Description

‘Manages something only a few books achieve: it makes you happy’ Munich Mercury

‘A clear-eyed tonic in troubled times’ Guardian

On a beautiful spring day, a small village in Western Germany wakes up to an omen: Selma has dreamed of an okapi. Someone is about to die. But who?

As the residents of the village begin acting strangely (despite protestations that they are not superstitious), Selma’s granddaughter Luise looks on as the imminent threat brings long carried secrets to the surface. And when death comes, it comes in a way none of them could have predicted…

A story about the absurdity of life and death, a bittersweet portrait of village life and the wider world that beckons beyond, What You Can See from Here is a story about the way loss and love shape not just a person, but a community.

The international bestseller which sold over 600,000 copies in Germany

Publisher Review

I loved this novel truly, madly, deeply … I am jealous of all the new readers who will have the chance to discover Mariana Leky’s exciting new voice and the joy of meeting the fabulous ensemble she has conjured — Nina George, author of THE BOOK OF DREAMS and THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP As in life, What You Can See from Here reveals its significant players and their startling joys and losses, in patient, unexpected ways. A profound and beautiful novel — Marie Helene-Bertino, author of PARAKEET Effervescent, tender and realistically absurd – an utterly charming depiction of life, death, love, and the people who help us through it all. Exactly the kind of novel I am ever hoping to discover — Juliet Grames, author of THE SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA On finishing What You Can See from Here, I was bereft. Central to the story is the idea of how much of the world to let into our lives, how much each of us can actually manage. Well, I implore you to let this book into your life. It’s a wonder you won’t forget — Jessica Francis Kane, author of RULES FOR VISITING It’s impossible to escape [Leky’s] spell. And why would you want to escape such an entertaining diversion, anyway? … Leky’s bemused affection for her characters is apparent on every page, and it’s infectious … A generous and funny novel … We leave Leky’s world knowing that every ordinary day holds the potential for something wonderful * KIRKUS * Manages something only a few books achieve: it makes you happy * MUENCHENER MERKUR * A gorgeous novel about life, love, death and hope * Style * A little of the magic of Gabriel Garcia Marquez — Denis Scheck * Hot Off the Press * Full of wise, warm-hearted thoughts on the difficult subject of death and loss. A book to get you through dark days — Volker Koenigkramer * Stern * One of those books you gaze at in amazement for hours and days after reading it – and actually, always want to carry with you — Barbara Weitzel * Welt Am Sonntag * A wonderful, clever, amusing, profound book — Manuela Reichart * Deutschlandfunk Kultur * On each page there are at least three sentences that you want to highlight, copy or read to someone — Judith Liere * Stern *