Rating: 
Summary: The Neverending Story
Review: Like everyone else, my remembrances of childhood contain hazy memories of Atreyu doing battle with Gmork, and a young Barrett Oliver as Bastian yelling "I will do what I dream!" So, in a mood to reaffirm my youthful fantasies, I picked up a copy of Michael Ende's 1979 novel upon which the movie was loosely based, "The Neverending Story". I was not surprised that the largely dark tone of the movie was, of course, much darker, deeper and much more sustained in the novel. But I am not here to compare the book to the movie, both of which are classics in their own right. Like the best of what is considered children's literature, "The Neverending Story" has an appeal and a depth that literally begs for continued readings as one grows older. A novel about growth, maturity, the power (fraught as it is) of imagination, and the necessity of books to provide us with different perspectives on our world, "The Neverending Story" is a challenging children's novel which respects its readers enough to not treat them like children. "The Neverending Story" begins as Bastian Balthazar Bux, a fat little ten year old, picked on by his classmates and teachers, and ignored by his father, runs from the torments of his classmates one rainy November morning before school. Ducking into Mr. Coreander's vintage book store, Bastian suddenly finds himself in a state of mind that portends that he has come here for a reason. Following a brusque chat with Mr. Coreander, Bastian is drawn to a book the old man was perusing, titled "The Neverending Story," bearing a logo of two snakes in an ourobouros pattern. Grabbing the book and ditching school, Bastian hides in the school's attic and begins to read a book that will change his (and our) life. The book's world, Fantastica is in grave danger - a blinding force called The Nothing is slowly eating away at Fantastica - ambassadors of all Fantastican nationalities are sent to the heart of Fantastica, The Ivory Tower, to appeal to the Childlike Empress, the impartial ruler of Fantastica, only to find that she is dying. By the time the green-skinned youth, Atreyu, is sent to discover the cause of the Childlike Empress's illness, Bastian, (and the reader) are hooked. "The Neverending Story" is a novel that deals heavily with epistemological self-discovery - Atreyu's Great Quest, and Bastians, test the limits of physical and mental endurance. Atreyu and Bastian represent two approaches to self-knowledge - Atreyu, the Socratic questioner, and Bastian, the experimental deductive reasoner. Both have their pitfalls, but the novel does not fault these two boys for the risks they take or the execution of their schemes. Success and blame are best judged by the self in retrospect, the novel suggests, and it is only through experience (as opposed to book learning only) that we understand who we are and our places in the world and in relation to others. Ende doesn't spend much time developing minor characters - most of the strange beings we encounter throughout "The Neverending Story" are rarely present for more than a chapter or two, but the ones who do stick around are impressive, though sometimes simultaneously distant and welcoming presences. Morla the Aged One, the gnome Engywook, and the Three Deep Thinkers illustrate the ruts we can get ourselves into when we are apathetic, or obssessive, but detached. Gmork and Xayide are our tormentors, the nay-sayers, the opportunists, the manipulators. Falkor the luckdragon, Grograman the Many-Coloured Death, the Childlike Empress, Yor, and Dame Eyola are the signposts of encouragement that we meet, especially in our childhood, but also thorughout our lives, guides who provide love, knowledge, and life experience. In short, though most of the minor characters flit in and out of the novel like symbols in dreams, each serves a purpose in the lives of Atreyu, Bastian, and the reader. As I said earlier, this is a novel which respects the intelligence of its readers - there are long stretches of not only joyous fantasy, but also intense political and psychological trauma. Written in the late 70's in Germany, we should really pay attention to Ende's focus on "the borders of Fantastica" - the focus thoughout the novel on crossing borders, climbing walls, and passing gates all serve as a powerful comment on a split Communist/Democratic Germany represented by the Berlin Wall, and a dream for post-national fluidity. "The Neverending Story" is not just a novel, but a challenge - for us to mitigate the power of power, to reevaluate our relationships to people and to literature, to be individuals, and not the "weak-minded" followers that Gmork lusts after. This is really a terrific book, and one that no doubt will continue to enthrall and delight.
Rating: 
Summary: I wish this story never ended!
Review: This was one of the first fantasy books I picked up (besides the Harry Potter series), and I fell in love with it right from he first page. Although there have been three decent movies, the book is far superior. An elementary school boy named Bastian Balthizar Bux runs into an old bookstore after some bullies chase him. He takes "The Neverending Story" out of the shop and returns home to read it (I'm not promoting skipping school) The ruler of the Empire of Fantastica, where all stories and dreams become reality) has been diagnosed with a disease that has baffled even the five hundred greatest doctors in Fantastica. It is up to Atreyu, a courageous warrior to find a way to cure the Empress. Bastian thinks that what he is reading is just a story, but when things start getting emotional, he starts having an inner conflict with himself. Later, Bastian finds himself in Fantastica, and learns that Sorceress Xayide, themost powerful in the realm is taking away his memories. Bastian must learn who he really is... What's so cool about the book vs. the movies i there are about 7 chapters in the book that aren't even mentioned in the movie. The book is very imaginative, with excellent imagery. The book also provides a wealth of opportunity for writing fan fiction (in many of the chapters, the words "but that's another story, and it shall be told another time" appear, stretching the imagination. The book is 400+ pages (my version was only 380), but it seems like there could have been a thousand. This book will go by so fast, because you will be absorbed in it. Kudos to Michael Ende! 5/5
Rating:
Summary: A Book's Book; A Reflective Masterpiece by Michael Ende
Review: It annoys me to read reviews calling this book another "fairy story" or a "watership down;" it is much more complex, up to par with the greatest modern writers/philosophers of our time, yet written to thrill all ages. For instance, some fantasy books tell great stories just for the fun of it (like The BFG), some are made to teach certain morals (like The Phantom Tollbooth), some are influenced by a religion (like christianity elements in the Chronicals of Narnia or A Wrinkle in Time) or region, but all forms of entertainment offer an "escape" from "reality," which is why I don't like it when critics call this book (or anything else that doesn't drool over the latest in politics and financial gain) "escapist literature." It deals with the elements of what makes us dream and why we wish, in a story that takes its main character (and you with him) out of himself and into himself in an amazing journey to find himself or lose himself forever. Michael Ende, whose father was a surrealist painter, grew up in Germany in the earlier part of the last century. His children's books are a good read (Momo, The Night of Wishes, etc.) though not up to par with NES; his adult books are surreal and could scare the pants off of Nietzche (Mirror in the Mirror); NES has elements of both genres,
a great combination of fantasy, unforgettable characters, horrifying emptiness, ambition, amazing landscapes, battles, youthful innocence, friendship, influences from stories in lands all over the world (sphinx, oracle, ivory tower, monastaries, knights, warriors, gnomes, will-o'the wisps, etc.), plus a great many of his own inventions (Rockchewers, luckdragons, windgiants, a picture mine, Bastian, etc.) brilliantly intertwining what is "real" and what is "imaginary," and a sprinkling of startling questions. I find the green and red print hard to read; I prefer the version that uses standard black ink with italic letters (instead of red ink) to indicate Bastian's side of the "Outer World." What I find most delightful about this book is that it changes every time I read it. I've loved it as a child, loved Atreyu, Falkor and all of the characters. I have reread it many, many times to adulthood. It's the same story, the words haven't changed, but readers do and there's always something new to discover in Fantastica, or Bastian's world, or your own world. If you are (or were) a kid with a passion for fantastic books, then this book is definitly for you. Have a magnificent read.
Rating:
Summary: THE NEVERENDING STORY
Review: I LOVE WATCHING THE VIDEO OF THE NEVERENDING STORY, I HAVE GIVEN THE EMPRESS OF FANTASIA A NEW NAME SO HERE IT IS, WAIT FOR IT.
F------A------N------T------A------S-------I-------A. FANTASIA.
I LOVE READING THE STORY BUT MY ONLY WISH WOULD BE TO THE HARDBACK COPY OF THE NEVERENDING STORY. I HAVE GOT FOUR WISHES.
(1). I, LEE LUCKHAM WOULD LOVE TO MEET FANTASIA (EMPRESS OF FANTASIA).
(2). I, LEE LUCKHAM WILL SAVE FANTASIA & HER WORLD FANTASIA.
(3). FOR SIEEDA TO HAVE A HEART.
(4). FOR GOMORG TO HAVE A HEART.
I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY THE VIDEO'S THE BOOK & THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE NEVERENDING STORY.
... TAKE CARE. YOURS TRULY MR LEE LUCKHAM.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie
Review: I love this book! I've seen the movie, and it was horrible! For one, it stops half way through, and skips key parts that make the story more interesting. The book starts when a not-so-heroic boy named Bastian runs into a book shop to escape some bullies, when he happens upon the Neverending Story. Bastian retreats to the forgotten attic of his school and begins to read. Bastian is swept into the magical world of Fantastica, which is in great danger... My favorite character is Grogroman, the Many-Colored Death of the Desert of Colors(not in the movie). Michael Ende is one of the most imaginative authors I've read(and I've read quite a bit). This is a must-read book you have to have!
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
Review: This book is absolutely amazing from the beginning to the end. I can't describe how much I love and cherish this book. There were times where I cried while reading this book. However, towards the end of the book it does get kind of long-winded. But the end of the book made up for that. If you love adventure, you will love this book
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, fantastic, and memorable adventure.
Review: The book is so much more than the movie. I love the movie too. The book however, reveals that Bastian is in fact a chubby kid which of course Hollywood leaves out, and is part of the reason he is picked on. The book also covers deep philosophical issues in ways that an adult will wonder at and a child will think is just fantasy. One of my favorite memorable characters left out of the movies is the lion Bastian rides. When I read that the first time I felt like I was actually riding the lion! Now that's good fiction. This is in my "they don't write books like this anymore" category. I like this edition because it is a beatuiful hardcover and I want to keep it around for my own children. I especially like the use of sienna and green print instead of the typical black and white when switching from Fantastica to Earth. This book will result in many fine converstaions with your family, and is great reading aloud material.
Rating:
Summary: Good ideas, bad presentation
Review: Like everyone else here, I too loved the movie, and it is what lead me to the book. I had high hopes since most books top their movie counterparts hands down. The author has wonderful ideas and wonderful characters, but he just doesnt know how to present them. I kept finding myself bored.. loyaly trudging along in hopes that it would pick up. The first half of the book (the half that was shown in the movie) wasnt bad. Or at least if it was I didnt notice as much because I at least had the mental images from the movie to appease me. But it was still long winded. After the point where the movie had ended it just seemed to go down hill. The same thing over and over in different places. The same lesson over and over. I did love the ending, which was warm and happy.. but it felt like it took a LONG time to get there.
Rating:
Summary: It's SO fun and exciting!!!!!
Review: I really love this book! I think it's the best book I've ever read! It's about an unpopular, fat, and timid boy named Bastian who one day steals a book from the library. He starts reading this book, called The Neverending Story and he hides in the school. He gets fascinated as he reads, but gets more and more uneasy as the time goes by. Why?
An imaginary country named Fantastica is now in danger. The Childlike Empress (the ruler)is sick. And if she was sick, all of Fantastica would die. To make the Childlike Empress well again, a human being from earth has to give the Empress a new name. It's sort of hard to explain... Then it turns out that the human who has to give the Empress a new name is Bastian. Bastian goes in the book and exciting stuff happens. You should really read it! Many parts are really hard to explain, but I think that if you read it, you would understand. In my opinion, I think one way to describe this book is FUN!
Rating:
Summary: FANTASY BOOK WITH ALOT OF IMAGINATION!
Review: When you start to read this book you notice how extraordinarly different it is from any other fantasy book. Micheal Ende had to have had a big imagination when writing. He laid out an array of characters and settings to startle and amaze the reader. Each person, place, or thing is placed perfectly in the plot to make a wonderful story.
The whole set-up of the story is very aquard, but at the same time interesting. It's almost as if there are two storys in one.(The second story starts around the chapter called "Perilin the Night Forest".) Atreyu is confident and devotes himself to his quest. He's even more confident when he discovers a luckdragon named Falkor. The Childlike Empress seems almost too calm on the circumstances. The detail of her makes her come to life more than any character in the book! Xayide is just pure evil, and enhances the plot line to make it even more interesting. And Bastian is the definition of utter rejection. With zero self-confidence he becomes literally trapped inside the book, and is only happy after he wishes himself to be the vision of a perfect boy.
The settings are one of my favorite parts about the book. The Howling Forest,the Ivory Tower, and the Swamps of Sadness are only a few of the settings. They are all different and interesting in there own way, and are very enjoyable to read.
If you are interested in fantasy books then read this. I myself have been very interested in fantasy books, and now that's almost all I read! It won't hurt to open a book and read a few pages. So go ahead and try it. There is only one imperfection to it. The Neverending Story ... ends too soon!
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