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A review by m_lefaye
Lanny by Max Porter
5.0
A refreshing new take on the legend of the Green Man, "Lanny", by Max Porter tells the intertwining story of young Lanny, his parents, Jolie and Robert, the eccentric old artist, "Mad" Pete, and the encroaching entity known as Dead Papa Toothwort.
I loved this book, but at a slight loss for my review. On paper, the narrative shouldn't work; a realistic family with the typical domestic concerns, fatigues, and joys that most can relate to, who also happen to live in a darkly, magical village. Add the jumbled thoughts of their fellow neighbors, the memories of our main characters (both good and bad), and the unique internal monologues of Dead Papa Toothwort, and it would be easy to get a little lost. But here Porter excels at combining these ramblings with a straight forward narrative and easy-to-follow flow of story telling that I could not get enough of.
The characters are a mix of conventional and mystery; Lanny, a free spirited young boy who roams his village and the surrounding forest, sings songs of nonsense and attracts the attention of the creatures from the fairy world. His mother, Jolie, a retired actress who is currently writing a graphic murder mystery and may or may not have a dark secret lurking just below the surface. His father, Robert, an office worker with a daily commute to London, who seems to prefer the hustle and bustle of the big city than the quaint countryside he resides. "Mad" Pete, an old, but famous, artist who has made his home in the community and takes young Lanny under his wing, much to the gossiping suspicions of the tight knit village. And finally, Dead Papa Toothwort, the village bogyman. A creature resembling the green man myth who shapeshifts indiscriminately and talks in a tangle of overheard phrases and collective memory.
The first half of the story shifts the narration of Pete, Lanny's Parents, and toothwort, while the second half takes a darker turn with the disappearance and search of Lanny. This sudden shift takes us from the day-to-day of a small community and thrusts us into the ramifications (both social and personal) of what happens when a child goes missing. Through it all, the magical element of lore and legend is never lost and for that I give this story 5 stars.
Do yourself a favor and rent/buy the audio book version. The tangle of voices is as enjoyable as it is unnerving!
I loved this book, but at a slight loss for my review. On paper, the narrative shouldn't work; a realistic family with the typical domestic concerns, fatigues, and joys that most can relate to, who also happen to live in a darkly, magical village. Add the jumbled thoughts of their fellow neighbors, the memories of our main characters (both good and bad), and the unique internal monologues of Dead Papa Toothwort, and it would be easy to get a little lost. But here Porter excels at combining these ramblings with a straight forward narrative and easy-to-follow flow of story telling that I could not get enough of.
The characters are a mix of conventional and mystery; Lanny, a free spirited young boy who roams his village and the surrounding forest, sings songs of nonsense and attracts the attention of the creatures from the fairy world. His mother, Jolie, a retired actress who is currently writing a graphic murder mystery and may or may not have a dark secret lurking just below the surface. His father, Robert, an office worker with a daily commute to London, who seems to prefer the hustle and bustle of the big city than the quaint countryside he resides. "Mad" Pete, an old, but famous, artist who has made his home in the community and takes young Lanny under his wing, much to the gossiping suspicions of the tight knit village. And finally, Dead Papa Toothwort, the village bogyman. A creature resembling the green man myth who shapeshifts indiscriminately and talks in a tangle of overheard phrases and collective memory.
The first half of the story shifts the narration of Pete, Lanny's Parents, and toothwort, while the second half takes a darker turn with the disappearance and search of Lanny. This sudden shift takes us from the day-to-day of a small community and thrusts us into the ramifications (both social and personal) of what happens when a child goes missing. Through it all, the magical element of lore and legend is never lost and for that I give this story 5 stars.
Do yourself a favor and rent/buy the audio book version. The tangle of voices is as enjoyable as it is unnerving!