Hinter dem Blau

The cheerful student Sunny is writing her thesis on the topic "The Joy of Life and the Weariness of Life: Suicide as a Cultural Phenomenon." What no one knows is that Sunny's childhood was overshadowed by a tragedy. When she was five years old, her manic-depressive father committed suicide. Twenty years after his act, she reviews her father's estate and for the first time engages deeply with his story and the motives behind his actions. What she discovers shocks Sunny, but it also helps her to forgive him. With determination, she tackles her future.

Every 40 seconds, someone takes their own life. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, yet it remains one of humanity's great taboos. In Germany, more and more people are seeking treatment for depression. Nevertheless, many choose to end their lives, with men particularly opting for this path. Families and friends are left behind. Alexa von Heyden's sensitively told memoir offers a poignant insight into a topic that is often silenced in our society, vividly portraying the fate of someone affected.

The Berlin author Alexa von Heyden has written a moving autobiographical novel about a great loss and the long journey back to life.