The Neverending Story is a fantasy novel written by Michael Ende. It was first published in 1979 and has since become a beloved classic. The story revolves around a young boy named Bastian Balthazar Bux, who discovers a magical book called "The Neverending Story" in a bookstore. As Bastian starts to read the book, he is transported into the magical land of Fantastica. Fantastica is a realm filled with talking creatures, mythical beasts, and incredible landscapes. The land is in danger, as an entity known as "The Nothing" is slowly consuming and destroying everything in its path.
You never know, you might be able to say, along with Scorpious187 in the comments section: “This video changed my life. My wife will let me fix things now… occasionally.”
Or, maybe, this emotional connection with these chunky books is linked to my unwillingness to let go of physical books in spite of my desire to go digital and move away from the lazy I-can-just-look-at-these-on-the-Internet-for-free excuse as I do with textbooks for my classes. What sets the bookstore apart from others is that it s filled with thick, colorful art books, usually imported from Europe, filled with visuals and text about art anything that might relate to art and artisanship.
The land is in danger, as an entity known as "The Nothing" is slowly consuming and destroying everything in its path. Bastian soon learns that he plays a crucial role in the fate of Fantastica. He becomes aware that the creatures in the book can see and hear him, and he gradually becomes intertwined within the narrative.
The Magic of Coffee Table Books
As I was packing for my trip from Istanbul to Philadelphia this January, my mother and I found ourselves staring at the bulky luggage that was essentially filled with thick, heavy books, which, ironically, was a situation I had been trying to avoid.
I was very motivated by this ambition of becoming a “paperless” student — I would ditch all those heavy textbooks and unindexed notebooks in favor of my iPad that I could carry anywhere. I turned this premise of not having to carry around books or journals into a source of pride, as I procrastinated while watching all the YouTube videos about how college students go paperless with their iPads, to-do lists, calendars, and neatly organized Notion wikis.
Yet there I was, quite ironically, trying to figure out how to fit most, if not all, of my heavy art books in my luggage to bring to my new home at Penn. This huge stack of heavy, colorful, and beautiful art books (also characterized as “coffee table books” by many) is a result of years of collecting due to the allure of one bookstore at the heart of Istanbul.
I have found myself in the particular situation too many times in which I’m running out of time to find a “fun fact” for my introduction in a Zoom call full of students with genuinely interesting facts, and I have no choice but to resort to my trusty fun fact that naturally comes with being a highschooler in Istanbul.
“Well, the city of Istanbul actually spans both the European and the Asian continents with bridges in between,” I gleefully (and somewhat flauntingly) announce. “And because I live on the Asian side but go to a school on the European side, I have to take this underground metro-train-thingy along the Bosphorus every morning and afternoon to switch continents.”
Works like a charm every time! Many peers look impressed by the sheer exotica that this casual account of my daily intercontinental commute exudes—to the point where I actually convince myself that it is, indeed, an interesting fact.
Though, as I reflect on my last couple years of high school as an Istanbulite, I feel like I stepped out of my routine of going back to the Asian side right after leaving my gymnasium building located in the historical district of Fatih, where Byzantine ruins and Greek/Roman architectural hints remind the Istanbulite of yesterday’s Constantinople.
But instead of my usual route back to the Asian continent, I stay in the European side and take the metro from the Fatih district to Nişantaşı, which is usually known to be one of Istanbul’s fancy, hip districts. As I exit the metro station, I pass by Mhitaryan Varjaran Armenian School and the neighboring Anarad Hığutyun building that hosts the Hrant Dink Foundation and the late journalist’s daily Armenian-Turkish newspaper.
Right down the street I pass by the apartments, cafés, and boutiques housed in the Art Nouveau buildings that contribute to the European aura but also feel very Ottoman for some reason. And finally I arrive at the bookstore, the subject of my sacred ritual.
What sets the bookstore apart from others is that it’s filled with thick, colorful art books, usually imported from Europe, filled with visuals and text about art—anything that might relate to art and artisanship. I usually sit on their comfy sofa and pet the in-house feline shopping assistant (if I’m lucky) while spending hours browsing the impressive catalogue of books published by Phaidon, Taschen, Thames-Hudson, and indie publishers, of course.
What has an attention-grabbing cover might turn out to be an extensive account of Yves Klein’s monochrome paintings, a collection of Ren Hang’s works of photography that shed light on Chinese eroticism, a visual account of the evolution of Mickey Mouse, photographs of flowers that capture “the world of bloom”, archives of haute couture collections, a super-colorful chronology of David Hockney, or almost anything you can manage to print on reasonable sizes of paper.
Illustration by Elyssa ChouAs I leave the store with the newest additions to my collection, a sense of guilt reigns in, as I start worrying about where to store them. Ostensibly, these “coffee table books” are supposed to decorate the table in the living room, but this was right before I was headed to Philly for the spring semester in the coming months.
I think I especially value having those large chunks of paper around because there is this sense of ownership and appreciation of the books’ art and artistry that comes with their weight and volume and overall physical presence, and not only because they’re nice to decorate a fancy “coffee table”. Or, maybe, this emotional connection with these chunky books is linked to my unwillingness to let go of physical books in spite of my desire to go digital and move away from the lazy I-can-just-look-at-these-on-the-Internet-for-free excuse as I do with textbooks for my classes.
Aside from the allure of having the books in my living space though, I love visiting the small Nişantaşı bookstore, have a little chat and çay with the owner, learn about publishers I haven’t yet heard of and their releases on art and architecture, while I support small business(es).
And that organic connection in the appreciation of printed art, I think, will never be replaced no matter how advanced digital publications become or how attractive innovations in the art market seem (and yes, I’m talking about NFTs).
I know I sound like an 80-year-old finding excuses to resist the modern world by talking about analog connections and whatnot, but I actually didn’t bring any of my paperback novels or textbooks with me to Philadelphia, because I use a Kindle for books without pictures and an iPad for any textbooks–both of which I love using.
But I encourage you to go to your local bookstore or library, talk with some people about what you enjoy, maybe buy or rent a few books either just for decoration because it has a pretty cover, or because it’s a chronicle of your favorite artist or an era within art history that you enjoy, or because you think it would be a nice gift for your friend that knows too much about the history of industrial design (trust me, it will be). And, hopefully, you will also find yourself in that stressful situation of luggage filled with chunky books.
Albert Einstein said, “ Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity ”.
Encountering characters such as Atreyu, a young warrior who is sent on a quest to save Fantastica, and Falkor, a luckdragon who befriends Bastian, the young boy must face his own fears and doubts in order to help save the world within the book. Throughout the Neverending Story, the theme of the power of imagination is prevalent. It explores the idea that imagination has the ability to shape reality and influence the course of events. As Bastian reads the book, he realizes that his wishes and desires can change the story and even alter the fate of the characters within it. The novel also delves into the concept of the "never-ending" nature of stories and the importance of allowing stories to continue and evolve. Ende emphasizes that stories should not be confined to the boundaries of a book but should be allowed to live on in the minds of readers, as their interpretations and imaginations give the stories eternal life. In addition to its fantastical elements, The Neverending Story also touches on deeper themes such as the power of friendship, the consequences of unchecked power, and the importance of self-belief. It presents a world where imagination and creativity are highly valued and encourages readers to embrace their own unique abilities. Overall, The Neverending Story is an enchanting and thought-provoking tale that has captivated generations of readers. It celebrates the transformative power of storytelling and reminds us of the enduring magic that can be found within the pages of a book..
Reviews for "Crystals and Gemstones Associated with the Nevwrnding Story Amuley"
1. Emily - 1 star
I really didn't enjoy "Nevwrnding story amuley". The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. The characters lacked depth and development, and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The pacing was also incredibly slow, with long stretches of nothing happening. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Alex - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Nevwrnding story amuley", but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing style felt disjointed and lacked cohesiveness. The world-building was weak and inconsistent, leaving many gaps in the story. The dialogue was also stilted and unnatural, making it hard to engage with the characters. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars
"Nevwrnding story amuley" was just okay for me. The premise was intriguing, but it failed to deliver on its promises. The pacing was uneven, with rushed moments followed by lengthy descriptions that added little to the story. I also felt that the characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth. Ultimately, I wasn't captivated by this book and found it difficult to stay engaged.