Lovely. Sharp. Shocking. Dazzling. Clever. If you loved Michael Ende's other children's book, 'The Neverending Story', like I did, then check out the criminally-underrated 'Momo', as it provides a similar magical experience.
Really, with its theme of time and how much of it each human being has within themselves as they grow older - and how much of it can be taken away so we have no time for leisure activities and just turn into rushing, irritable, grey adults - it would fit a 'Doctor Who' episode beautifully. Maybe as a Christmas special.
Another important theme is friendship, and how much time and energy we spend with them for as long as we can before things change...
'Momo' has the ingredients of a classic, conventional children's fable or fairy tale. Except that it isn't so simple, as it is fundamentally about the concept of time. But the book is a vastly addictive read; it flows like it possesses its own little time bubble for readers to dive into. The plot moves steadily - beat-to-beat - like a ticking grandfather clock in a grand dome, with its bell about to strike at midnight towards the climax. Its atmosphere sings the universe-travelling music from Professor Hora's majestic hour-lillies.
Momo is an optimistic, poor orphaned heroine with no education or any sense of how society works - yet she has all the time in her little world to listen to everyone around her and go wherever she wants to, whenever. Supporting characters such as Guido, Beppo and the child friends of Momo are also memorable and charismatic. (Guido's stories are wonderfully imaginative, even if he himself is very eccentric and self-centred).
Then, outside of "normality", there's the master of time, the mentor called Professor Secundus Minutus Hora (great name), and perhaps my favourite character, Cassiopeia the tortoise, whose slow-moving pace and simple answers on her shell are maybe what the world needs right now.
Like every good fable, 'Momo' begins with the world being happy and uncomplicated for the hero. Then darkness lurks, disturbing and penetrating the normal way of life. At around the middle of the story, despair threatens to take over completely, and the hero is at her lowest, loneliest point. But there is always a glimmer of hope that grows within her, and she resolves never to give up on her quest to defeat the darkness and save the world. At the end she returns to her old way of life; more brave, knowledgeable and resourceful than before.
Thank you, dear 'Momo'. Now I know there's no doubt that Michael Ende was a storytelling genius. He used his imagination to the fullest, and was well aware of what happens to anyone who loses touch with it. People lose a part of themselves otherwise, and, poignantly, they forget about the innocence of childhood. They forget what it's like to have fun and play and dream, because they "have no time" for any of that anymore. They become pale. Lifeless.
I'm very much surprised 'Momo' isn't more well-known. As well as being a charming little fantasy, it contains essential messages about how life isn't to be rushed, for no matter how much time is saved, more time and other things are lost as well. You'll not be satisfied with anything. Like a well-made animated movie, 'Momo' teaches us how necessary it is that we stop and make time for loved ones and to smell the blossoms. To recognise how beautiful the world is without so many narrow, artificial, industrial, materialistic and self-indulgent constraints which threaten to poison how we live. And how we feel about living.
Darkness in the light in stories never hurt anyone.
This is a perfect gift for children and even adults for the holidays.
Merry Christmas.
Final Score: 5/5
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