Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... The Neverending Story (original 1979; edition 1997)by Michael Ende, Ralph Manheim (Translator)
Work InformationThe Neverending Story by Michael Ende (Author) (1979)
Best Fantasy Novels (17) » 43 more 501 Must-Read Books (142) German Literature (43) Best Young Adult (64) Elevenses (42) 1980s (11) Comfort Reads (37) 1970s (31) Unread books (173) Books Read in 2017 (399) Childhood Favorites (121) Children's Fantasy (32) Carole's List (136) Books Read in 2019 (1,354) A Novel Cure (276) 4th Grade Books (20) Story Within a Story (27) Books Set in Germany (70) Read These Too (63) Book Hoppers (2) Mo's Reading List (211) Books tagged unread (23) Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.
I never did see the movie (except pictures of a white fluffy dog flying through air that must be the luck dragon), but this book wasn't anything like what I expected. It was much deeper and more profound a journey than would be expected in a children's book. In fact, I don't know if I would say it is a young adult or children's book. It seems much more of a subject matter for adults to enjoy. If you like this book, try out 13 1/2 lives of Bluebear. "...now he knew that there were thousands and thousands of forms of joy in the world, but that all were essentially one and the same, namely, the joy of being able to love." The beginning bead magical and the end was just as magical, but there were some bits in the middle that could've used more editing/cutting. The parts included in the movie were all from the first half of the book (or maybe 2/3?) and the rest was entirely new material to me. Some of it was enchanting, but other parts were boring and I understood why they were not a part of the movie. 3.5 stars A very original story in which the main character enters the book he's reading. The world-building is unusual, also, in that with every chapter, the area of Fantastica contains different creatures and feels like a completely new place. As a child, I would have loved this variety and imagination. As an adult, I wished some of these places and characters were more fleshed out. The writing is a bit flowery at times, as if the author was trying too hard, though most kids surely won't have a problem with that. There were some themes I can't get behind, such as that good and evil cannot exist without the other, that they are equal. Belongs to Publisher SeriesTEAdue [TEA ed.] (1) ContainsHas the adaptationHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Shy, awkward Bastian is amazed to discover that he has become a character in the mysterious book he is reading and that he has an important mission to fulfill. No library descriptions found.
|
Current DiscussionsMarks in The Neverending Story in Folio Society Devotees Folio 75: The Neverending Story - Then and Now in Folio Society Devotees Popular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)833.914Literature German literature and literatures of related languages German fiction Modern period (1900-) 1900-1990 1945-1990LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. Penguin Australia2 editions of this book were published by Penguin Australia. Editions: 0140074317, 0140317937 Tantor MediaAn edition of this book was published by Tantor Media. |
Anyway so the movie ends with him riding Falkor back to the real world and becoming a bully chasing his former bullies and that's the happy ending. The book instead has him slowly turning into a bully in Fantasia _and it recognises this is kind of a big problem_ so yeah ultimately the book is waaaay superior to the film in every way - though I'll always envision the Childlike Empress as she was portrayed in the film.
(I do dream of getting a proper hardcover version with full-on illuminated chapter letters and two colours of text and an ouroboros on the cover and all!) ( )