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The Neverending Story
Discover the classic coming-of-age adventure of a young boy and a mysterious 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
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
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Community Reviews
This is my first time reading this book. I fell in love with the movie as a child when it came out and have watched it more times than I have fingers and toes to count on.
When I discovered there was a book AND there was a second half to it not included in the movie, I included it on my TBR immediately. Short response - I like the movie better. That might be due to the movie being the original medium I was exposed to it, but I think it's because the second half was so unlike what I thought it would be.
The Neverending Story is a delightful children's fantasy in the first half, a very dark and adult second half. I can definitely understand why the second half was not included in the movie and the writers made the right decision in that regard, in my opinion.
We first meet a child named Bastian as he runs into a bookstore to hide from bullies from school. A series of events occur there that lead to him fleeing with a very special book that seemed to call to him. Bastian hides out in the attic at school, positive he is now a fugitive on the run from the bullies AND the law for stealing a book.
Bastian hunkers down and cracks open the book and begins to read about the Great Quest given to the book's main character, Atreyu. As Bastian reads, there are moments where he feels the book's characters seem to know he's *there* and he begins to feel as though he is part of this story.....
What a wonderful story - I am so glad to have now read the complete tale and adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux and the great hero of Fantastica, Atreyu. :D
When I discovered there was a book AND there was a second half to it not included in the movie, I included it on my TBR immediately. Short response - I like the movie better. That might be due to the movie being the original medium I was exposed to it, but I think it's because the second half was so unlike what I thought it would be.
The Neverending Story is a delightful children's fantasy in the first half, a very dark and adult second half. I can definitely understand why the second half was not included in the movie and the writers made the right decision in that regard, in my opinion.
We first meet a child named Bastian as he runs into a bookstore to hide from bullies from school. A series of events occur there that lead to him fleeing with a very special book that seemed to call to him. Bastian hides out in the attic at school, positive he is now a fugitive on the run from the bullies AND the law for stealing a book.
Bastian hunkers down and cracks open the book and begins to read about the Great Quest given to the book's main character, Atreyu. As Bastian reads, there are moments where he feels the book's characters seem to know he's *there* and he begins to feel as though he is part of this story.....
What a wonderful story - I am so glad to have now read the complete tale and adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux and the great hero of Fantastica, Atreyu. :D
The first time I read The Neverending Story I was 16. A friend had a hardback copy and I was fascinated by the beautiful art at the beginning of each chapter - just as described in the story - and by the alternating colours of text - again, just like in the story. Fast forward nearly 30 years and I own the book - if for no other reason than that it is beautiful - and I now have the distinct pleasure of reading it to my daughters. It is still a five star read. Wonderful, rich writing. The way Ende captures you as part of the story is quite magical and clever. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys fantasy and is a child at heart.
I first saw the film and was enchanted with it, and so I sought out the book at the local library in the 1980's. It's a magical book with such fun characters, and it made a big impact on me. It transporting me like "Bastian" into the world of Fantastica/Fantasia, and it moved me.
This is still one of my favorites. Haven't found that same hardcover version since, but it had 2 snakes on the cover and was magical!
This is still one of my favorites. Haven't found that same hardcover version since, but it had 2 snakes on the cover and was magical!
Wow, what a surprise. Even though the book follows the pattern of quest and adventure stories, it was full of surprises when it came to the development of the characters. The adventures themselves were so full of the gamut of human emotion- scary, funny, disgusting, sweet, and oftentimes exasperating. It was so good, I'm not even going to complain that it should have been edited down a bit because if the title of your book is The Neverending Story, you're allowed to drag it out as much as you please.
P.S. Full disclosure, I saw the movie on PBS when I was a kid, but I don't remember it that much and I fell asleep, so it really had no end for me until I read the book this week.
P.S. Full disclosure, I saw the movie on PBS when I was a kid, but I don't remember it that much and I fell asleep, so it really had no end for me until I read the book this week.
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