Auntie Terror reviewed Die unendliche Geschichte by Michael Ende
Review of 'Die unendliche Geschichte' on 'Storygraph'
3 stars
2.5 stars.
The title is not false advertising - I definitely felt like this book would never end for basically the second half of it, i.e. once Bastian finally got into the world of Phantásien.
Having reached the end after all, I have to say that I have never read a children's/young adults' book before which was quite as devoid of humour or lightheartedness. The book also is stark with conservative gender clichés (to say it nicely, the few female characters are basically archetypes, with the depth of your average playing card), and steeped to sogginess in "Christian" esotericism in the second half.
At quite a few points I was wondering whether the author had actually ever met a child, or been one. It isn't that I think children's books mustn't contain any serious or sinister topics. But to throw para-religious damnation, redemption and salvation tropes at unsuspecting young readers …
2.5 stars.
The title is not false advertising - I definitely felt like this book would never end for basically the second half of it, i.e. once Bastian finally got into the world of Phantásien.
Having reached the end after all, I have to say that I have never read a children's/young adults' book before which was quite as devoid of humour or lightheartedness. The book also is stark with conservative gender clichés (to say it nicely, the few female characters are basically archetypes, with the depth of your average playing card), and steeped to sogginess in "Christian" esotericism in the second half.
At quite a few points I was wondering whether the author had actually ever met a child, or been one. It isn't that I think children's books mustn't contain any serious or sinister topics. But to throw para-religious damnation, redemption and salvation tropes at unsuspecting young readers this thickly and, honestly, bleakly... I don't know, maybe I'm just not into guilt as a motivational tool enough.
To sum it up: I actually liked the first half, but could have done without the second completely. I don't know why this is still considered a children's classic, to be honest. Lack of competition at the time, maybe?
