Welcome to Litsy!

Wow - this book 🙌 I was reading it thinking how sad and harrowing it was to be experiencing Elena‘s Parkinson‘s and her grief at her daughter‘s death. And then Pineiro knocks you out as both Elena and the reader‘s eyes are opened to the underlying truths - the story behind the story. This is the sort of novel where you dont realise how clever it is until the end.
Photo: subterranean tunnel Waiheke Island

Bubbles and books - the way Saturday nights should be! Happy weekend everyone 🛁 📚 🫧

Sitting by the sea in the sunshine with my bright yellow book, I can imagine spring is coming!

Though Chip awaits edits on his script, chef Denise perfects sauerkraut, Gary makes his living on waiting for markets‘ upward trends, and their Dad seeks a mind-altering drug for his Parkinson‘s, it‘s clear by the book‘s final page that the most satisfying change for all is to delete some darlings and begin again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Realistic portrayal of an American family. Functional and dysfunctional. This story centers on a mom hellbent on gathering her adult kids, who‘ve gone on to make their own questionable choices, home for Christmas as their father‘s health declines. Tragically funny and relatable. The plays on the term “correction” are brilliantly timed and placed. Finally, my first Franzen! Def reading more.

Today after a year of library abstinence whilst I tried to clear my TBR shelves I finally allowed myself to go wild in the aisles once more. My littlest and I went after school and up picked up whatever took our fancy (the kids have been allowed to borrow books this year, I‘m not a monster). Apart from Exiles these books are all completely new to me. It felt so good!! And I‘m excited to dive in and see if they are as good as they look.

This book definitely lived up to the buzz. Elena‘s daughter has been found dead, and she doesn‘t believe it was suicide. In a single day, despite her Parkinson‘s, she traverses the city to the only person she believes can help. I do not want to give too much away, but it is a stinging indictment of the church and attitudes towards women, who holds control and the attitudes and hate women internalize. Definitely reading more Pineiro!

4.5/5 🌟

A gripping and honest story about a mother seeking answers after her daughter's death. It explores themes of religion, free will, motherhood, and illness with powerful, candid writing. A deeply moving and well-crafted book.

August 2024 Book #5 Elena Knows
My first novel by this author. Short but powerful novel. So intense, well written. It was amazing how the illness was described, I almost felt I was inside Elena‘s body, feeling her frustrations to command her body to react, to follow her instructions. Characters were masterly described, so much was said in a short novel. It was so sad the story of Elena. I was just captivated by this stor, by this written style 5⭐️

This was amazing! Tough read, but Piñeiro‘s writing just makes everything worth it. I‘m glad I took my time with this one and I did not expect that twist at the end!

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