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Mar 12, 2018JCLAyahA rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Reader's know the premise of this story and how inspiring it is. I read it again recently and was struck by just how many layers of meaning and profound metaphysical speculation characterize this book. If you've read it, read it again. If you haven't, you're missing out. On the one hand, Ende is incredibly structured in his writing. Like any airtight fantasy, the world has rules that can't be violated (and that have meaningful implications for those of us interested in meta fiction and physics). Even the chapters are organized alongside the letters of the alphabet, with each letter starting its own chapter. This is pretty remarkable for us foreign readers when you consider that the original was in German. Despite the structure and internal logic of the story, it feels as free flowing and unpredictable as the weather, which probably accounts for everyone's imaginative response to the book. It doesn't feel rigid at all. It's as if you're experiencing it in real time. Reading this story really feels like being inside your own dream. Best of all, despite its darkness (the movie only covers the first 25%, so buckle up), this book ultimately has an uplifting message at its core, and it isn't shy about it.