baronessekat's review against another edition
3.0
I was definitely not the target audience for this book. And I can see how a person of a much younger age might have enjoyed this book. However, I felt incredibly eh about it.
if you've seen the movie by the same name, the movie is the first third of the book. I have not seen the sequels but from those that have, they encompass the rest of the story.
I found the first third interesting and I vividly recalled the movie parts as they came up. But once we reached the part where the first movie stopped, I really had trouble focusing and caring about the characters.
In the end I felt that the book was aptly named... as it felt like it was neverending.
if you've seen the movie by the same name, the movie is the first third of the book. I have not seen the sequels but from those that have, they encompass the rest of the story.
I found the first third interesting and I vividly recalled the movie parts as they came up. But once we reached the part where the first movie stopped, I really had trouble focusing and caring about the characters.
In the end I felt that the book was aptly named... as it felt like it was neverending.
caytlynn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was interesting to say the least. I have found memories of the movie and honestly the book reads pretty similar to movies one and two. But reading this book is a totally different experience from seeing it. Maybe seeing the movies before reading it out me at a disadvantage but I just didn’t feel super excited while reading it or ever gave the urge to not put it down. I enjoyed reading it but I don’t think it will ever be a repeat by any means due to lack of excitement for me overall.
jazsever's review against another edition
5.0
Lo he amado y no tengo palabras para describir lo increíble que es. Todo el mundo debería leer este libro alguna vez.
blbstorey's review against another edition
3.0
I'd heard of this book (and the movie made from it) for years, and was curious - a classic always intrigues me. So I finally read it.
The description of the world of Fantastica is brilliantly done - so imaginative. I'd love to know if there is a book with better illustrations at the beginning of each chapter than the paperback edition I have. I'm a bit more curious about the movie now, though I'm not sure animation could do the writer's imagination justice.
But I'm still a little confused about the point of the book. Every story is new each time you read it, because you're a different PERSON each time you read it? Getting lost in your imagination can be a bad thing, because you can forget who you are? Always trust your friends? The imagination is a very powerful thing? And what/who IS the Childlike Empress, really? Why did she never come back?
That's pretty much what I got out of it. It was a good book, but it wasn't spectacular, as I'd thought it might be. And I don't think I'd ever read it again, so it falls a bit short of my definition of classic.
The description of the world of Fantastica is brilliantly done - so imaginative. I'd love to know if there is a book with better illustrations at the beginning of each chapter than the paperback edition I have. I'm a bit more curious about the movie now, though I'm not sure animation could do the writer's imagination justice.
But I'm still a little confused about the point of the book. Every story is new each time you read it, because you're a different PERSON each time you read it? Getting lost in your imagination can be a bad thing, because you can forget who you are? Always trust your friends? The imagination is a very powerful thing? And what/who IS the Childlike Empress, really? Why did she never come back?
That's pretty much what I got out of it. It was a good book, but it wasn't spectacular, as I'd thought it might be. And I don't think I'd ever read it again, so it falls a bit short of my definition of classic.
berad89's review against another edition
5.0
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende is hands down one of the most physically beautiful books I have ever read. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are gorgeous, and the different colored words depending on what world you're reading about is beautiful. The edition shown above is the one I read and own. It was published in 1983, so I don't know what other editions look like.
I loved all the fantastical creatures introduced in the world of Fantastica. It is like walking into the imagination of a child, which is the point. I love the story of strength, courage, and knowing who you are.
My only regret with this book is having not read it as a child. I enjoyed it immensely but would have so much more if I were younger.
Overall, I give The Neverending Story by Michael Ende 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone, especially children.
I loved all the fantastical creatures introduced in the world of Fantastica. It is like walking into the imagination of a child, which is the point. I love the story of strength, courage, and knowing who you are.
My only regret with this book is having not read it as a child. I enjoyed it immensely but would have so much more if I were younger.
Overall, I give The Neverending Story by Michael Ende 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone, especially children.
daryberry's review
5.0
I whole heartedly love how Ende wrote Bastian as sad and lonely, and then to be blinded by success, good looks, strength, only to realize at the end, that it all doesn’t really matter. One tricky thing that I realized only a few chapters into the book, was that the chapters began with the letters of the alphabet in alphabetical order, and it amazed me. So much work must have gone into creating this magical story, with all it’s beautiful places and characters and I adore it. One ironical thing that just now striked me, is that Ende means ‘end’ in German, but the story is neverending.. Probably uncorrelated but nonetheless funny.
https://iridescentbooksblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/review-the-neverending-story-by-michael-ende/
https://iridescentbooksblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/review-the-neverending-story-by-michael-ende/
anna_s31's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
quinny's review against another edition
2.0
Als Kind hätte es mir sicher besser gefallen. Ab der Hälfte des Buches wurde die Geschichte für mich ziemlich langweilig.
readgreed's review against another edition
5.0
I first read this book after watching the movie in 1984 and boy was I blown away by how the light fantasy adventure themes evolved into something far more introspective. Since then, this is a book I try to re-read at least once every decade and reading the bitter-sweet last chapters still wrenches my heart despite me knowing what the ending entails.
This has become my favorite book ever and the structure of the storytelling - shifting between the boy and the fantasy, and how they end up interacting together - became the inspiration for my own book series 'Beacon Trilogy' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNLHNJ4R?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk).
This has become my favorite book ever and the structure of the storytelling - shifting between the boy and the fantasy, and how they end up interacting together - became the inspiration for my own book series 'Beacon Trilogy' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNLHNJ4R?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk).