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rystonlentil43's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There is so much to chew on in this book! I think the first time I read it, when I was a kid, I only thought about the ideas about life the book is directly considering, but it's also full of implicit ideas about fantasy stories which are interesting to examine.
On a more straightforward level, it was fun to be invited to imagine a constant string of efficiently described and unique places and characters.
On a more straightforward level, it was fun to be invited to imagine a constant string of efficiently described and unique places and characters.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Bullying, Violence, and Death
jkpiowa's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I loved the movie as a kid, so I wanted to read the source material and eh... I prefer the movie.
I get that this was from the 70s, but only referring to Bastian as fat, pale, and weak over and over? And the "greenskins" that hunt the purple buffalo and are referred to as "savage"? Come on now.
I might have enjoyed this more as a kid, but still, as an adult I've read much better middle grade stories.
I get that this was from the 70s, but only referring to Bastian as fat, pale, and weak over and over? And the "greenskins" that hunt the purple buffalo and are referred to as "savage"? Come on now.
I might have enjoyed this more as a kid, but still, as an adult I've read much better middle grade stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Animal death
Moderate: Fatphobia, Violence, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent and Racism
ladylothlorien's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have mixed thoughts on this book because the writing style was a little weird to me. Things happened very quickly and there was a lot of “telling not showing” happening. It’s possible part of that is because it’s geared towards children, particularly boys. But I think it’s also because there are two halves to the book: the first half is familiar if you’ve seen the movie; it’s how Bastian comes to Fantastica and saves the Childlike Empress. The second half is Bastian’s adventures in Fantastica (I.e., Bastian learns the life lessons Fantastica has to teach him). It got a little tedious to watch him essentially throw a long tantrum but there were very sweet stories towards the end. So overall I have to give it four stars for a good story about a neglected boy who learns to love and shows his grief stricken father how to love again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Violence, Animal death, Suicide, and Bullying
If you’ve seen the film you know about the animal death. It is in some ways more devastating in the book; I cried like a childpoisonenvy's review against another edition
This is the sort of book that makes me wish I had children, because I would have liked very much to read this story to them at night before bed, and maybe ask how they would write their own story in Fantastica.
Unfortunately, just reading it for myself was a bit of a slough. Firsr, the most basic complaint: 1979 was a very different time, but having Bastian complaining about how fat and ugly he is and then immediately turning him slender and handsome once he comes to Fantastica is an issue.
And for the more systemic issues?
This book's pacing is all over the place. Every conflict is immediately solved without the slightest bit of difficulty. It's just boring, and not especially well written, and Bastian is not a terribly likeable character, but he's likewise not a terribly <I>interesting</I> character, and once the story truly becomes his in the second half, if just couldn't hold me.
Children's literature went through a huge transformation in the 90s, where the characters developed more depth, the stories more complexity, and it shifted from stories that were meant to impart lessons to stories that were meant to entertain. .
But there are a ton of examples of early children's lit that still safisfy, such as J.R.R. Tolkien, and George MacDonald.
Unfortunately, this is not it.
I still trust that this would be a good story to read to a young child, but it's just not something I'm interested in reading as an adult, especially when there are other books I want to read more keenly.
Unfortunately, just reading it for myself was a bit of a slough. Firsr, the most basic complaint: 1979 was a very different time, but having Bastian complaining about how fat and ugly he is and then immediately turning him slender and handsome once he comes to Fantastica is an issue.
And for the more systemic issues?
This book's pacing is all over the place. Every conflict is immediately solved without the slightest bit of difficulty. It's just boring, and not especially well written, and Bastian is not a terribly likeable character, but he's likewise not a terribly <I>interesting</I> character, and once the story truly becomes his in the second half, if just couldn't hold me.
Children's literature went through a huge transformation in the 90s, where the characters developed more depth, the stories more complexity, and it shifted from stories that were meant to impart lessons to stories that were meant to entertain. .
But there are a ton of examples of early children's lit that still safisfy, such as J.R.R. Tolkien, and George MacDonald.
Unfortunately, this is not it.
I still trust that this would be a good story to read to a young child, but it's just not something I'm interested in reading as an adult, especially when there are other books I want to read more keenly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Bullying
thesecretsapphic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Bullying
hedsek's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Mijn favoriet als kind, en het is daadwerkelijk nog steeds goed om als volwassene te lezen! De worldbuilding is echt amazing, de plaatsen en karakters zijn zo creatief en beeldend geschreven. Een paar hoofdstukken kon ik me nog heel goed herinneren omdat ik nog precies wist hoe alles eruit zag en nu ik het boek opnieuw geledezen heb snap ik ook weer goed waarom het me zo bijgebleven is. Ik zie veel reviews waarin mensen zeggen dat ze de tweede helft niet leuk vinden omdat de hoofdpersoon daar iemand anders is, maar ik vind het juist goed werken om een flawed main character te hebben in dit verhaal. Sowieso is de ontwikkeling van de hoofdpersoon belangrijk, maar daarnaast werkt het ook gewoon heel goed met de mechanics van de wereld. Terecht een klassieker wat mij betreft!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, and Bullying
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