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, 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

This is a quirky book but it was a joy to read. It is hard to summarize and I don't want to repeat the book description because the book description does not do it justice.. Selma, Luise,, the Optician, the Buddhist monk, and few more people and Alaska make an interesting tale. They are all loveable by the end and you really feel their emotions. I enjoyed that it was set in Western Germany which is a different location than I usually find. You could feel the vibes from the small villages and the forest.

I would like to thank #NetGalley for this book. I hope you enjoy this book by #MarianaLeky which will be available in the US on June 22nd, 2021.

This is a great read!
Reading this felt like being in another world entirely, a page turner that sets one on the edge. You can't even tell what's gonna happen next.
What I love most about this book is the flow, it started when a girl was little and ended when she was a full adult, every stage of her life was detailed.
The ability to feel the growth with her made this novel top notch, i felt carried along in every step of the way and it was fun!

Oh my! This one will stick with me. What You Can See From Here is quirky charming. The book is filled with characters you follow for a lifetime. The kind of characters you miss when you finish the book. I had a lump in my throat while laughing a lot and wanted to highlight half of the book. Part one is a little slow, but it builds the rest of the book that moves along as a good pace. The cover is much much better for the original German version!

This is a little Fredrik Backman with a little Alice Hoffman. Super happy I read it and trusted the reviews!

First, let me say I don’t sit and read many books. Instead I listen to 3 or 4 audiobooks a week. This book, however, grabbed me and held on until I finished reading it in a day and a half. I ate, slept and read until I was able to finish it.

This book is beautifully and thoughtfully written. The characters are well developed and delightfully quirky, and I liked them. The setting in a small village in Germany was vividly described.

The story centers on Selma and her granddaughter Luisa. Selma seems to be the village matron, a friend to everyone and the most stable figure in Luisa’s life. Most of the villagers are searching for something, and they interact in a way to support each other, mostly with compassion and wisdom. Each character has a flaw - a desperate desire to wander, an inability to express one’s feelings, a failure to act in a situation that could change their life or a desperate and never-ending sadness - but they don’t totally desert each other, and each character finds his or her way in the end.

I highly recommend this book. It isn’t action packed or gripping, but it is sweet and wise. In this time of turmoil and isolation, the characters will warm your heart and leave you smiling.

This book is thoughtful and interesting, but also abrupt and jarring. It was going along in quite an entertaining way, and then something very unexpected happened...after which we are jumped into some undefined time in the future. That I did not enjoy, but might have been okay had I had some idea of how the structure of the book worked. That said, the writing is really lovely, funny at times. The people are sad and wonderful in the way that feels very real. Too real, perhaps. Not a book I’d revisit, but a good choice for anyone looking for a read that feels like a rainy day. Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My friend recommended this book to me and from the first sentence I was hooked. The book is starts with a grandmother's dream, which foretells that someone will die. From there it introduces you to the strong and strange characters that you will share experiences with and suffering along side of. At times you want to cry but you definitely will laugh out loud too. I hated finishing this magical book.

What You Can See From Here by Mariana Leky was a hard start for me, as I got hung up on the absurdity. But what began as a rough start quickly became smooth sailing as the author’s clear pure story telling swept me into the bosom of life in a West German Village. Grandmother Selma had a dream about an okapi, a sure sign that someone would die in the next 24 hours. The okapi dream is only one of the many superstitions we learn about as we meet the quirky, colorful residents. Luisa, Selma’s Granddaughter, is 10 when the story starts, and grows to adulthood throughout the novel. The residents all have something they need to say or do, and are holding back on executing their plans, to stay or go, to give voice to feelings or not, etc. Everyone seems to know everyone else’s most intimate thoughts and concerns. There are several beautiful love stories, at several stages of life. I enjoyed the characters very much, but my favorite part was reading about all the superstitions. So much felt so real to me that I found myself googling places and events. I only wish I could read this in the original language. It was definitely a good book to give yourself over to and let it swallow you up! Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
#OkapiDreams #NetGalley

I enjoyed this book until I didn’t. I was pulled right into the story and was intrigued with the characters. Then I lost interest. I read a lot of books and a tell tale sign for me that it is time to move on is when I find a haven’t read in a few days and I realize is because I simply don’t want to finish the book I am currently reading.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

This is a translated book from German. It is a story of twenty years in the life of a girl living in a small town, her grandmother, friends, family, and a Buddhist monk. This story is heartbreaking at times, but so well done. I couldn't put the book down. There was love, sadness, death, quirky characters, and big, mangy dog which all added to it's charm. It is a real life story with just a slight touch of magical realism to make it complete.

I highly recommend this book.

I loved this quirky book! I'm not sure I fully understood it, but I found it hard to put down and occasionally funny and occasionally sad. Young Luisa is practically raised by her grandmother Selma, since her flaky dad travels the world and her mother is too absorbed in her own life. Selma, who was widowed long ago, is loved by the village optician, and the two of them become the rocks in Luisa's life, supporting her through childhood grief, abandonment, and grown-up love.

This summary makes it sound like a normal story, but it really isn't at all! In a funny way it reminded me of Louise Penny's STILL LIFE--a village of quirky characters who form a community. Throw in some Buddhism, lots of sight/blindness metaphors and themes, and one dog that never dies, and you have WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM HERE.

Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity to review this book!

When Selma dreams of an okapi, someone dies within 24 hours. The entire village waits and wonders who it will be. Selma's granddaughter, Luise, watches how everyone reacts while waiting. The story encompasses Luise's life from childhood into adulthood.

This was an odd book, but all the elements worked together seamlessly to craft a quirky story of an eclectic group of characters living in small town Germany. I picked it up because I was curious to read a story set in Westerwald (I know, a very specific interest), but beyond that, I had no idea what I was getting into. I honestly don't think the description does it justice. An honest summary of the story would be something along the lines of "A quirky story of small town Germany, where you meet a bunch of quirky characters whose lives intersect in different ways over the years, exhibiting stories of love, family, grief, loss, and friendship." However, this itself also doesn't do the story justice. It's Mariana Leky's writing genius that drives the story. Her ability to immerse you as the reader into the setting and lives of these characters is really impressive. The characters really came the life, and the town felt so vibrant. I felt quite sad letting them go when it was over.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. It was hard to follow and I got about 50% through it none of it made sense to me.

At first, I thought, "Is this some kind of joke?" I was sure I was not going to finish this book. I went to the reviews to see what other readers thought, but they were all in German! Boy, was I surprised to find just how much I would love it; I hated to put it down. In some ways it reminded me of something I would write about my own childhood (or the way I would write it, at least), and it was just fascinating to get to know the common, albeit a little boring, townspeople.

My only negative thought after finishing was that I didn't understand the ending. Maybe some day I'll find a review in English. 😁

In a small village in western Germany, a 60-year-old grandmother dreams of an okapi, and the next day, the entire village is up in arms. What is an okapi, and why is everyone so upset? An okapi is a mammal that was discovered in the Congo in the early 20th Century. It is also known as the forest giraffe or zebra giraffe, because it rather looks like a cross between a zebra and a giraffe. Selma had never seen an opaki, except in her dreams. Three times previously when she had dreamed of opakis, someone had died within the next 24 hours. No wonder everyone panicked! This is how Mariana Leky’s novel, What You Can See From Here begins; I read in English, translated from the original German by Tess Lewis.

Part One was slow going for me. The characters are introduced: along with Selma, who is never referred to as “Mother,” by her son, or “Grandmother,” by her granddaughter Luise, who is 10 at the time. Luise, or Luisa, as her family calls her has a best friend, Martin. His father is Palm. Palm is a heavy drinker and is not a nice man. Luisa’s parents are mostly uninvolved in her life. Her father sees a therapist and mostly wants to talk about his therapy. Her mother runs a flower shop, is late for everything, and constantly debates whether she should leave her husband. The bond between Luisa and Selma is wonderful. Another positive adult presence is the optician. He is never named. Everyone refers to him as “the optician.” Everyone in the entire village knows that he is in love with Selma. Everyone but Selma, that is. Then there is Selma’s sister Elspeth. Elspeth puts the “super” in superstitious. Finally, there’s the town grump, Marlies, who does not want to be bothered by anyone. It’s not stated, but most likely, Marlies suffers from severe depression. Still, people care about her. Oh, and a smelly, lovable old mutt named Alaska. All of Part One is devoted to these folks, life in this little town, and the buzz about who might be the one to die. All of this is told through Luisa’s perspective.

I actually missed it. Someone dies.

I had read several pages into Part Two when the person was named, and I had to go back and reread it. I was so sad, and the description of the effect of some of the characters was heartbreaking. Then suddenly, the narrative shifts ahead, and Luisa is now a young adult. At about 40 percent, my interest grew significantly, and at about 80%, it hit me – this book felt rather Fredrik Backmanesque. It was reminiscent of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry and Britt-Marie Was Here, even Anxious People. In other reviews I have read, this story has been described as “quirky,” and that was my first descriptor, too.

Did it bother me that some of the characters were sort of one-dimensional? Not particularly. I focused primarily on Selma, the optician, and Luisa. Luisa, because she tells the story, comes under the most scrutiny. She isn’t particularly introspective. Life just happens to her, for the most part. She doesn’t go searching for adventure or relationships – much. Until Frederick. Frederick is a German Buddhist monk from Japan. No future there, right? Seems like an implausible friendship, doesn’t it?

Much about this book seems implausible, and maybe that’s the beauty of it. By the end, I was crying. I was smiling. I was taking deep breaths, just trying to take it all in. I’m not sure it’s as masterful as any of Mr. Backman’s books, but there are moments. Moments of insight, like how you shouldn’t be overwhelmed by a goodbye, because as long as someone is still alive, that goodbye is still negotiable. There is love in many forms. Love given and received, unrequited love, the joyful love of Alaska for his person...Still, What You Can See From Here doesn’t take itself too seriously. Stereotypes, to be sure. Opakis and other superstitions. It’s a charming little book, one that I really came to enjoy.

My thanks to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and the author for the ARC copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

4 stars

NOTE: I received early access to this book through NetGalley in exchange for writing an impartial review. Originally published in 2017 in German, it has now been translated into English by Tess Lewis with a scheduled publication date of June 22, 2021.

What a completely delightful read! While I find it hard to describe what exactly makes this novel so enjoyable, let me say that it feels like Mariana Leky's style combines some of the best qualities of Jane Austen with Fredrik Backman. Like Austen, it’s a study of small town life, where not much happens, but somehow everything ordinary people do everyday is full of drama. And like Backman (Austen too), there is SO MUCH humor woven into the narrative. Almost as though the book is reminding us NOT to take our lives too seriously. This is a book where the author's unique style enhances the story.

At the start of the book, the central protagonist, Luisa, and her best friend Martin are inseparable. Luisa’s parents do not give her the attention she deserves. Fortunately, her widowed grandmother Selma (whose dreams also predict the future) provides all the security and love Luisa could want. There are other meaningful relationships — with the reclusive Marlies, the superstitious Elsbeth, the remote hunter (and Martin's father) Palm, the ever attentive village optician, Dietrich, the bookshop owner, Mr. Rodder, even a psychotherapist, Dr. Maschke. Later, a Buddhist monk named Frederik joins in.

As years pass, these characters support each other through tragedies, separations, secrets, attempted murder, and love affairs... while accepting each other’s quirks and foibles. So that the book becomes a lovely tale of how much we can all offer one another, when we don't let personal judgements get in the way.

It's a very enjoyable book, full of love, and I recommend it to everyone. And I look forward to more books by Mariana Leky.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

What an incredible book! We travel to a small village in Germany to meet Luisa, the main character, beginning with her childhood. Luisa’s grandmother, Selma, has dreamt of an okapi, an omen that in the past meant someone will soon die. Fearing it could be them, the villagers unburden themselves of long-buried secrets and examine their lives a bit more closely. The tragic death that comes changes Luisa and the village, and as we follow Luisa into adulthood, we are treated to glimpses into their lives, their hearts and their minds.

The main theme of this book is human connection, and all that goes along with it. It is an exploration of the bracket between life and death, and all the varieties of love in between those brackets. There is love for your neighbor (even in trying circumstances), familial love (especially in trying circumstances), first love, reluctant love, late love, lost love and unrequited love.

If you start this book, don’t give up. At first, I thought there doesn’t seem to be a plot and the story just isn’t going anywhere. And it’s true, there isn’t an actual plot. Just like the real-life bracket between life and death. But at some point, the exquisite writing somehow wraps around your heart and slowly and magically grabs you, drawing you into the lives and hearts of each of the characters.

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A quite bizarre and fun book with characters that you will adore for having their own back story. Even the dog has one! This one is really a unique book. at first glance, your eyes would not dare to read it but when you do start reading it, you will soon start to see the wonders this book has.
It starts with Selma`s dream. She had dreamt of an Okapi, an animal that I had just know of. An animal that looks like a zebra but a giraffe, and when she does it means that death is coming. Someone in their village at German Westerwald will die. The villagers respect this premonition for it has already happened a couple of times. Every time Selma had this dream there is going to be a dead person the next following day. They do not know what time of the day nor the person who`s going to be dead. All they know is that someone will be spending her/his last day.
I think I can only share this far for if I share the next thing that happens is also like spoiling the story itself. What I can guarantee is that this book is wonderful. It will give you the perspective of love and life that makes us human. The perspective of how a person values life. Some are afraid, some have told their secrets, some had suddenly gained the courage to tell someone they love them, and some wish that they are the one whose life is going to end soon.
Reading the synopsis did not give me any thought like this book is going to be bad or good. it kind of gave a neutral feeling and I am glad it did. Because that did not give me false hope or something to look after. I appreciated and start liking it when I also start reading. It was as if it was magical. It has a good story and characters to look after.

I should not have even started this book and perhaps should have given it more of a chance. I was not really very far into the book before I decided it was not the heartwarming tale it was touted to be. It was making absolutely no sense to me and was full of superstition that I have no patience for. It was not finished so I really cannot write a review. Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance!