What You Can See from Here

“Charming . . . In her optimism and her playfulness, Leky aligns herself with other folklore enthusiasts like Helen Oyeyemi and Ali Smith . . . There is a satisfying spark to her short, declarative sentences; they induce reflection, and maybe even learning.”—Katherine Hill, The New York Times Book Review

“A phenomenon . . . A warm and curious book . . . its drama sprinkled with matter-of-fact magic . . . [It] uncovers sorrow, humor and companionship, a clear-eyed tonic in troubled times.”—James Smart, The Guardian

“Leky’s international bestseller—beautifully translated by Tess Lewis—is witty, generous and optimistic. Leky’s vision of the world might sound whimsical but there’s something bigger, more bittersweet at play here.”—Ben East, The Observer

“The charm of Mariana Leky’s novel shines . . . Life and death, love and loss are portrayed with affectionate absurdity . . . [This] bittersweet tale comes into its own, unassumingly captured in this sly, understated translation.”—Steven Carroll and Cameron Woodhead, The Sydney Morning Herald

“[A] whimsical love story . . . peopled by eccentric-but-endearing characters . . . There is enough candor and humor, along with a handful of bracingly moody characters, to make Leky’s vision of perpetual love compelling.”—Melissa Rodman, The Arts Fuse

“A tale of life, loss, and the limitless joy of love. Above all else, this book manages to achieve that rarest of literary feats: it makes you happy . . . A gift to be savored.”—Han Clark, Lunate

“[What You Can See from Here] is both funny and intensely moving, capturing the town’s memorable cast of characters, from superstitious Elsbeth to the lovesick, anxious optician. Leky’s novel is about the small phrases, moments, and memories that stick with us throughout our lives, and about finding despair, joy, and love in the smallest moments.”—Leah Rachel von Essen, BookRiot

“I loved this novel truly, madly, deeply. It has been a real darling of a book in Germany for readers across generations. 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 in What You Can See from Here.”—Nina George, bestselling 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. The cumulative effect of this wise storytelling is colossal. 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. What You Can See from Here is exactly the kind of novel I am ever hoping to discover.”—Juliet Grames, author of The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

“A small treasure. This is no ordinary novel . . . [with] highly poetic yet unpretentious language . . . and affectionately depicted, peculiar characters. The final chapter did, in fact, bring tears to my eyes. I strongly recommend this novel to anyone interested in literature.”—Benedict Wells, author of The End of Loneliness

“On finishing What You Can See from Here, I was bereft. I dare you to try to read this book slowly. 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 [Mariana Leky's] spell . . . Infectious . . . generous and funny . . . We leave [her] world knowing that every ordinary day holds the potential for something wonderful.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Populated by quirky characters who learn there is no way to truly prepare for death or grief, Leky's novel is for those who enjoy laconic, introspective reads.”—Booklist