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A review by bittersweet_symphony
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
4.0
I must echo the sentiment shared by others that the film is better than the book. Although the film is more engaging as a whole, the novel keeps a few strong elements, particularly the narrator's tone. Gaiman really masters the fairy-tale writing style, and contemporizes is.
Stardust is a charming ride, and hits a solid mythological note, using the gap in the wall as a clear separation between the ordinary world and the extraordinary wherein the hero is changed. Tristan is a hopeless romantic, but endearing character. Yvaine's ironic grounded nature makes her a great complement to his dreamy-eyed antics.
Gaiman gives us an interesting world, but I definitely wanted more. More story. More details. Just more. 300 pages was not sufficient.
It also ended on a smooth, sagging climax. Rather than have all the dangers coalesce at one great point of tension, he tightens up the loose ends is a slow series of rather flat events. The reader is left with a pleasant feeling, but no emotional rush, wondering if they ever really took a journey through Faerie at all.
Gaiman is still a master, in my book.
Stardust is a charming ride, and hits a solid mythological note, using the gap in the wall as a clear separation between the ordinary world and the extraordinary wherein the hero is changed. Tristan is a hopeless romantic, but endearing character. Yvaine's ironic grounded nature makes her a great complement to his dreamy-eyed antics.
Gaiman gives us an interesting world, but I definitely wanted more. More story. More details. Just more. 300 pages was not sufficient.
It also ended on a smooth, sagging climax. Rather than have all the dangers coalesce at one great point of tension, he tightens up the loose ends is a slow series of rather flat events. The reader is left with a pleasant feeling, but no emotional rush, wondering if they ever really took a journey through Faerie at all.
Gaiman is still a master, in my book.