Elena KnowsElena Knows
What it's about
After Rita is found dead in the church she used to attend, the official investigation is quickly closed. Her sickly mother, Elena, is the only one still determined to find the culprit. Over one difficult journey across the suburbs of the city, an old debt and a revealing conversation, the novel uncovers its characters' secrets and the hidden authoritarianism and hypocrisy around them.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It's a short, intense novel about illness, motherhood and control over women's bodies.
You'll love it if you liked
The Vegetarian
The Stranger
We Do Not PartGood to know
It's translated from Spanish. Its final section is a shock.
By the numbers
- Readers73 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics27 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #144 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #193 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1114 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Gripping, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Elena Knows worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It ranks #1,114 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Elena Knows about?
After Rita is found dead in the church she used to attend, the official investigation is quickly closed. Her sickly mother, Elena, is the only one still determined to find the culprit. Over one difficult journey across the suburbs of the city, an old debt and a revealing conversation, the novel uncovers its characters' secrets and the hidden authoritarianism and hypocrisy around them.
How long does it take to read Elena Knows?
About 4 hours (147 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Elena Knows?
If you liked it, try The Vegetarian by Han Kang, The Stranger by Albert Camus or We Do Not Part by Han Kang with e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris.