Lanny, by Max Porter: a lockdown must-read!
Short enough to be gobbled up in an afternoon, but enough to leave you sad it’s finished, this novel is the perfect pandemic escapism. It is thought-provoking in a serious way, while retaining just enough levity to leave you lingering on those moments of delight. This is a book that requires concentration: not because it is unwieldy, but because the language is beautifully crafted while still conversational. On almost every page there is a poetic description or two: “palette-knife smears of bad weather rush past the window”. The real strength of this novel lies in the distinct perspectives which are masterfully articulated in alternating, internal monologues.
“The allegorical figure, who is never quite dismissed or established as a real presence, is perhaps the most creative invention of this novel”
The plot centres around the life of a London family who have recently relocated to an ancient English village. Lanny, the son, is a changeling-like boy, “off with the fairies”. The novel is split into three distinct parts: the first swings between three perspectives; the mother, father and Mad Pete (local eccentric artist). The embodiment of their village Doomsday legend, Dead Papa Toothwort, interrupts these monologues. He periodically feasts on the villagers’ everyday thoughts. Prowling the village’s perimeters under various guises, his presence is felt by Lanny and the nosy elder of the village, Peggy. The allegorical figure, who is never quite dismissed or established as a real presence, is perhaps the most creative invention of this novel.
If you are not one for stream-of-consciousness, you may not like how Lanny concludes. The second section of the novel loses its mythologising quality in an instant. Reality encroaches on the family and the village as a nightmarish scenario unfolds. The narrative urgency is unrelenting from here on. The ending builds on the initial surrealism of Dead Papa Toothwort and the climactic event which overwhelms the second section to create a chaotic finale. The ending lacks conviction; it descends into a performativity that takes away from the resolution.
“The stark contrast between the magical start of the novel and the disintegration of plot, emotion and time during the finale is moving”
The fall-out of the climax disrupts the otherwise delicate balance of perspectives in the first section. The father who doesn’t understand Lanny and the mother who over-relies on her child find themselves bereft. Mad Pete returns to his shell, and Lanny’s incomprehensibly fairy-like nature is no longer. No doubt a poetic novel, although the plot is a little dark. The stark contrast between the magical start of the novel and the disintegration of plot, emotion and time during the finale is moving.
“The blend of modern-day dystopia and countrified fable is a jarring one, but extremely effective”
Dead Papa Toothwort is more than a medieval-fairytale monster, but a sharp commentary on the state of our countryside and planet. There are eco-apocalyptic undertones, although it remains, in main, a rustic coming-of-age novel. We hardly hear directly from the Lanny at ll. However, his speech, reported through his guardian figures, is more than enough to communicate his singularity; a ‘moping little gypsy with his daft hair and strange singing.’ The blend of modern day dystopia and countrified fable is a jarring one, but extremely effective — a modern day Grimm’s fairytale for our locked-down country.
“I would highly recommend this novel if you are struggling to wade through longer or heavier books”
The quiet of the village will resonate with all of us. As the mother says: “I went for my walk around the block and got the ill feeling and hurried back.” You will hurry back to Max Porter’s work, which is magnetic. ‘Pretty in a smudgy sort of way’ is a fragment of thought Dead Papa Toothwort hears from the village; and is a sentiment which can be applied to the book. The novel is full of pretty images, charming characters and delightful myth, but smudged permanently by the gravity of the ending which whips all of that beauty from under your feet in a moment. An absolute must-read. I would highly recommend this novel if you are struggling to wade through longer or heavier books at the moment, but looking to reignite or maintain a reading habit.
Georgia Fulton
Featured image courtesy of Andy Roberts on Flickr. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
