When I think of my favorite childhood books, The Neverending Story is the first one that comes to mind. After all, this book was the book that really sparked my love for reading. It’s a fantastic story and if you haven’t read this book at least once in your life, you’re missing out!
First published in 1979 and then translated in English in 1983, “The Neverending Story” centers on a boy who is given wishes after saving “Fantasia”. With each wish, Bastian loses a memory of his life in the real world and risks staying in the imaginative world of Fantasia forever. Read my review for The Neverending Story here.
Many people have seen the movie but very few have read the book that inspired it. Whhaaaa? I know, right!?
The author, Michael Ende, was supportive of the movie’s production at first but later became the movie’s biggest critic. He claimed that the movie’s Director, Wolfgang Peterson, secretly rewrote the script after Ende’s final review and denounced the movie during a press conference in Stuttgart. Ende later demanded his name be removed from the credits stating, “the makers of the film simply did not understand the book….. they just wanted to make money.”
He later filed a lawsuit against the production company claiming a breach of contract in an attempt to halt the making of the movie’s sequel. “My moral and artistic existence is at stake in this film.” He subsequently lost the case.
Although I happened to like the movie, I do agree that the underlining meaning of the story is lost and many of the major scenes were kept out. We hear it a lot but in this case it is true: the book really is better than the movie.
What does Bastian name the Empress?
Don’t view the answer if you haven’t read the book!
Momo
Also known as The Grey Gentlemen or The Men in Grey, was my second favorite Michael Ende book. Although intended to be a children’s book, “Momo” appeals to both children and adults for it’s thought provoking sentiments and it’s deeper, underlining message.
First published in Germany in 1973 and the United States in 1985, “Momo” focuses on the concept of time and how it is used by humans in modern societies. It’s a strange story of time-thieves and the child (Momo) who brought the stolen time back to the people who’ve fallen victim to the Men in Grey and their sinister plot. With the illusion that people were “investing” their time, they actually lost it. Read my review of Momo here.
“Momo” was An English movie adaption was also produced in 1986, in which Michael Ende himself played a small role as the narrator. The book is still better (of course!) but the movie follows fairly well compared to most movie adaptions often seen in book remakes.
Michael Ende’s work highly influenced my love for reading as a kid. His books introduced me to magical realism; a concept new to me at the time, and yet still indulged my young girl’s heart for fantasy and adventure. No matter how many times I re-read these books – I still walk away with something new to ponder.
