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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4/5 - I remember watching Stardust as a child and being star-struck. The book was beautiful. The prose was just masterful. I will definitely being reading more Neil Gaiman.
I am a bit harsh on the review, because I have been a fan of Neil Gaiman for a while, and read several other works of his. While the book is at lenghts immeasurable better than that weird film they made out of it (which I watched as a child and I am ashamed to admit made me reluctant to finally read this. The book is sweet and has obvious charms such as the writing style and fantasy aspects. However there were several elements that I just could not quite grow to like, such as certain story elements, too simplified characters and too obvious storyline.
Overall it is not a bad book, but in my opinion not one of Neil Gaimans best.
Overall it is not a bad book, but in my opinion not one of Neil Gaimans best.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Neil Gaiman, but comparatively, I enjoyed the movie more.
this is written as a fairytale in its own right. there is a sense of whimsy in the writing that Gaiman chose, which added to the fairytale aspect.
that being said, there were moments throughout that felt dull and were hard to read. there wasn't much of a driving force that propelled the story forward. it was more of a leisurely stroll. that's one of the reasons I prefer the movie. there's more anticipation. granted, it is difficult to it all of that into a 230 page book.
this is written as a fairytale in its own right. there is a sense of whimsy in the writing that Gaiman chose, which added to the fairytale aspect.
that being said, there were moments throughout that felt dull and were hard to read. there wasn't much of a driving force that propelled the story forward. it was more of a leisurely stroll. that's one of the reasons I prefer the movie. there's more anticipation. granted, it is difficult to it all of that into a 230 page book.
Perhaps the most happy/sad ending of all time? I really expected this to end just like the movie. In the movie, Babylon candles do more than just transport you quickly like 7-league boots. They transport you anywhere, and in the movie, getting back to the stars can be done with a Babylon candle. Yvaine giving her heart to Tristran in the movie also prolongs his life, and they, after eighty years together on earth (having children and grandchildren) finally light the Babylon candle and go to Yvaine's home in the stars.
The book isn't quite so fairytale-ish and I absolutely love it. Babylon candles are more like the 7-league boots in Howl's Moving Castle, and the sad truth is that Yvaine can never go back to the sky. Now that she has fallen she is here for good, and perhaps forever. So when she and Tristran marry and live together for his life, it IS a beautiful happy story. They cannot have children, but they love each other and are extremely happy for as long as he lives. But death steals in, as it always does, stealing away a happy forever, and he does eventually die, leaving Yvaine alone. The last paragraph ends with "she says nothing at all, but simply stares upward into the dark sky and watches, with sad eyes, the slow dance of the infinite stars".
REALLY NEIL? MUST YOU CRUSH MY HEART LIKE THAT? And yes, you have now stolen my heart as well, and I am your fan.
The writing reminds me of Dianne Wynne Jones and the wonderful Howl's Moving Castle. It was a quick enjoyable read. I absolutely love it. The ending is definitely less dramatic in the book. Instead of a giant fight at the witch castle, the witch talks to Yvaine at the market just outside of Wall, and realizes that Yvaine's heart is lost to her because she has given it to Tristran. There is no last fight, and she is not killed by Yvaine's glow as in the movie.
I love both, the movie and the book; although I think I do like the book just a tinsy bit more because of that ending. And also this: “Have been unavoidably detained by the world. Expect us when you see us.”
The book isn't quite so fairytale-ish and I absolutely love it. Babylon candles are more like the 7-league boots in Howl's Moving Castle, and the sad truth is that Yvaine can never go back to the sky. Now that she has fallen she is here for good, and perhaps forever. So when she and Tristran marry and live together for his life, it IS a beautiful happy story. They cannot have children, but they love each other and are extremely happy for as long as he lives. But death steals in, as it always does, stealing away a happy forever, and he does eventually die, leaving Yvaine alone. The last paragraph ends with "she says nothing at all, but simply stares upward into the dark sky and watches, with sad eyes, the slow dance of the infinite stars".
REALLY NEIL? MUST YOU CRUSH MY HEART LIKE THAT? And yes, you have now stolen my heart as well, and I am your fan.
The writing reminds me of Dianne Wynne Jones and the wonderful Howl's Moving Castle. It was a quick enjoyable read. I absolutely love it. The ending is definitely less dramatic in the book. Instead of a giant fight at the witch castle, the witch talks to Yvaine at the market just outside of Wall, and realizes that Yvaine's heart is lost to her because she has given it to Tristran. There is no last fight, and she is not killed by Yvaine's glow as in the movie.
I love both, the movie and the book; although I think I do like the book just a tinsy bit more because of that ending. And also this: “Have been unavoidably detained by the world. Expect us when you see us.”
A little different from the movie but in a good way. I really like that the plot is mainly driven by the women, even though it's told from the men's perspective.
fast-paced
