Publication
[Amsterdam] Nieuw Amsterdam © 2018
ISBN
9789046823262
Language
Collections
Description
"In this international bestseller by the award-winning novelist Mariana Leky, a heartwarming story unfolds about a small town, a grandmother whose dreams foretell a coming death, and the young woman forever changed by these losses and her loving, endearingly oddball community"--
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User reviews
LibraryThing member jfe16
Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
When Selma dreams of an okapi, someone is on the verge of death. While insisting they are not superstitious, the villagers worry about secrets kept and decisions yet to come . . . in case they are the one that is to become the victim of the dream-okapi.
Luisa,
This generational story reveals the inner workings of family, looking at the things that define people and lives, considering the big questions and the quiet moments. The story of this small west German village is bittersweet in its recounting of the eccentricities of the people. It’s the story of how people find their way in the world, learning how love and loss and home shape each of us.
The characters are well-drawn, quirky, and, at the same time, endearing. It’s a story of love, of hope, of dreams. It’s a tale of kindness and truth, elegant, simplistic, and complex. Readers are sure to find much to treasure here.
Recommended.
I received a copy of this eBook from Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley
#WhatYouCanSeeFromHere #NetGalley
When Selma dreams of an okapi, someone is on the verge of death. While insisting they are not superstitious, the villagers worry about secrets kept and decisions yet to come . . . in case they are the one that is to become the victim of the dream-okapi.
Luisa,
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Selma’s ten-year-old granddaughter, watches as they begin to act strangely as they grapple with huge questions: ending a marriage; confessing of a long-held love. And when death comes, it isn’t at all what anyone feared . . . or expected.This generational story reveals the inner workings of family, looking at the things that define people and lives, considering the big questions and the quiet moments. The story of this small west German village is bittersweet in its recounting of the eccentricities of the people. It’s the story of how people find their way in the world, learning how love and loss and home shape each of us.
The characters are well-drawn, quirky, and, at the same time, endearing. It’s a story of love, of hope, of dreams. It’s a tale of kindness and truth, elegant, simplistic, and complex. Readers are sure to find much to treasure here.
Recommended.
I received a copy of this eBook from Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley
#WhatYouCanSeeFromHere #NetGalley
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LibraryThing member gpangel
What you can see from here by Mariana Leky is a 2021 Farrar, Straus and Giroux publication.
A quaint, touching story-
Luise, due to the rather unusual situation with her parents, is mostly raised by her grandmother, Selma. Selma has the rather strange strait of dreaming about Okapi, an animal that
When Luise was ten years old, Selma has one of her dreams, which puts the entire community on edge. Just when everyone breathes a sigh of relief, the unimaginable happens.
In the days and years to come, as Luise grows older, she must grapple with the big questions of life- grief, love- both familial and romantic- as she observes, and listens to those surrounding her, finding contentment in her surroundings, while pondering adventures outside of her comfort zone.
This is certainly an offbeat little story. As I understand it, this book was very popular abroad and has been translated from its original German language. The story doesn’t flow in the way I am accustomed, leaping over large gaps in time. It is a little jarring, truth be told, but these wacky characters are so charming, I couldn’t help but fall under their spell.
The book has some Buddhist themes, and though I’m not invested in those teachings, the story doesn’t hinge on that. It is ultimately a story of life- and the attitude in which one approaches it. Pain and loss are unavoidable and is something that can’t be handled any one particular way- but must be accepted as a part of life. There are some genuinely funny segments in the book and the story was wonderfully tender and heartwarming, overall.
This is another offbeat book I’ve stumbled across this month that might not hit everyone the same way, but I thought it was a delightful story and truly enjoyed it.
A quaint, touching story-
Luise, due to the rather unusual situation with her parents, is mostly raised by her grandmother, Selma. Selma has the rather strange strait of dreaming about Okapi, an animal that
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closely resembles a Zebra. When Selma has one of these dreams, it unfortunately signals pending death -within a 24 hour time span. When Luise was ten years old, Selma has one of her dreams, which puts the entire community on edge. Just when everyone breathes a sigh of relief, the unimaginable happens.
In the days and years to come, as Luise grows older, she must grapple with the big questions of life- grief, love- both familial and romantic- as she observes, and listens to those surrounding her, finding contentment in her surroundings, while pondering adventures outside of her comfort zone.
This is certainly an offbeat little story. As I understand it, this book was very popular abroad and has been translated from its original German language. The story doesn’t flow in the way I am accustomed, leaping over large gaps in time. It is a little jarring, truth be told, but these wacky characters are so charming, I couldn’t help but fall under their spell.
The book has some Buddhist themes, and though I’m not invested in those teachings, the story doesn’t hinge on that. It is ultimately a story of life- and the attitude in which one approaches it. Pain and loss are unavoidable and is something that can’t be handled any one particular way- but must be accepted as a part of life. There are some genuinely funny segments in the book and the story was wonderfully tender and heartwarming, overall.
This is another offbeat book I’ve stumbled across this month that might not hit everyone the same way, but I thought it was a delightful story and truly enjoyed it.
Show Less