The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (spoilers)

[Gravy]

A short review for those who have not read this book.

Bastian Balthazar Bux, a young boy bullied and harrased, runs into a used book store to escape the boys chasing him.
While there, he finds a book that peaks his interest.
The shops owner is a curmudgeonly old fart. The two argue a bit and Bastian takes the book without permission.
But that's just what ol' Carl Conrad Coriander wanted him to do.

Bastian sneaks up to his schools attic and hides there, reading The neverending Story.
He reads as Atreyu, a native boy with skin the color of olives, leaves his homeland on a quest to save Fantastica.
He must go alone and with nothing.
He must travel far and face many dangers.
All the while he is hunted by a darkness.

Fantastica is disappearing. Whole swaths of land have been consumed by the nothingness. Not holes, for holes would be something, just nothing...as far as the eye can see, if the eye could see...nothing.

Through the twists and turns of the book Atreyu learns that it was never his fate to save Fantastica, he was to bring Bastian into their world so he could save it.

Bastian enters into the book and goes on his own adventures.
He sees many great things finds friends in this fantastic world.
But he is losing who he is.
But that is another story and shall be told another time.

The print in this book (at least in every copy I've read) is not black. It's green and red. Any part about Atreyu is one and about Bastian is the other. I feel like this adds to the fantasy feel of the book.
I love the beginning of this book. I love the flow and the feel.

I love this book...I know others do as well so I wanted to start a discussion about it.
I love The House Of Change, Grograman, The Night forest, and The Desert Of Many Colors.
I also love Falcor.
I love the characters and the fantastical whimsy this story possesses.
This book is hopeful and inspiring. It also holds a dark fairytale feel to it.
This is probably the world I would want to live in above all others.
Of course...I might be a bit biased.

How do you feel about it?

[ALynnPowers]

Don't hate me. I have never read this book. I have also never seen the movie, but all of my friends were really into it way back in the 90's. I never watched it because I thought it looked scary. I don't know why I thought this. I also thought that it never ended... for obvious reasons... so I didn't want to start it if it would take forever to finish, and I just didn't have that much time.

I'm actually not even joking this time. This is how my elementary brain worked.

[gali]

I have read this book in my childhood and loved it!!

I have a copy of it at home. I always meant to reread it and never got around to do so. Thank you for reminding me about this great book.

-- October 1st, 2014, 6:32 pm --

Don't hate me. I have never read this book. I have also never seen the movie, but all of my friends were really into it way back in the 90's. I never watched it because I thought it looked scary. I don't know why I thought this. I also thought that it never ended... for obvious reasons... so I didn't want to start it if it would take forever to finish, and I just didn't have that much time.

I'm actually not even joking this time. This is how my elementary brain worked.

The book isn't scary at all and I think you will like it. It is a great read.

[Gravy]

Don't hate me. I have never read this book. I have also never seen the movie, but all of my friends were really into it way back in the 90's. I never watched it because I thought it looked scary. I don't know why I thought this. I also thought that it never ended... for obvious reasons... so I didn't want to start it if it would take forever to finish, and I just didn't have that much time.

I'm actually not even joking this time. This is how my elementary brain worked.

Oh that is unacceptable!

Seriously though? Great! Book!

I've lost count of how many times I've reread this book and it makes me want to learn German so I can read it in it's original language. That doesn't make me a geek, does it?

I have read this book in my childhood and loved it!!

I have a copy of it at home. I always meant to reread it and never got around to do so. Thank you for reminding me about this great book.

You are very welcome
I couldn't believe there wasn't a thread for it already to be honest.

[Bonnie]

The same here. The first time I read it, I was about nine and since then I reread it every couple of years.
And even though I know most chapters by heart, I can still laugh about the "Winzling" and his "racing snail"(not sure about the english translation), I'm still crying when it comes to Atréju leaving Artax behind, and now matter how many times I read the part with the chained werewolf, it's still creepy.

Is the english edition printed in two different colours, too?

At Graverobber: Have you read "The Night of Wishes"? If not, I can highly recommend it. It's the perfect read for the end of the year, and very funny.

[Gravy]

Is the english edition printed in two different colours, too?

At Graverobber: Have you read "The Night of Wishes"? If not, I can highly recommend it. It's the perfect read for the end of the year, and very funny.

It is. Red and green...(I have actually wondered if the original was so I guess that's answered )

The english edition also has 26 chapters...each starting with the corresponding letter of the alphabet .
Is it the same in the original?
Does anybody know?

Yes I read Night of Wishes...I liked it.
I also read Momo

Michael Ende had a great imagination!

[Bonnie]

The english edition also has 26 chapters...each starting with the corresponding letter of the alphabet .
Is it the same in the original?
Does anybody know?

I also read Momo

It is. And each of the letters is framed with beautiful illustrations, showing the characters of the chapter that's following.
The original cover is plain grey with white lettering, showing the outline of "Aurin". Which on the other hand shows an old-fashioned colourful picture of an alley with the ivory tower at the end of it.

As for "Momo", I guess I'm one of the few poeple who didn't liked it.

[Gravy]

As for "Momo", I guess I'm one of the few poeple who didn't liked it.

I thought it was a little strange.
Definitely not like his other books.
But I liked the Grey Men aspect of it...and the way he used time.

Nothing can beat The Neverendig Story though

[ALynnPowers]

Is Momo about a peach? I only ask because Momo means "peach" in Japanese, and that's about all this word means to me.
I feel like I lived a very sheltered life now....

[Gravy]

Is Momo about a peach? I only ask because Momo means "peach" in Japanese, and that's about all this word means to me.
I feel like I lived a very sheltered life now....

Momo is an orphaned girl.
She has a gift for listening.
She's the only one who might be able to save her town from the Grey Men.

Momo is a pretty insane book.
The Grey Men are time thieves.

It really is a great book and a nice way to be introduced to the writing of Michael Ende if you aren't sure enough to try a full novel.
But Bonnie is also right. Night of Wishes is a bit more colorful...I did not intend the pun but it works.
I would probably be willing to read anything by him.

[ALynnPowers]

More... books... to... read... must... never... sleep....

[Gravy]

More... books... to... read... must... never... sleep....

Is this code?
Are you asking me to suggest more books?

[JennaFay]

I'm so excited there is a discussion about this book! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one I know who's read it. Especially because everyone I know has seen and watched the movie and me... well, after reading the book about twenty times, I can't say I'm a huge fan. The movie is fine for what it is, but the book is just reaches me in a way that little else has. I have to say, I generally prefer the first half of the book to the second, before Bastian goes to Fantastica, mostly because I enjoy the scenes of Bastian in the attic, and Atreyu's journey. I do like Bastian's journey afterwards, and I think it's necessary for him if the book is going to have any true message, but the kid who spent a lot of time curled up with a book liked reading about another kid who did the same thing. Then again, there's something kind of neat about how it works - first Bastian reads about an adventurer like himself, and then he becomes the adventure, and you the reader becomes Bastian. When I was younger, I used to make the same lunch that Bastian did, go and hide in my room, and read it all in one sitting. Did anybody else do that?

I also don't think it's weird to want to read it in the original German. There's always some nuance that gets left out of translations, even if German does share a number of similarities with English.

[Gravy]

I'm so excited there is a discussion about this book! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one I know who's read it.

I know what you mean.

When I was younger, I used to make the same lunch that Bastian did, go and hide in my room, and read it all in one sitting. Did anybody else do that?

I must confess to doing this...after I saw the movie before I had read the book. With what book I was reading at the time anyway.
I still love the movie (it's a part of me what can I say?) But the book is beyond anything anyone who's only seen the movie can imagine!

It makes me sad to think of people never knowing this masterpiece!

I must say though that I love it when Bastian enters Fantastica. Some of my favorite parts are after that.
The Night Forest and Grograman.
The shlamoofs (I don't think I'm spelling that right) and the City Of Old Emperors.
I love Atreyu though to.
The whole book is awesome.
I just wish I could nominate IT for the book of the month.

[ALynnPowers]

More... books... to... read... must... never... sleep....

Is this code?
Are you asking me to suggest more books?

No!!!
You are such a bad influence on me!!!! Or a really good influence on the book economy!