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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This review will be written from memory rather than immediacy, but seriously: why haven't I added this to my Goodreads yet? It's one of my favourite Gaiman texts (not that there are too many novels to choose from): a warm, bright, whimsical fairytale which spawned a ridiculously delightful movie. I compare-contrasted Stardust to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for my extended essay in high school, and never got sick of mining Stardust for all it was worth; Tristran really is like a male version of Alice, the Victorian child trying to apply all their previous learning to the madcap, fantastical new world they've been plunged into. The romance is sweet, the characters are just as colourful as you'd expect from a fantasy, and it's a quaint little read. I'm trying to think of a food analogy (because for some reason I always like comparing reading to eating--), and the first thing I think of is a cup of hot chocolate.
As a sidenote, I dig how both this book and Howl's Moving Castle use John Donne's "Song", which neatly links Gaiman & Wynne Jones in my mind. Which is an appropriate comparison when it comes to this novel, I think, as it's so much like pastoral, semi-innocent English fantasy.
As a sidenote, I dig how both this book and Howl's Moving Castle use John Donne's "Song", which neatly links Gaiman & Wynne Jones in my mind. Which is an appropriate comparison when it comes to this novel, I think, as it's so much like pastoral, semi-innocent English fantasy.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pretty good, not my favourite fantasy but very cozy and I will read another Gaiman book
I'd been craving a fairytale adventure novel after watching many of them on TV and in the movie theaters over the years. I especially wanted to find something that is similar to the 1987 film The Princess Bride which itself is an adaptation of William Goldman's novel of the same name.
I am glad to say that Neil Gaiman's 1999 novel Stardust fits the bill as it is a lovely wonderfully written fairy tale fantasy novel for adults. It reads like a parent telling his/her child a bedtime story. The worldbuilding is vivid and enchanting and the plot moves like a person wandering through a magical forest. There were exciting developments, and the tropes of the fairytale genre were present, but done in interesting ways. Witches, kingdoms, magical forces, dwarfs and creatures. It has it all and I was impressed that Gaiman was able to tie those elements together to make an overall meaningful story.
The novel centers around Tristran Thorn, a young man of simple means that decides to go after a falling star to win the heart of Victoria Forester. He departs outside of his home behind the Wall and into the deep forest where he has an adventure worth his wild and discovers that the falling star turns out to be a beautiful woman.
The novel also focuses on other characters that seem to be disconnected from the story, but soon become vital parts of it: the witch-queen who is also after the star, the brothers of the Stormhold family who also venture for it in competition with each other to succeed their dying father, a madam who has a women enslaved to her. It was so satisfying to see these characters collide with each other to show everything is connected.
There's a grittiness and sweetness to the novel that pays great tribute to the Brothers Grimm and fairy tales in general. Gaiman is able to make fairytales cool for adults again.
I am glad to say that Neil Gaiman's 1999 novel Stardust fits the bill as it is a lovely wonderfully written fairy tale fantasy novel for adults. It reads like a parent telling his/her child a bedtime story. The worldbuilding is vivid and enchanting and the plot moves like a person wandering through a magical forest. There were exciting developments, and the tropes of the fairytale genre were present, but done in interesting ways. Witches, kingdoms, magical forces, dwarfs and creatures. It has it all and I was impressed that Gaiman was able to tie those elements together to make an overall meaningful story.
The novel centers around Tristran Thorn, a young man of simple means that decides to go after a falling star to win the heart of Victoria Forester. He departs outside of his home behind the Wall and into the deep forest where he has an adventure worth his wild and discovers that the falling star turns out to be a beautiful woman.
The novel also focuses on other characters that seem to be disconnected from the story, but soon become vital parts of it: the witch-queen who is also after the star, the brothers of the Stormhold family who also venture for it in competition with each other to succeed their dying father, a madam who has a women enslaved to her. It was so satisfying to see these characters collide with each other to show everything is connected.
There's a grittiness and sweetness to the novel that pays great tribute to the Brothers Grimm and fairy tales in general. Gaiman is able to make fairytales cool for adults again.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The movie is better. The ending sucks. Evain is horribly written that’s it
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
**rating removed in light of multiple accusations of sexual assault committed by the author**
previously rated 3 stars. the film was better.
previously rated 3 stars. the film was better.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a really entertaining read. The characters, the story and the world made me smile more than I had thought.
While some aspects - parts of the story and the characters, felt simplistic and followed some familiar tropes, I still loved how Gaiman connected some of the details he introduced across the book.
I am not at all upset about the somewhat melancholic ending. It was fitting. But, I do wish he had expanded on the world and journey more in certain instances.
Time to watch the movie now!
While some aspects - parts of the story and the characters, felt simplistic and followed some familiar tropes, I still loved how Gaiman connected some of the details he introduced across the book.
I am not at all upset about the somewhat melancholic ending. It was fitting. But, I do wish he had expanded on the world and journey more in certain instances.
Time to watch the movie now!
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated