Mariana Leky's "What you can see from here" starts in the cinema: This book will make you happy!

Created: 12/29/2022, 3:17 p.m

By: Katja Kraft

"Writing wisely is something different than living wisely," says Mariana Leky.

The bestselling author succeeds in her works, all the everyday worries.

© A-way!/Sabina Spoettel

Mariana Leky's "What you can see from here" starts in the cinema.

Read this book if you want to make yourself and others happy.

And all the other Leky works.

A conversation with the bestselling author about the search for happiness.

And here it is, the perfect gift.

If you want to make your loved ones happy, you can now hop into the bookshop around the corner and buy Mariana Leky's "Kummer aller Kind".

It came out in the summer, this collection of loosely connected stories about all the stupid thoughts you have in everyday life;

to things that, when Mariana Leky describes them, suddenly no longer seem as threatening as the nasty inner voices crackle claim.

Appropriately enough, the stories from "Kummer aller Kind" have previously appeared as columns in the magazine "Psychologie heute".

Reading Mariana Leky is like a very effective hour of psychotherapy.

As if the 49-year-old would come into the totally chaotic room, open the window, stand up in front of you and the self-pity in whose arms you are lying so comfortably and command: "Get up!"

Mariana Leky comes from a psychologist household

Maybe it's her childhood home.

Born in Cologne in 1973, father a psychoanalyst, mother a psychotherapist.

When Leky tells this, she seems to be able to read her conversation partner's thoughts: "It's not as bad as you imagine," she says, laughing.

"Analysts are exhausted when their work is done and have no energy left to constantly analyze their own family." But of course she noticed what the needs of her parents' patients were.

"That's probably why I've always had an interest in people who are built a little wrong in life, as Joachim Ringelnatz put it so beautifully."

Even so, studying psychology was out of the question for her.

“You have to be able to distinguish yourself very well, I would have always taken it all home with me.

I wasn't suited to be a therapist,” she believes.

And then it turned out somehow.

in her own way.

With her clever books, the author succeeds in gently plucking out the needles that prick our souls.

Aron Lehmann filmed "What you can see from here".

In 2004 her first novel "First Aid" was published, followed in 2017 by "What you can see from here".

Because on December 29, 2022, Aron Lehmann's film adaptation of the book will start in cinemas.

Lehmann also wrote the screenplay.

Didn't she want to do that herself?

"No, absolutely not," Leky emphasizes in her bright, friendly voice, which would go well with a very loving, very devoted kindergarten teacher who will have a big impact on life.

"Screenwriting is a very different art from writing prose," she explains.

“And it was important to me that my book is a box of materials that someone can use to create something completely new.

Without me constantly radioing in."

Now the film adaptation of Mariana Leky's novel "What you can see from here" is starting in the cinemas.

With (from left) Luna Wedler, Karl Markovics and Corinna Harfouch.

© WALTER_WEHNER

So the first viewing of the film was a surprise for her too.

Especially, of course, when it comes to the actors.

The book "What you can see from here" tells of a village community with very idiosyncratic residents, all of whom are special types.

In the center is the grandmother of the first-person narrator, Selma.

In the book template, Leky describes her as a female counterpart to Rudi Carrell.

She is now played by Corinna Harfouch.

She doesn't have anything from Carrell.

Isn't it difficult to see the figures you painted in your head come to life in a completely different way?

"I had to be prepared for that.

Just like the readers.

Everyone has their own imagination.

But I was able to let go and really see it as a work of art in its own right.” And she likes that.

The film invites you to read Mariana Leky's books

In any case, the film invites you to read the book (again).

And immerse yourself in this village where, despite some horrors, the world is fine.

Where there is a Selma who can be relied on with all her rituals and her pragmatic view of life.

Such characters appear frequently in Leky's books.

People who say very clever things in few words.

Give us comfort, motivate us, make us smile about our ridiculous doubts.

Is she herself just as smart and does she take the wisdom that pops up en passant in her books to heart?

Leky laughs her contagious smile – and the answer actually already lies in this smile.

"No.

Writing wisely is different from living wisely.” And that's very, very comforting.