The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
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Book Reviews of The Neverending Story
Book Review: The Unknown Genius of Michael Ende
Summary: 5 Stars
With a maximum of 1,000 words, I can hardly begin to translate the amazing quality of this novel into words. One must not be led astray by the poor movie counterparts, supposedly taken from this book. It is indeed a work for all to read.The story opens to young Bastian Balthazar Bucs stealing the Nverending Story from a nearby bookstore. He soon finds himself reading of the heroic Greenskin Atreyu on his mission to heal the kind Child-like Empress from her deadly disease, the illness threatening to kill her and all of Fantastica with her fall.
Bastian is soon brought into the story, by means of crying out the Empress' new name. Bastian's adventures in Fantastica, as he utilizes the powers of the Auryn (a magic, wish granting pendant, blessed by the Empress) will send you through all of the wondrous domains of Fantastica. You will be enthralled, as the tale matures from a simple adventure with Atreyu, to Bastian's story of happiness, power, corruption, fear, and humility. You might even find an almost allegorical feel to the story.
I would recommend this story to anyone, and I greatly grieve how unknown the amazing work of Michael Ende truly is. He must not be known for only a poor movie, but for an amazing story, deceivingly childish in its writing, yet almost profound in meaning. Creative is truly an understatement when attempting to describe Michael Ende's The Neverending Story.
Book Review: A truely enchanting tale for all ages...
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember as a kid, going to the movies with my family to see this movie. We were all completely enraptured with the movie because we all cheered, laughed and cried along with the characters. When I finally got the book a few years later, it was so much richer and detailed and it had many more adventures that Atreyu/Bastian went on. The movie is good, but the book is MUCH better! It has characters and adventures that would have filled at least 5 movies worth of material.The concept that the story inside a book is real and changes based on who is reading it, is intriguing and has you really believing that it could happen to you. I am so glad the movie introduced me to this book because it is a delight to read again and again. I highly recommend the illustrated, hardcover edition as it is the closest to what Mr. Ende had in mind when he wrote it.
If you were a fan of the movie like me or want to see the story in action, pick up the DVD or VHS version. Even though I don't really recommend the sequel to the original movie since I feel it is the same movie rehashed and the book tells the story so much better than any movie. Still, for completeness, you may want to see the second movie. Finally, there is the third movie (which I haven't even seen since I have only heard bad things about it) although it might be best to pretend that it was never made. ;)
Book Review: The Book is even better than the movie
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great movie! What an even better young adult novel! You just can't beat a magical story with reader participation. Seriously, you can't - so don't even try. Prepare to journey into Fantasia alongside Atreyu and help him save the Childlike Empress and her kingdom from something called the Nothing. Then prepare to save yourself... Only those of "noble heart and steely sinew" dare venture forth.
Unfortunately for us, and probably many of you, we watched The Neverending Story before reading it. Don't get discouraged though, because the entire second half of the novel is left out of the movie. Also, the cover art on the 1997 Dutton edition is quite impressive, and even the text itself adds a certain amount of intrigue. Red and green font is utilized throughout to designate the two storylines taking place in each parallel world. We enjoyed novel immensely and were even more surprise to see just how similar the movie dialogue was to the book.
Lastly, The Neverending Story will teach you the importance of loving yourself as you are. Pardon us for channeling Dr. Phil, but it's always a bonus when a novel is able to learn you something. What a great novel to read with your children and then break out the 1984 film. It won't be long before they're begging you to go to the pet store and buy a luckdragon!
Book Review: My favorite book of all time...
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't often read books. I think I can say that I've read about as many books as I have fingers. I also can say that this books is so precious to me that I have it in hardcover. On top of that, this is the first review I've ever written.
I'm 29 years old and this by far is and is not a children's book. It's good fantasy for a child's mind, but it is so much more. If you aren't into philosophy, then you will miss so much that this book has to offer. But to each their own.
Being a child of the 80's, I had certainly watched and enjoyed the movie. But the movie totally misses the point of what Michael Ende was trying to convey. And I don't blame Mr. Ende for wanting to have nothing to do with the movie (they snuck his name in in the credits). I hope to see a remake of the movie that actually sticks to the story within my lifetime. Regardless, I have the book.
The message of this book is so powerful. The journey it takes you on is necessary for the end to have its full impact. The way it touches on reality is so phenomenal.
If you want to read about the human journey, this is the book for you. The conclusion brings purpose, not only to the main character, but a reminder to you.
What are we living for? Read and find out.
Book Review: A book without boundaries...
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps the most telling thing about Ende's "Neverending Story" is the type of reader who seems to respond to it. Just glancing at the other reader reviews, one sees children and adults, males and females. In an age where films, novels, and music are targetted to specific gender and age groups, this powerful novel stands out as appealing to all. Using simple prose elegantly translated from the original German by Ralph Mannheim, Ende tells the story of a young boy searching vainly for his identity. Alienated from his widowed father and isolated from his classmates, Bastian finds his sole solace in books. The "Neverending Story" is the story of Bastian's quest--through a fantastical world contained in leather-bound volume. Much like the reader, Bastian is slowly drawn into the intricate narrative. One of the few books written for children which appeals equally to boys and girls, Ende's work is ultimately an anagogical, luminous work. Its appeal is that the novel stands on a number of levels. To the child, it is an exciting adventure tale; to the adult, it is a powerful parable about the most fundamental and difficult search--the search for self. One of the most engaging works I've had the pleasure to read. Five stars seem woefully insufficient.