Rating: 
Summary: Artistry, fantasy, and profound insight beautifully woven
Review: While the first movie was one of my treasured childhood memories, I remember the joy at finding the original book when I was in 5th grade. At that time, I came away with beautifully vivid images in my mind of the characters, the scenery, the events, and the sheer fantasy of it all. It immediately jumped to the top of my list of favorite books. As the years went by, however, I reread the book and was astounded at the amount of depth and insight. This book is more than just fantasy - it has a real sense of genuine compassion and empathy that was lost in its translation to film. What is most remarkable about this book is that its power is so subtle, you don't realize it working. You allow yourself to be swept up in Bastien's struggles, and then by the end, when you have finally put it down, you realize you've come away with something - you may not even sure what it is, but it's there.It was written during the German Expressionist period and fits quite well in the themes of existentialism, connection, and loss - but it never lectures, it never bores, and it never loses its childlike sense of wonder and innocence. For those looking for a good escapist fantasy tale, this book will steal you away and capture your imagination for a night. For those looking for a story subtley imbued with insight, compassion, and depth, this book will touch you deeply. After all these years, this book is still my favorite, and speaking personally - one of the most profoundly life affecting.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely great
Review: I would say it's a classic, Ende's way of writting its just great. I didnt see the movie, I wasnt even born back then, but I found the book (in spanish) and I just loved it! everytime I read it its like the first; I never stop of getting into each character's shoes. Its really great, and the colors fot the Neverending story and Bastian's reality, which makes it even better. If u are reading the book because of the movie, u will probably think its really long. But dont let the movie fool you, the movie its just the half . Buy it! Its worth it!
Rating:
Summary: Absolute fantasy
Review: Today's new fantasy seems to have gone from books and movies to video games. Now we have so-called fantasy games on the Playstation 2 with women singing with microphones like pop stars. Absolutely annoying rubbish.Fantasy isn't about anime video games or catching previews on the sci fi channel among comercials or collecting trading cards and buying the foil editions on ebay. Let's go to the core basics. Fantasy is about imagination. It should be a pleasurable escape. Remeber the Arthurian tales? Hanzel and Gretel? Rapunzel? Jack and the Beanstalk? Think medieval, not anime. That's why I think this book, THE NEVERENDING STORY, is one of the greatest ever written. Even after watching the "Lord of the Rings" movies, this book is a great escape. You don't need to study European history or Greek mythology to understand this book. You don't need to buy a video game system or follow the anime crowd. All you need is this book, from amazon or hopefully the local library carries a copy(beware if it's a large hardcover with a golden snake on it!), and some free time and you'll remember what fantasy used to be and still is today. True, absolute fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: keep turning pages all life long!
Review: I checked this book out in the library. I read this book because I saw the film, and decided to know the real story. I was surprised by the amazing length! I have read many books but not this many with the length. I read this book from the morning till the night and in my bed cover! I was amazed at the plot, the most amazing and complex of all I've read. I read each paragraph many many times to get this book. When I finished this book, I didn't know if I would cry out of joy, laugh out of whatever it is. Whenever I read this book I thought I was in it, I forgot where I was and what time is was. I hated it when I had to leave this book. I guess this book is magical like the book inside the pages. It never ends. I wonder neverendingly.
Rating: 
Summary: WORST BOOK EVER
Review: I read the first half of this book in under a week. I continued to read and found the same events to be occuring over and over. This book is horribly repetative and boring. The writing is atrocious. Do not read this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book
Review: I don't have much to say about this book, but I would defineately suggest it to anyone. There are many parallels between Atreyu and Christ. And something else for all you Bible scholars out there, I picked up on a lot of parallels between the Childlike Empress and the God the Father. This is especially evident when Falkor tells Atreyu about her on their way to The Ivory Tower. I enjoy the first half of the book most and my favorite part is when Atreyu and Ygramul hear Bastian's voice in the Land of the Dead Mountains. Overall I am disappointed that this often gets labeled as a children's fantasy book, because it can be read on a level that only critical thinking adults can understand.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy classic
Review: This is one of the greatest fantasy classics ever written, and Michael Ende certainly deserves at least the same recognition as Tolkien.
This story has it all: Likable characters, a unique setting, lots of both action and comedy - amd it makes you think, too. For anyone who likes fantasy, this is a must-read, and for everyone else: Read it anyway!
For those of you who have only seen the abysmal and absolutely horrible movie: Please read the book, so you won't go around thinking Ende's story is that bad!
And for those of you who are lucky enough to never have seen the movie: Don't! It doesn't do the book justice in any way whatsoever!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Ever Read
Review: I've read a fair number of books in my time, and this one ranks as the best one I've ever read. It is a joyous celebration of life, love, and growing up. It is just childish enough to be brilliantly innocent and optimistic, but far too wonderful to be forbidden to adults. It leaves you feeling like you want to cry for joy. It is uplifting, perfect, and is on a par with The Hobbit as one of the best fantasy books ever written. I suggest it for anyone, child or adult, fantasy-lover or no, because it puts forth wonderful ideas and great joy. This is one of the best literary gifts one can ever give or receive.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I have an older copy of this book. The type is in red and green, green for Fantasia and red for the "real world." The colorful type is the *only* reason I originally picked this book from my mother's collection when I was in fifth grade. I'm now a freshman in college and to this day it is still one of my favorite stories. I enjoyed the first motion picture, but it paled in comparison to what the book can provoke in the imagination of the reader. I read a review a minute ago that states this book is a good bedtime story. I concur, with one admonition: Four-year-olds don't like it! (I tried reading it to my sister) Maybe for an older child. :-)
Rating:
Summary: The Unknown Genius of Michael Ende
Review: 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.
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