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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Time Period: 18th-19th c.
Genre: Fantasy
Geographical Setting: England and Faerie World
Plot Summary: During the Faerie market, which only comes to the small village of Wall every nine years, Tristran Thorn is conceived after his father (a human/citizen of Wall) is enchanted by a beautiful Faerie. Tristran is raised by his father and his wife in the village of Wall, but he’s different than everyone else living in Wall. However, like most of the boys in Wall he’s in love with Victoria Forester (the prettiest girl in the British Isles). One night when she comes by the store where he works he offers to walk her home and on this walk he asks her for a kiss and when she declines, for her hand in marriage, making all sorts of grandiose promises. While they are talking they see a star fall beyond the wall that separates Wall from the Faerie world and Tristran promises that he will bring Victoria back the star and she in turn promises to do whatever he asks of her if he brings it back. Thus, Tristran embarks on his adventures; however, he’s not the only one in pursuit of the star and it proves more difficult to bring back to wall than he anticipates. (In the 18-century village of Wall dwells young Tristran Thorn, whose parentage is both human and faerie. This is the tale of Tristran's quest for a fallen star, his crossing into a world beyond the wall, and the discovery of his faerie bloodline.)
Subject Headings: Fantasy fiction, England--Social life and customs--19th century--Fiction.
Appeal: Set in 19th century England and a parallel Faerie realm, with multiple plot lines. The main character is well developed, though other characters are a bit shallow. The story is one of adventure, magic and love, with a brief mildly graphic sex scene at the beginning of the book and minimal swearing. Gaiman weaves wit into his dialogue as usual. The narrative is written in third person omniscient, with episodic chapters. The end is happy, predictable and resolved, though crammed into a single chapter leaving one wanting more.
Genre: Fantasy
Geographical Setting: England and Faerie World
Plot Summary: During the Faerie market, which only comes to the small village of Wall every nine years, Tristran Thorn is conceived after his father (a human/citizen of Wall) is enchanted by a beautiful Faerie. Tristran is raised by his father and his wife in the village of Wall, but he’s different than everyone else living in Wall. However, like most of the boys in Wall he’s in love with Victoria Forester (the prettiest girl in the British Isles). One night when she comes by the store where he works he offers to walk her home and on this walk he asks her for a kiss and when she declines, for her hand in marriage, making all sorts of grandiose promises. While they are talking they see a star fall beyond the wall that separates Wall from the Faerie world and Tristran promises that he will bring Victoria back the star and she in turn promises to do whatever he asks of her if he brings it back. Thus, Tristran embarks on his adventures; however, he’s not the only one in pursuit of the star and it proves more difficult to bring back to wall than he anticipates. (In the 18-century village of Wall dwells young Tristran Thorn, whose parentage is both human and faerie. This is the tale of Tristran's quest for a fallen star, his crossing into a world beyond the wall, and the discovery of his faerie bloodline.)
Subject Headings: Fantasy fiction, England--Social life and customs--19th century--Fiction.
Appeal: Set in 19th century England and a parallel Faerie realm, with multiple plot lines. The main character is well developed, though other characters are a bit shallow. The story is one of adventure, magic and love, with a brief mildly graphic sex scene at the beginning of the book and minimal swearing. Gaiman weaves wit into his dialogue as usual. The narrative is written in third person omniscient, with episodic chapters. The end is happy, predictable and resolved, though crammed into a single chapter leaving one wanting more.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence
Moderate: Excrement
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content warning: There are two graphic, albeit brief, scenes with sexual content. I did not know this before going into the book. They're both very short and over quickly without being extremely explicit, but I would have preferred them to be much less descriptive.
That said, the overall tale is enchanting, engaging, and compelling. The world is vivid and populated by fabulously interesting characters. This story is very different from it, but Stardust reminded me a lot of the feel of The Last Unicorn. A fantasy land where everything is mysterious and anything can happen. This book has that same vibe and it has a delightful whimsy to it that I loved.
Unfortunately, the sexual content, as little as there was, precludes me from giving a higher rating, but I really did enjoy this story overall.
That said, the overall tale is enchanting, engaging, and compelling. The world is vivid and populated by fabulously interesting characters. This story is very different from it, but Stardust reminded me a lot of the feel of The Last Unicorn. A fantasy land where everything is mysterious and anything can happen. This book has that same vibe and it has a delightful whimsy to it that I loved.
Unfortunately, the sexual content, as little as there was, precludes me from giving a higher rating, but I really did enjoy this story overall.
adventurous
dark
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
A wonderful, uplifting story. Modern fantasy is often gritty and dark, but Stardust walks that line extremely well. In many modern fantasy, the "darkness" comes from subverting expectations by ripping away happy endings. Stardust is violent and dark while maintaining the happy ending we expect from a classic fairy tale. Gaiman said he set out to write a fairy tale for adults, and that's exactly what this is. Definitely recommended.
I varied between a three and a four...I feel like it was well-written, and interesting, and I enjoyed it, but it was also...written for a younger audience but at the same time with some inappropriate things in it, and the ending was beautiful but also sad.
This book, within a few pages, charmed me. I remember closing it after reading those first few pages and thinking, "Oh no. Stop there. This is too perfect, too gentle, to familiar. The rest of the book can't possibly be as enjoyable."
I was right. It's not a perfect book. But it is playful, and abundantly filled with what books need.
Stardust will forever live on my "Favorites" list.
I was right. It's not a perfect book. But it is playful, and abundantly filled with what books need.
Stardust will forever live on my "Favorites" list.
