Ramazan Dicle

About the book, MOMO:

Momo, also known as The Grey Gentlemen or The Men in Grey, is a fantasy novel by German author Michael Ende, published in 1973. It is about the concept of time and how it is used by humans in modern societies. The full title in German translates to Momo, or the strange story of the time-thieves and the child who brought the stolen time back to the people. 

Although the book may seem childish on the cover or in the book-stores, it is definitely telling more than adult readers can grasp at the first reading. The importance of listening one another initiates the all the good that we want in the society.

Between the lines, the story holds many secrets of the social bonds that we require more today than ever. Momo listens to anybody without discrimination, which is what we should learn fory the solution to the problems of polarizations and otherness we come across at daily or random basis.

Besides, Momo herself presents an unexpected image of a young girl living by her own without needing anybody. However, the society believes that she can solve any problems people have by visiting and talking to her. Though they never get any advice or understanding conversation but a total silence, in fact, they listen to themselves or one another in a dialogue environment, either between the individuals or within the individual himself. therefore they see the right and the wrong in their actions by listening, and the need to find a solution manifests itself right afterwards, which makes it ultimate need for the problems we face and try to solve.

About  MOMO, the listener:

In the ruins of an amphitheatre  just outside an unnamed city lives Momo, a little girl of mysterious origin. She is remarkable in the neighbourhood because she has the extraordinary ability to listen — really listen. By simply being with people and listening to them, she can help them find answers to their problems, make up with each other, and think of fun games. The advice given to people “go and see Momo!” has become a household phrase and Momo makes many friends, especially an honest street-cleaner, Beppo, and a poetic tour guide, Guido…..