“The Art of Hearing Heartbeats”
Jan-Philipp Sendker
translated from the German
by Kelvin Wiliarty (Other Press – 2012)
This novel has been translated in 25 countries and is considered as an international bestseller.
Julia, a young modern woman of our time, immerses herself in the story of her father’s youth while trying to find him in Burma where he probably disappeared some years ago. Her search leads her to learn how two “different” persons met and loved each other, Tin Win, who had become blind after her mother left him, and Mi Mi, born with crippled feet.
These two persons whom life has not spared will demonstrate an extraordinary power of love which commands admiration and respect.
“I have often wondered what was the source of her beauty, her radiance. It’s not the size of one’s nose, the color of one’s skin, the shape of one’s lips or eyes that make one beautiful or ugly. So what is it? Can you, as a woman, tell me? ” I shook my head. “I will tell you: It’s love. Love makes us beautiful. Do you know a single person who loves and is loved, who is loved unconditionally and who, at the same time, is ugly? There’s no need to ponder the question. There is no such person.”
Gradually Julia will open her eyes to a spiritual universe she did not suspect to exist. The reader will also be the privileged witness.
The author Jan-Philipp Sendker has written a sequel to this novel entitled “A well-tempered heart” in which Julia returns to Burma, the homeland of her father, ten years later.
No doubt, the reading of this novel 
Read to Heal 