so kind!)
Ooh, that’s so exciting to hear about Piñeiro’s other work- thank you! And fascinating about how she engages with Argentinian issues too.
I absolutely loved this book! It's truly remarkable. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Yes! So beautiful! How does she do that in only 150 pages?! It’s remarkable!
My book of the year so far. So simply and elegantly written.
Absolutely! So brilliant, and it’s kind of incredible how much she achieves in such a short book.
I totally agree with you about Elena Knows and Tomb Of Sand. One of the two should take the International Booker Prize. They are both incredible pieces of work.
Yes! Although I think it’s a really strong shortlist overall, I would really love it to be one of those two books!
@@BobTheBookerer I agree. I also liked a few of the long listed books as well.
Totally agree with what you said Bob, about this wonderful book and that it or Tomb of Sand should win- although I did also love Cursed Bunny and think it would be great for a short story collection to win. The pacing seemed spot on to me, Elena’s voice and how her disability constrains her is so well done and the way she, and Rita misunderstand and assume things is brilliantly played out.
Yes! As much as I didn’t really get on with Cursed Bunny, I wouldn’t be angry if it won, but I adore Tomb of Sand and Elena Knows so much!
And definitely agree about their relationship- so brilliantly done!
Thank you for this beautiful review Bob. I will give it a go but I was hesitating until now because of the heavy subject. Is it the Eiffel Tour behind you ? I love it !
Thank you! And it’s quite heavy in parts, but it also leaves a good amount of space for nuanced discussion, which I really enjoyed.
And it is! There are lots of skylines in those pictures!
It is only a short book, but contains so much. I thought it very good. Fancy location, Bob. Have you been released from the prison now?
Definitely- I am so impressed by how much is covered in such a short book.
Haha, I’m just looking after my friend’s place for the month!
read it, loved it
Excellent review. Brilliant book. Like you, I’d be delighted to see this win. Unlike you, my alternate choice to win is The Books of Jacob. So if Elena Knows wins, we shall both be pleased. 😁
Thank you! And yes, really hoping it wins! And I totally understand that for Books of Jacob!
I’ve just started reading Elena Knows.
Ahh, I hope you like it! I think you’re in for a treat!
Wow this sounds phenomenal!
It’s so good! So brilliantly observed, I think!
Love for Elena knows. I somehow I dont think is literary enough to win, but it is my favourite from the list I think
Yes! I’m really rooting for it! What a beautiful book! I really hope it’s the kind of thing the judges love on a re-read as well.
It was very interesting to listen to your review. I liked that the main protagonist is an elderly woman who is chronically ill and also the theme of caring and that we can never know how something really feels like for someone, even if we think we do.
So overall this was a good read, but I wasn't overwhelmed by it.
At least I'm not so heavily disagreeing with you about this one as I do about Bewilderment. 😉
Thank you so much!
And yes! I think the book does that so well!
That’s totally fair haha! 😂
It is strange to find this book on the int. bookerlist for this year. It has been published in dutch in 2010 already and is no longer available as such :-)
I had no idea there had been such a gap before it coming out in English! Charco Press have really been doing a great job in getting out less known works out there!
Is the leather chair not too fancy for you? 😅
Haha, I feel like an impostor! 😂
@@BobTheBookerer don’t take the furniture, you’ve been in jail already. 😅
@@AnnNovella 😂😂😂