The Neverending Story
Book by Michael Ende
DETAILS
Publisher : Dutton Books for Young Readers; Revised ed. edition (March 1, 1997) Language : English Hardcover : 400 pages ISBN-10 : 0525457585 ISBN-13 : 978-0525457589 Reading age : 7+ years, from customers Lexile measure : 930L Grade level : 5 - 6 , Read the book that inspired the classic coming-of-age film before it's back onscreen in select theaters this September! From award-winning German author Michael Ende, The Neverending Story is a classic tale of one boy and the book that magically comes to life. When Bastian happens upon an old book called The Neverending Story , he's swept into the magical world of Fantastica--so much that he finds he has actually become a character in the story! And when he realizes that this mysteriously enchanted world is in great danger, he also discovers that he is the one chosen to save it. Can Bastian overcome the barrier between reality and his imagination in order to save Fantastica? "An instantaneous leap into the magical . . . Energetic, innovative, and perceptive" —The Washington Post "A trumpet blast for the imagination." —Sunday Times Read more
REVIEW
File this under "famous book I've never read". I first learned about this novel because of the infamous poster art for the film version, and the image of a kid riding atop a strange looking dragon always intrigued me. So, at long last, I felt it was high time to finally figure out why this book has had such staying power. I never even saw the movie adaption, despite it being such a staple of many people's childhoods, so I was going into this almost totally blind. While it's easy to see why and how this became a beloved classic, admittedly, it can drag on for a bit TOO long, particularly in the second half. A young boy named Bastian, who is a bit chubby, out of shape, and constantly bullied and mocked by his peers for having an overactive imagination, happens upon a strange, old bookshop, run by a cantankerous older man. He's then intrigued by the book the shopkeeper is reading---an old tome called "The Neverending Story." Still grieving over the loss of his mother and fed up with his father's despondency, Bastian resolves to run away from home, and subsequently steals the book to give himself something to read---a book that he feels a strange draw to. We're then along for the ride with him as he begins to read the novel. Set in the magical land of Fantastica, this place of wonder is ruled by the benevolent and mysterious Childlike Empress, who has fallen deathly ill. It soon becomes apparent that her illness is connected to a formless entity called "the Nothing", which is slowly overtaking Fantastica and causing everything in its path to disappear. For reasons only she's privy to, she chooses a boy warrior named Atreyu to be her champion. Armed with a powerful medallion, and forming a friendship with a luck dragon named Falkor, Atreyu sets off on a journey to save the world....all the while, interspersed throughout the narrative, we check back with Bastian as he gives his running commentary on the story. But the more Bastian reads, the more strange things start happening as fantasy and reality begin to blend together....until Bastian finds himself transported into the book itself! Now he'll have to use the power of his imagination to help save Fantastica. But he'll have to be careful with his newfound abilities, for the longer he stays in this fantasy realm, the more he begins to lose his humanity.... It's easy to see why this has become such a classic of young adult literature. The first half is fantastic, and as many other reviewers have pointed out, covers nearly all the events of the movie adaption. This fantasy land is bursting at the seams with an endless amount of creativity and wonder, from ancient mythical turtles, to wind giants, to a town whose residents are nothing but monsters, a desert full of colors, and that's only the tip of the iceberg. And through it all, both Bastian and Atreyu will endure countless tests of wisdom, courage, endurance, and love. The true, main characters are Bastian, Atreyu, and Falkor. The rest of the time, the book is overloaded with a literal army of characters that show up for a little while, exposit the lesson we're supposed to learn and/or progress the plot, then leave. Some of them are likeable and memorable for what they are, but in general, they all fulfill the "hi, I'm a whimsical person" role. Atreyu is the stalwart, noble hero with a heart of gold who is easily the best character, and I was always eager to get back to his parts in the plot. Falkor is just an eternal ball of sunshine---always optimistic, wise, and trying to see the best in people, and has become one of my favorite dragon characters in fiction. As for Bastian, well.....he begins the adventure as a super shy and insecure child, and it's easy to be sympathetic towards him, as life in general hasn't been kind to him. It's understandable that he longs for an escape, and as such, he goes through a transformation, both spiritually and literally. He's so unhappy with his lot in life that he thinks running away to this fantasy land will be better for him, but quickly finds that any wish granted comes with a price. The more he creates, the more of his past life he loses, to which he must learn that absolute power corrupts absolutely. In basically losing himself, through his adventures, he finds himself again, and discovers the core of what he's truly searching for---love and happiness. None the less, once Bastian finally gets to Fantastica and the second half kicks in, that's where the book, for me, starts to overstay its welcome a bit. I understand the point it's trying to make, but all the same, it gets to be where stuff seems to just....happen. One huge event follows another, with barely a pause to take a breath and absorb what just took place before the next odd thing happens. There's so many points where the book could've finally ended, and instead it just seems to keep going....and going...and going. (Yes, I know it's called "The Neverending Story", but you know what I mean). Still, I appreciate a book aimed mostly at kids that isn't afraid to get super philosophical and deep. The adventure creates a paradoxical existence, where humans created Fantastica, but they only did because they visited Fantastica to begin with, and Bastian creates things that suddenly act as if they've always existed. (Don't worry, it makes sense in context.) It all emphasizes the imaginative and transformative power of storytelling, how interconnected all people are, and because of which, how the overall "story" of life never really ends. I'd actually give the book 3 1/2 stars, but since the rating system can't do halves, I've rounded up to four, as the good mostly outweighed the couple problems I had with it. Just be warned that this novel feels like a book AND its sequel smashed together. Anyone who was a fan of the film (and ONLY saw the film) may be in for a wakeup call upon discovering their favorite movie moments take up only half the book.
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