I just finished reading the book for the third time in my life and it is such a gem.
It seems as if not too many people know about this book, that has been written by the author of “The Neverending Story”, and I truly wish that more people, especially adults, read this book.
It was written with the intent of being a children’s book but I think that only as an adult one can truly understand the book and its message(s) in their entirety.
I struggled to write a summary without spoiling too much, so I am going to insert a nicely written synopsis that I found on an [online blog](https://blog.mugglenet.com/2013/01/book-review-momo-by-michael-ende/).
” Momo is the name of a little girl who has no parents or guardian. She does not go to school. She does not live in an orphanage or foster home. In fact, Momo lives in the space under the stage of an old, ruined amphitheatre outside an unnamed Italian city. Her only food and home furnishings are things other people have brought her. And all she gives them in return is a listening ear. But that is enough. Momo is so good at listening that it almost qualifies as a magical gift. Grown-ups come to her, pouring out their problems and their conflicts, and – without Momo saying a word – go away knowing what they have to do. Boys and girls come to Momo’s amphitheatre to play, knowing that each game they invent while Momo is there will be better than the last.
But then the gray men come, men with gray cars, gray suits, gray briefcases, and gray cigars. The gray men are time thieves, swindling the good folk of Momo’s city – man, woman, and child – out of all their time for rest, joy, imagination, and friendship, and leaving them with nothing but hustle and bustle, worry and crabbiness. When Momo’s listening skills enable her to see through – I mean hear through – the gray men’s scheme, she becomes their enemy in a conflict that could save or destroy time itself, and all life with it.”
​
This book is a gem. It’s heartwarming and philosophical, its characters are fleshed out wonderfully and it has an original storyline that (as an adult) makes you rethink the life you are living.
Please give it a try 🙂
by livingstudent20
25 Comments
You’ve got me intrigued! Sounds right up my alley, I’ll give it a try 🙂
Can’t wait to read this!! 🤩
Thank you for reminding me of this book. I read Momo about 40 years ago and your synopsis took me right back to how I felt reading it as a child and how immersed I was in the story.
It’s been on my TBR list for a while. Thanks for posting, you nudged me and I just ordered a copy from thriftbooks. Sounds like a delight.
I’ve loved this one since I was a kid. I’m glad that more people are getting the opportunity to meet Momo
Just added it to shelf, thanks for the rec!
Got me interested, but I can’t find an English Audiobook on Audible.
Ah, Momo! She’s an old, old friend of mine and I frequently revisit her.
Thank you for sharing! <3
I loved that book as child and read it so many times. Now you got me so nostalgic I have to see where I can find it again. And see how it feels to read it as a grown-up.
I read this years ago and it is still one of my favourite books!
I picked it up when I reread Neverending Story as an adult and was perplexed at the wisdom at the heart of that book. I haven’t read Momo yet, so without spoilers, does it live up to Neverending Story?
Was the first film I watched at the cinema, love the book, some really great lines that have stuck with me all my life, especially the one about the street seeming endless if you try to take it in all at once
This sounds good. I’m definitely going to read it.
My dad read this to me when i was a child and i think I also watched a tv show. Maybe I‘ll read it for myself
It’s an excellent book. I read it in German as to develop my reading skills and loved it. If anyone is learning German, I would suggest around the B1/B2 level. My daughter also read it for school, about age 9/10 at the time. I’m sure the English translation is quite good. There’s a wonderful long riddle that most kids (and adults love).
BTW Michael Ende also wrote The Neverending Story. Also very good.
Oh I LOVE this book! I haven’t read it in sig many years, need to reread it
Man, I haven’t read that in 30 years. I think I will look for it next time i visit my parents home.
I know I read this book about 20 years ago.
I can’t recall a single thing about it. Nada. Zero. Niente.
Always meant to read this. It just moved up the list.
Thank you for sharing! You have inspired me and I will read both books!
English version doesn’t seem to be available on Kindle.???
It is one of my favourite books forever. Reread it recently and somehow it is even better than when I read it last time.
We named our kitten Momo because of the book.
“It was written with the intent of being a children’s book but I think that only as an adult one can truly understand the book and its message(s) in their entirety. “
I heard an interview a while back where Ende said that his books are not so much for children but for the child in every person, not meant in an “infantile way“ but the part in a person that is “able to experience in an immediate way, that which has future, that which can still develop“.
I heard this as part of a podcast about him (German unfortunately): https://www.br.de/mediathek/podcast/radiowissen/michael-ende-der-literarische-verzauberer/1849782
Wonderful wonderful book. I’m so lucky to have it on my shelf.
Loved the book as a child. Better read it again some time.
Often I still think “oh, what a Gray Man”, when I come across busy and boring adults who don’t want to experience anything new or who aren’t open to any new or different ideas.
I’m in my thirties, but never want to turn into a “Gray Man”.