The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
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Book Reviews of The Neverending Story
Book Review: You'll be blown away
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book at about 9, or 10, years old, and, I have to say, I thought it to be the best book I had ever read (and I read a lot). Now, after reading it for the third time as a 13 year-old, I wish I had waited so I could enjoy it as I did while also appreciating the plot and character development. The author did a very good job with portraying how man becomes corrupted by what he wants (the Gem is a bit like Tolkein's Ring) and that the world of our imagination is more important than we think, while entertaining the reader, its just amazing. If you like Tolkein, you'll definently like the Neverending Story (which gets very close to being as good as LOTR at times).
That said, lets talk a little about the story. I don't want to reveal too much, but I'l give you a basic summary of the story to motivate you towards buying it.
The cool thing about it is this: the main character is not what you would imagine a hero to be. He's fat, pale, bowlegged, and nerdy. But when he finds a book called the Neverending Story with the image of two entertwined snakes on the front, (Hmm, isn't that familiar), he is launched into an adventure that changes him completely. And even when he does become a real hero, (handsome, skilled, smart), his problems aren't over.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Through the eyes of Bastian, we read about Fantasia and its many wonders, and how the Nothing is destroying everything. The Nothing is complete absence of matter: when you look at it, it's as if you were blind. The Childlike Empress, ruler of Fantasia, is sick, and if she dies, everything dies. So Atreyu, again an unlikely hero, being a ten-year old and all, but more likely than Bastian, embarks on a quest to find the cause for the Nothing and the Empress's sickness and how to stop both. This all seems pretty typical, but, as it turns out, the Neverending Story is anything but. And, actually, Atreyu's quest alone is enough to make anyone atleast like it.
But it doesn't stop there. Bastian then goes into the Neverending story and saves Fantasia from utter destruction by the Nothing. He becomes renowned throughout Fantasia as a savior and creator. However, the Other World, Earth is still corrupted. Bastian sets about trying to return in order to tell people about Fantasia and ultimately restore mankind to the people they were meant to be. He travels using AURYN, the amulet which grants wishes given to him by the Childlike Empress, and he's always wanting different things which causes conflict. Through a series of plot twists, physical and spiritual battles, and interestingly philosophical encounters with Fantasia's peoples, Ende then goes on to weave a story of adventure, conquest, betrayal, suspense, and neverending creativity through Bastian's constantly changing quest. It features epic battles, bizarre imagery, likeable characters, mindbending settings, and, really, everything I always imagined the best book ever would have. The world of Fantasia is so immense, you just wish you go could there and explore it all. Micheal is possibly the most creative perspn I'v ever come across, up there umong Neil Gaiman, Jim Henson, and all the greats. I'm surprised he managed to pack so many creative ideas into one book. (For instance, there is a race of people who are born as old men and die as children.)
Anyway, the underlining point is this: The Neverending Story is not just for kids. I know, technically, I am a kid, but I'm sure adults would agree with me. Of course, there are quite a few slightly corny or childish names and creatures, but, being a story about the world of imagination, Ende coulden't really avoid this, and, anyway, I don't think it hurts the rest of the book at all. The movies are another matter; compared to the book, their all cheesy, unrealistic, poorly peiced together imitations of good fantasy. Do yourself a favor and press the "Add to Shopping Cart" button, or atleast head to your local library, as soon as possible. You'r in for a treat.
Book Review: A Must-Read for Book Lovers, Fantasy Lovers, and People Who Care About Language
Summary: 5 Stars
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende is a book that I've been intending to read for years. I picked up a used copy a few months back, and decided that it was a perfect book to take on my recent vacation. The paperback edition that I have is nice and dense, and thus excellent for travel.
The Neverending Story is about a boy named Bastian Balthazar Bux. Bastian is a bit of a loser, the kind of boy other kids pick on because he's whiny, and he's not very good at sports, and he's somewhat pudgy. He lives with his father, who has been very distant ever since the death of Bastian's mother. What Bastian does have going for him, however, is his love for books. I was completely won over by The Neverending Story on page 10, when Bastian steals a book called "The Neverending Story." The description goes like this:
"... In short, there are as many different passions as their are people. Bastian Balthazar Bux's passion was books.
If you have never spent whole afternoons with burning ears and rumpled hair, forgetting the world around you over a book, forgetting cold and hunger --
If you have never read secretly under the bedclothes with a flashlight, because your father or mother or some other well-meaning person has switched off the lamp on the plausible ground that it was time to sleep because you had to get up so early --
If you have never wept bitter tears because a wonderful story has come to an end and you must take your leave of the characters with whom you have shared so many adventures, whom you have loved and admired, for whom you have hoped and feared, and without whose company life seems empty and meaningless --
If such things have not been part of your own experience, you probably won't understand what Bastian did next." (He steals the oh-so-enticing book.)
The next part of the book describes Bastian, huddled in an attic at his school, reading his stolen book. Glimpses of Bastian in the attic are interspersed with chapters of The Neverending Story, an epic adventure of a boy named Atreyu, sent on a quest to find out what is destroying his home, Fantastica. Soon reality starts to blur, however, as Bastian finds himself and his responses appearing within the book. And after that, things really get interesting.
I couldn't put this book down. The adventures are exciting, the characters are well-developed and unique, and the linkages between Fantastica and the real world are fascinating. The Neverending Story is a bit like Peter Pan, in this latter point. Does what we believe in make a difference, in some alternate fantasy world? Is it possible to leave our mundane world, and visit a land of epic quests? Do people who love stories, and have the ability to tell stories, make a positive difference in the world?
Here's how much I liked this book. I was reading it while on a Caribbean vacation, with close friends and the love of my life. My friends would call to me to go to the beach, or our for drinks, or to watch the sunset. My response would be: "yes, just a minute, I just have to finish this chapter." Enough said. If you love books, you should read The Neverending Story. If you enjoy fantasy at all (Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, J. M. Barrie), you should read The Neverending Story. If you like poetry, and careful use of language, again, you should read The Neverending Story. You won't be disappointed.
This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on July 13, 2006.
Book Review: Dark, semi-surrealistic fantasy unlike any other...
Summary: 5 Stars
It is with infinite sadness that I discovered some time ago about Michael Ende's passing away several years ago. His fun and lively "Jim" books (fantasy books containing a black boy as the main protagonist, something unusual even today), and the simple, deeply imaginative "Momo" were some of the first fantasy books I have read. Then, in my teen years, I read "The Neverending Story". Like everyone else, I saw the movie first, at age 9 or so. But I had known Ende's work beforehand, and knew that I will not be disappointed.
The NeverEnding story is a work of deeply haunting, surrealistic fantasy. Don't expect your friendly hobbits and wizards here (not that there's anything wrong with them!) Ende's father was a surrealistic painter, and his son appeared to have been influenced by his vision. His books are more like fairy tales than the carefully structured worlds and characterization in the books of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis (the other two early fantasy masters), and are likewise influenced by Eastern myths, not only Western ones. Ever wondered what is the child Empress? Well, the beauty of Ende's work is that he leaves many questioned unanswered, much like in the ancient fairy tales. But to know the answers, dig a little into Eastern myths of India. (Bigger hint: watch Bill Moyers' famous interview of Joseph Campbell.)
Bastian's journeys through Fantasia, first through Atreyu, then, in the considerably darker and more powerful second half of the book, on his own, are journeys of self-discovery. He tastes not only the delight of losing himself in his imagination, but the profound danger of literally "drowning in fantasy", receiving everything he ever dreamed of. He falters and almost fails, but the loyalty of his clear-sighted friend saves him, and he receives the deepest wish of his heart. (In many ways, Atreyu is the hero of the story, and Bastian is actually a sort of anti-hero, something unusual in children's books.)
Ende's world is the neverending world of imagination. Thus, unlike the world of Middle Earth or Narnia, which are constructed around "complete", structured worlds, it has no limits, containing all the creatures humankind ever dreamed of. Some readers complained about the brief introduction and then dismissal of the many fantastic creatures populating Fantasia (note- I use the spelling of the translation I read, which is not English). However, this is part of the profound enchantment of the story. These creatures do not fit into a careful hierarchy, are not "characters" in the classical sense of the word. Instead, they weave the mysterious and semi-surrealistic tapestry of the world that Bastian must traverse in his journey for self-discovery. For me, this is the beauty of the book. I never liked knowing too much about Tolkien's Middle Earth, for example; fitting it into a specified world view which I do not share ruined it for me somewhat. Additionally, some of the mystery, and thus the power of the fantasy, is lost forever when the mechanics of the world are explained. Ende's work remains powerful because of its mystery, even its surrealism. It is a modern fairy tale in every sense of the word, and a deeply moving one at that, on par with the best fantasy written.
Book Review: This book is the key to spiritual enlightenment!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know if anybody else has noticed this, but Micheal Ende must have been spiritually enlightened, to have written this book.
For starters, the fact that Bastain reads a story and becomes part of it, is Ende's way of telling the reader that everything is just a story, even Bastians "Reality".
Fantastica is a creation of the human mind. For a human to exist they're mind needs to be full of stories. That's why fantastica dies when no human makes up stories for it.
At the Southern Oracle, Ende perfectly descirbes what it is to become spiritually enlightened.
Atreyu must pass through three magic gates.
The first one Is guarded by two sphinxes. If the sphinxes open their eyes as atreyu is walking through he will be rooted to the spot until he has answered all the riddles in the universe.
The second gate is a magic mirror gate, in which you see a reflection of yourself. It states in the book that some people run screaming from what they see in that mirror. That's because alot of people aren't aware of their true self, and if someone were to show them what they really are, they would be terrified. Sometimes people go to seek emotional help, and they find out who they really have become, and it's not easy. That's what Ende was showing us with the Magic Mirror gate. It shows the truth.
The third gate, doesn't open unless you forget why you wanted to go through it. This is one of the most amazing ideas ever.
If you want to become enlightened you can't, because to become enlightened, you must let go of your story (your mind). So for the mind to "want" to get enlightened, it gets in the way. Your story needs to be gone, before you can become enlightened. You can't "Want" to become enlightened. So that's what the third gate is.
Then we come to the Old man of Wandering mountain, where we learn that the Neverending story is a story that has already been written, and is unchangable before and after, and in starting to read the story from the beginning creates a vicious cycle that will never end unless Bastian breaks it. We learn there that our whole life is just a story in our imagination.
Later in the book, Bastain learns that Fantastica lies on a bed of memories. This is because we would not exist without memories.
Think about it. Your whole lives story is a memory. Fantasica is a story of the human mind, and the human mind is based on memories. Then he must forget who he his, to go back to his world. In other words become enlightened. Let go of the "self", the "I" that is just an illusion.
This is a brilliant book. I've read it 2 or 3 times, and am in the middle of reading it again. It is SO amazing.
The old man of wandering mountain (chapter 12) is one of the most brilliant sections of writing I have ever read. It nails the nature of the universe more clearly than any science book, astrology, or anything that's meant to teach what Michal Ende put so brilliantly into this book.
If you've already read it, read it again with this in mind. It's like a different story.
Book Review: Nevending? I wish!
Summary: 5 Stars
Andrew Tully
Hour 1
March 21, 2005
Book Review
Neverending? Unfortunately not.
Not a very likely first statement for a standard book of fantasy. But, then again The Neverending Story, ironically, written by Michael Ende, isn't a standard tale. This story is written in third person, something not unusual for a fantasy story, the single twist is this, the reader knows the "All Knowing Being" is a boy of twelve who is reading along with you. Both the narrator and the boy whose story he's reading are very believable, and yet maintain a set of demigod-ish attributes. The plot is basic; an unlikely hero needs to save the princess and the world, named Fantastica, while undergoing innumerable and unimaginable trials, and the aid of mythical characters such as nymphs, dwarves, rock giants, luckdragons, and the occasional will-o-the-wisp. Just as the story seems to end, the young boy reading with you is sucked into the book! Whoa...I didn't see that coming.
I won't ruin any other twists in the story, but that doesn't mean that by any stretch of the imagination this book is boring. In fact, I would say The Neverending Story is one of the best books I have ever read, and from a guy who's read everything from Shakespeare to Douglas Adams, I have a pretty well versed portfolio of things to compare with. The reasons this book was so appealing are simple. The language was simple, and yet wound together in a fashion that makes the description fluent and eloquent, and so events are intertwined by detail that seems fine-tuned. Transitions from the real world to the world of Fantastica are clean, yet they are made clear by the use of Italics for the real world script and regular text for the interactions in Fantastica.
But, can one have a well-versed fiction book with just description and fancy language? No, there must be a moral. Ende's moral is simple: be true to yourself. Both main characters in The Neverending Story experience trials that test their innermost beliefs about themselves. If either boy should fail to recognize the importance of their own self-confidence, that consequences will be even worse than death. A very appropriate theme written by someone raised in one of the most highly political time the world has ever seen. Michael Ende was born in Germany in 1929. He was raised by his parents, and when he was old enough, he entered into the Waldorf School. He attended for two years, but was forced to quit when the German Army drafted him. After World War 2, Ende held various jobs in the arts until in 1960; he published his first book, Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver.
Well, I personally enjoyed this book, and most others who read it agreed. Reading Matters, a UK based book reviewing site says: "If you enjoy fantasy and roaming round totally new worlds populated by the outlandish and bizarre, then I'm sure you will enjoy this book!" I would recommend this book for all people who love fantasy. It is filled with all the best aspects of the genre, and it holds a few surprises that make it worth the read.