Lanny - Max Porter

This book is so beautiful I’m not quite sure where to begin. It reads almost like a poem, and focuses in on a small village not far outside of London, where a family have recently moved. The parents each narrate passages and describe their unusual and enchanting young son, Lanny, who is mischievous and talented. The book is largely narrated by Dead Papa Toothwort, a mystical and legendary figure who schoolchildren imagine to be green and leafy and always watching. Little do they know, he is watching - and listening.

Max Porter is so creative and the meandering thoughts and snippets of speech which Dead Papa Toothwort narrates are often tumbling across the page haphazardly, which makes for such dynamism when reading. This book is categorised as magical realism for the most part, with elements of fairytale and the surreal. Lanny seems to form a bond with Toothwort which means that often bizarre and unexplainable things happen which his parents find alarming and worrying.

The story of Lanny, told from multiple perspectives except for his own, is engaging and heartwarming. It reveals a lot about human kindness and relationships, as well as illuminating the dark, unkind side of people as well. It’s definitely not the book for everyone as it is at times hard to follow, jumbled and erratic, and contains a lot of speech but with no speech marks - quite a challenge but so rewarding!

This was such an unexpected and sweet little book which also leaves you feeling very thoughtful. I’d recommend it if you’re open-minded to reading something a little quirky and different!