Reading with Petra Pellini

**Petra Pellini** tells the story in her *Spiegel* bestseller **"The Lifeguard Without a Sky"** with warmth and humor about growing up and forgetting—and about a unique friendship between a 15-year-old girl who has lost the will to live and her 86-year-old neighbor, who has dementia. Pellini presents her highly acclaimed novel “Der Bademeister ohne Himmel,” in which she tackles the serious topic of dementia with warmth and lightness. The story centers on the melancholic fifteen-year-old Linda, who keeps her 86-year-old neighbor Hubert company for a few euros. The former lifeguard at the Bregenz beach resort suffers from progressive dementia, and his increasing decline reveals moments that are sometimes whimsical and cheerful, but also deeply sad. With sensitivity and humor, Linda confronts Hubert’s increasing decline and, in the process, rediscovers life. Petra Pellini gently offers a glimpse into the inner lives of captivatingly drawn characters, lightening the subject matter so that the novel is read with empathy, laughter, and tears. The author herself worked for many years caring for people with dementia and lives and works in Bregenz. “Der Bademeister ohne Himmel” remained on the Spiegel bestseller list for weeks and was awarded the Vorarlberg Literature Prize. Pellini offers us “a deep look into the inner lives of captivatingly drawn characters, complete with their endearing and quirky quirks. Pellini tells her story with tenderness and insight. The result is a wonderful and worldly-wise novel—haunting, quiet, yet expressive. One hopes the book finds a wide readership.” (Katja Lohoff) Ticket reservations can be made at the Pfullendorf City Library by phone at (07552) 251200, or by email ([buecherei@stadt-pfullendorf.de](mailto:buecherei@stadt-pfullendorf.de)).