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A review by poisonenvy
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
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