On the train ride to Montreal I read this book in one sitting. Momo is an absolutely perfect, brilliant book. It's by German author Michael Ende who is best known for writing 'The Neverending Story'. This story is also a fantasy tale using fantasy elements to talk about important things in mundane life, in this case the value of time and the dangers of consumerism. I was shocked when I discovered this book was written in 1973 because it seems to be about today.The story is about a girl called Momo who moves into some old ruins near an town in Italy. She befriends the people in the town but everything goes wrong when mysterious agents start visiting the town and people start to change for the worse.
This book has never done well in the North American children's market most likely because it's so dark and sophisticated. If it was released now I think it would do extremely well.
It has been called "one of the most remarkable novels of the late twentieth century"
and I'd have to agree.
Thanks so much to the wonderful Julia Schukel for insisting I read this book. You have amazing taste Julia!
