Cover Image: What You Can See from Here

What You Can See from Here

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Member Reviews

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

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This isn't my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it. It's a beautiful coming of age story spanning years, following the protagonist as she grows.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for my copy of What You Can from Here by Mariana Leky in exchange for an honest review. It published June 22, 2021.
This was such an interesting book. I had a hard time understanding what was going on at first, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. I wish I could live in this little village among this fun cast of characters! Plus, I learned a lot about okapis!

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This is a short and charming novel. I doubt I ever would have read it if it wasn't recommended by someone on NetGalley. I enjoyed the young narrator and her outlook on life after loss, and the respect she had for her older family members (and community). The story could be summed up as how humans react to loss of life. Each of the delightful characters approached it differently, but we can learn something from each of them. It's really difficult to review beyond that.

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I liked the premise of this book, but maybe I read it at the wrong time. Was not able to get into it and it felt a little too long for me. Disappointing.

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Had a tough time following this book and investing in the characters. Made it about 50% of the way through and gave up on it.

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This was unexpected and also so enjoyable. The writing was good, the characters well imagined, and it falls into a category I love—quiet, character driven and cozy. This was an excellent December read for me for these reasons, and I will recommend that our store pick up a few copies of this as we missed it when it was originally released.

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Perhaps something was lost in translation, or this was not the right book for me at this time, but I didn’t connect to this. Finally looked up what an okapi was. Didn’t realize it was an animal.

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This is definitely a unique read for me. The characters are unusual and quirky but the author has definitely done a great job in bringing them to life. The first part of the book was a little slow, but by about 40% in, things shift and you can’t put the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM HERE is a beautiful coming of age fairy tale with a strong sense of community and a highly recommended read.

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This is one of those books that you feel unsure about at first, but quickly come to discover that it is a book/story that pulls you into it. The story itself is devided into three parts beginning with Grandmother Selma having a dream that means someone is going to die. The small German community where her family lives is like other small communities where everyone knows everyone else's business but cares and loves deeply their neighbors and friends....and this dream upsets them all. The story then follows granddaughter Luisa's life as she grows, matures, and sets out about her own life. The book covers a range of emotions and the reader will soon become a part of the story and the characters as they carry us with them on their journey. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #WhatYouCanSeeFromHere #NetGalley.

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First of all, I would like to thank the editor and Netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for writing a review. After receiving it, I found out the book was published in Brazil (where I Live) in 2019 and I already had it. The title here is "The day Selma dreamed of an okapi", very different from the title in deutch and in english.
 
Actually, it´s a book about love. Selma dreamed of an okapi, and the last two times she did that, someone died. So I thought it was going to be a sad story, about deaths and mourning. And inevitably the first part of the book deals with this two aspects, as inevitably someone dies after the dream.

But then the story turns to Luise, Selma's 10 year old granddaughter, and that's when all the love comes by. It's about her filial love and bond with Selma, who takes care of her, and the difficult relationship with her parents, who are not so close; the oculist, who nearly adopted Luise and is so caring and present; the friendship that bonds all the citizen of the village, and is crucial to them to survive. 

I loved it! The characters feel like real people, and it's a warm heartfelt story that did so good to me. I highly recommend it!

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Mariana Leky was a new to me author, I loved What you can see from here!! I was not sure what to expect since i picked the book based on the cover, :) I have to say i loved it and Mariana has a place on my author TBR pile!!!!

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I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

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DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

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If you are a fan of quirky characters, unusual stories, and how people are better together then this book is for you. I wasn't quite sure what to expected when I started this book but I instantly fell in love with the characters in this small village in Germany. Louisa is a young child at the start of the story and her best friend is Martin. Louisa spends the majority of the time with her grandma, Selma. Louisa's mom is a minor character in the story and her father decides to travel the world and leave Louisa and her mother/his wife behind.

I would love to quote many different lines from this book but I think it would be better discovered on your own.

This book might not be for everyone but I loved it. Leky has a unique way of describing her characters, their surroundings and their actions. Often, I thought "why didn't I think of that description?". Even though this is not a funny book, I frequently found myself chuckling.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. The only reason that I did not give this book 5 stars was that I felt the ending was weak. The book was so good and flowed so well that I was disappointed in how it all wrapped up. I wasn't disappointed in how the story ended but in how it was presented.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I will definitely be on the lookout for future releases from Leky

Note: I did listen to this audiobook. I think the narrator added an extra level to the story with her German accent and pronunciations.

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This book was originally published in German a few years ago and now have an English translation. The setting is in a small village, with its share of quirky characters. The main character is Luisa, young for the first part of the book and then around 15 years later, grown yet still young. book. She experiences childhood trauma with her best friend, Martin, whom she knew she’d marry, ends up in a tragic accident. Luisa’s father travels around the world more than is at home, but he bought a dog they end up naming Alaska. Her grandmother seems to be the one who is more the center of her world than her parents. Also, the optician, who is secretly (not so secretly) in love with her grandmother.

Despite the difficulties the characters face the book is more focused on love, and some of the unusual ways that it ends up being expressed. There is a light-heartedness in this book, that makes you think no matter the difficulties or what happens, it can be overcome. This was an enjoyable read, and fans of Frederick Backman will likely enjoy this book as well.

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I don't even know what to think about this book. The way it was written confused my brain and it was really hard to follow. I'd love to give it another chance someday soon though. Maybe to read it instead of listen to it as an audiobook. Sometimes, books are better read than listened to.

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This mystical and magical tale about a close-knit, small town in Germany was beautifully written by Mariana Leky. It took me awhile to get into the story because this isn't my usually genre to read, but then I was captured into their world. The depth of the characters and descriptive setting allowed mw to picture their journey through love and loss. If you enjoy reading about superstitions and dreams coming in fruition, then add this to your list.

Three generations of women are grappling with their love life and loss as they interact with their friends and neighbors. I really enjoyed the grandmother's story and her granddaughter the most.

Thank you NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

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I adored this book! Brilliant and wise, haunted and moving yet light and fun! Ever find a book you loved so much that when you finished it, you wanted to circle right back to the start? That's what it did for me. Fabulous, simply stunning!

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