Book Review - MoMo | By Mark Playne

Mark Playne | MoMo | REVIEW

Nov 29, 2024

Mark Playne (Not On The Beeb) launches his latest book, or should I say, books. Delivered as 4 individual parts (is that a quadrilogy?) or as a single novel (in soft or hardback), MoMo is here to mesmerise and lure us into a world of magic and wonder, right before the Xmas bells start ringing.

Parts 1 through 3 target those younger and adolescent readers while part 4 takes us to more grown-up territory. When read as a whole (which I highly recommend), the range of appeal is universally broad. For example, I had Part One | The Egg only to begin with, which is when I (shamefully) put it down (more on that below). It wasn’t until I was given the entire novel that I couldn’t put it down. Ultimately, however, MoMo allows readers themselves to make that discernment…or none.

If Mark’s previous literary offering, 3 Seconds in Bogotá was a punch in the mouth, then MoMo is an elegant dance. Read my review of Marks book 3 Seconds in Bogotá, here.

Though differing in pace and style, it’s still clear to see Mark’s unique storytelling ability from the opening chapters of MoMo - The Egg.

Confession time…

I got stuck. I read several chapters of part One - MoMo | The Egg and got sidetracked. Only to then be given a review copy of the full novel with all four sections, from Egg through to the Butterfly. I was compelled to devour its cover to cover, which I did. Strange that. My recommendation (for those as challenged in their attention spans as I am, particularly young readers) is to read MoMo as a full novel - I am now embarrassed to have ever put it down.

Our scene is set in North Africa, though we are not sure exactly where yet. One speculates Tunisia or Libya. Egypt perhaps…

As Playne opens our journey into the life of our young male protagonist, MoMo, we are confronted with the sights and sounds of MoMo’s life. From the observing raven perched high on ragged stone ruins, goats in the market, or the sound of MoMo’s bicycle chain. Everything within our scene is brought into vivid colour by Mark’s leisurely and delightfully illustrative sequences. We’re drawn into a world of dusty, unpaved roads, diesel fumes, close-calls, hungry bellies, and wild imaginations. At times the opening pages of MoMo feel like a dream-sequence, leaving the reader questioning from which perspective they should see things. I am sure this is entirely intentional, and I believe a genius stroke, shaking readers from their own perceived realities and into MoMo.

Like any good tale, Playne lingers in places which may not always feel important, but it’s the hints and fine details contained within those passages which enriches and, for want of better language, ‘seasons’ MoMo’s path.

By the opening passages of Part two - MoMo | The Caterpillar, we have our scene established, our opening characters developed and our story gathering pace. By this point, I felt myself very much along for the ride in Momo’s adventure. Like a moth to the flame, I could feel myself being drawn deeper into the story. It must have been the gentle way Playne takes the reader by the hand and navigates them through the more nuanced themes he’s exploring through MoMo’s life. You’d hardly notice any of these, however, until you reflect afterwards. It’s in the sharpness of hindsight that they reveal themselves.

This gentle and amusing world takes the reader back to simpler times whilst hinting at the complications of the future, our collective history and programming that we superimpose on things.

MoMo is leading us through his world, through his eyes, his dreams, his wonder at it all. His world expands, and so does our own. We fly through this adventure together. Well not just us. There’s Grandma, Teacher, Duck, Raven, Old Man Omar and Wolof, of course.

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Playne uses his stealthy ability to draw the reader closer as something of an ambush. Lulling us into fancy and wonder with one hand while preparing the knockout blow, coming in the form of some of the less ‘surface’ level themes running throughout. These are both familiar and frequent in our real lives but through Momo’s lens take on an altogether different quality. Seeing life through innocence, unburdened by assumption and prejudice; the eyes of a child, we become somehow less hardened, less wedded to our assumptions and more connected to Momo’s reality, his feelings, and emotions, as they unfold. Playne’s subtle, yet effective, technique reminds us that we are each, in some way or another, products of our environment and that what we may see or hear from self-appointed sources should, more often than not, be treated with a grain of salt, if not blatant scepticism. Younger readers will be largely unaware of this, though adults will certainly appreciate the subtleties employed by the author.

MoMo’s journey into entrepreneurship is a treat as we close part two and enter part three.

Having set the scene, the direction, and given readers a sense of stability and natural progression, readers will feel a change in pace and energy. By now I find myself utterly won by MoMo and relish this change which feels organic and meaningful. Momo is one of those where putting the book down doesn’t silence it. MoMo stays with you. It makes you reflect before quickly looking for the next fix.

Playne delivers in copious amounts throughout the second half of the series where you could say Momo really fly’s.

Twists, turns and tangents pepper the pages and I’m sensing something familiar. It’s Playne’s genial way of revealing his plans in small breadcrumbs or better, droplets, only to pool together later when he allows. Graceful and never crude, it’s become to me something of a hallmark of his work.

MoMo is timeless in many ways, it speaks to the now but also hints to the then. It’s an ethereal present we occupy, through Momo’s eyes.

It’s rare to find a tale of this kind which appeals to readers, both young and aged. The moment I finished I immediately started reading it to my eight year old. I found it fun to linger on some of the less ordinary vocabulary too, discovering new words but ones not too far out of reach so as to be confusing or unnecessarily hyperbolic. I’d recommend this for anyone from 8 to 80 (and beyond). Further, I’d suggest MoMo as a singe novel for the grown-ups and to keep it accessible for adolescents and teens I would take each part separately.

MoMo is a joy to read and a triumph for the author. I’ve even told Mark directly that I think he should be doing this instead of NOTB as this is more him after reading MoMo. It’s easy to see Momo in the classroom or in a film for full-blown cinematic effect (Did I mention Mark is not just an author? His talents extend to the world of moving image, primarily as Writer and Director, having won nigh on 100 awards for his short films, and in just about as many countries).

What’s my takeaway from MoMo? Besides go read it as soon as you can? It will live on your bookshelf to be returned to time and again, lent to friends and family, and even to gather dust, only to be reborn again for a new companion to join MoMo on his mighty adventure.

There’s a MoMo inside all of us, really…we just have to remember how to fly.

Book Review - MoMo | By Mark Playne

Mark Playne | MoMo | REVIEW

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