Eu realmente não tenho palavras para isso que acabei de ler. Acho que nunca chorei tanto na reta final de um livro. Meu Deus.
https://www.planocritico.com/critica-o-dia-em-que-selma-sonhou-com-um-ocapi-de-m... ( )

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 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. ( )

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 ( )

Tra le letture di quest'anno (e questa è presumibilmente una delle ultime) questa è la più bella.

Una sorpresa visto che l'ho iniziato senza avere idea nè di chi fosse l'autrice nè di che trattasse il racconto.

E una sorpresa vorrei rimanesse per chi lo leggerà perché ogni descrizione sminuirebbe l'intensità del racconto.

Vi dico quindi ciò che non è:
non è un giallo
non è un romanzo storico
non è un romanzo d'amore
non è un saggio
non è un romanzo che crea suspense
non è trash
non è sdolcinato

L'unico aggettivo/indizio che vi lascio è: delizioso.

Ma non sarebbe l'unico.

Vi prego, fatemi sapere cosa ne pensate se lo leggerete.
( )

Luise wächst im Westerwald auf. Ihr Vater kommt als Weitreisender nur fallweise zu Besuch, ihre Mutter betrügt ihn mit einem Eisdielenbesitzer. Ihre vom Rheuma geplagte Großmutter Selma wird heimlich vom Optiker begehrt, der sich seine Liebe nicht zu gestehen getraut. Selma träumt manchmal von einem Okapi und unglücklicherweise ist dies ein böses Omen: Nach jedem derartigen Traum verstirbt ein Dorfbewohner. Weiters pflegt Luise Beziehungen zum dem Alkohol verfallenen Palm, seinem Sohn Martin, der davon träumt ein berühmter Gewichtheber zu werden, zur abegläubischen Elsbeth und der griesgramigen Marlies.

Was chaotisch klingt wurde von Mariana Leky auf magische Weise zusammengesetzt. Die Autorin hat ein buntes Sammelsurium an schrulligen und etwas aus der Art gefallenen Dorfbewohnern geschaffen. "Was man von hier aus sehen kann" schildert das Leben und die Beziehungen dieser Dorfgemeinschaft über Jahrzehnte auf äußerst liebevolle Art.

Mit Lekys Protagonisten begibt sich der Leser auf eine Gefühlsachterbahnfahrt, der Autorin gelingt es meisterhaft eine Bindung zwischen den liebenswerten Figuren und dem Leser zu schaffen. Leky vermittelt mit viel Humor große Gefühle und hat so ein literarisches Meisterwerk geschaffen. ( )