The Neverending Story in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Jul 30, 2014 Bill Doughty rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy, magic, fiction

Maybe I'm biased because I watched the movie a lot as a kid and it famously only adapts the first half of the book, but I only really enjoyed the quest story of that first half. After that it becomes a cautionary tale about what happens when a Certain Kind of Nerd attains some measure of authority, and as a geeky kind of guy who talks to people on the internet I see enough of that every day. Also, that back half is tediously episodic, long overstaying its welcome with its roundabout "shaggy dog" ...more

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Oct 19, 2014 Dana Berglund rated it really liked it

Shelves: kids, booksintomovies

As a child, I loved the movie, and somehow DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A BOOK. So, finally, I am reading it, but it is impossible to separate my feelings about it from my feelings about the movies. I can't think critically about this book! I also can't stop myself from wondering about the translator and what liberties he took. (How would it be different if a new translator took on the task? I regret not being able to read in German!)
The story is wonderful, if occasionally flawed. The book design is beaut ...more

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Oct 18, 2008 Rhiannon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This is great because when you start the book, it seems like it's going to be all about the transformative power of reading, but it's mostly about the dangers of reading, which is a much more interesting theme. Also, Bastian is like the anti-Harry Potter, because Harry's all-consuming narcissism is ultimately justified because he is the greatest person to have ever walked the earth, but Bastian's all-consuming narcissism is a sign of deeper character flaws. I liked that.

Also, Atreyu and Falkor k ...more

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