Ratings755
Average rating4
This is one of the only instances where I have preferred the movie to the book. I liked the book but it seemed to me that the movie was more dynamic in its ending. It's weird to say that I feel like the movie had more detail than this book.
Gave up at 25%.
I guess Gaiman is just not for me. He makes me fall asleep even when I'm interested in the story
Because it's Neil Gaiman, and everyone should read one Gaiman book at some point. This book begged to be read aloud, and I almost wish (now this is a shocker) that I had the audio version. The narration is simple yet intriguing and complex; I want to read it again just to figure out how he was able to convey so much with so little. Which is exactly why you should read this book. Long sentences and over-the-top vocabulary are gimicks easily pointed out...they hide bad plots and expose worse execution. Gaiman's simple narration is a quick read, yet, there are important themes discussed.
Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/07/book-stardust/
My probably...5th re-read of this book. Growing up the rating is just a little bit lower than in the past, but it's still lovely
A classic whimsical fairy tale for adults. I really enjoyed the banter and dynamic between Tristran and Yvaine.
‘Love,' he explained. She looked at him with eyes the blue of the sky. ‘I hope you choke on it,' she said, flatly.
Neil Gaiman is an author I want to like so badly. I get why people like him. He’s clearly a very talented writer with a great sense for pacing, characters and imagery. He’s almost the textbook definition of a good author except calling him that feels like an insult to him because he’s also a remarkably creative man with very cool ideas that he is easily able to incorporate into his stories.
And yet I’ve now read three books by him and I can’t say I have greatly enjoyed any of them. Stardust has all the makings of a good fantasy story and Gaiman is obviously a good enough author to write a competent fantasy novel. As fantasy is my favorite genre that means I should be all over this book but I merely like it when I was expecting to adore it. I’m not sure what it is about this book or Gaiman in general that makes me lower on him than a lot of other readers but the story just doesn’t click. It’s still a very good book written by a guy who knows what he’s doing but nothing more than that.
I watched the movie growing up and loved it, so I was excited to read the book. Neil Gaiman has a lovely voice, both literally and in his writing, and I highly recommend listening to his narration in the audiobook! I had not realized the movie was so different from the book, and this is one of the rare occasions I actually like their differences rather than feel like something precious has been missed. Starlight the novel is both charming as well as surprisingly horrific, just as an adult fairytale should be! Having now read Starlight and Coraline, I'm sensing the unsettling is a marker of his work. I am excited to explore more of it!
This was pretty fun! It was a quick listen but the world was very fleshed out and immersive despite the short length but I kind of expected that from a Gaiman. I'm really interested to watch the movie after this to see if it holds up:)
This was one of the set books for my OU module Telling Stories: the novel and beyond. I LOVED this! It pains me to admit that this was my first Gaiman story and he does not disappoint! Charles Vess is a phenomenal illustrator and I loved the way that both modes intertwined to tell this story.
I'd never heard of the book until after multiple watches of the 2007 film, and I loved the film every second of it, so I thought I'd pick up the book, and wow what a read it was, draws you in for every page, and puts you in Tristran Thorn's boots as he explores, what is essentially, a whole new world with dangers at each corner, and at each gap of the tree line. Reading this book just goes to show that the writers of the film definitely followed the source closely, with a few action-y theatrics cleverly placed. Amazing read, would recommend to anyone and everyone regardless of taste in media.
Originally posted at hardcover.app.
Book Review: Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I couldn't finish Neverwhere and only managed to get through Volume 1 of Sandman. So, I picked up Stardust with a specific goal—to complete a Neil Gaiman book from start to finish. I wanted to experience his storytelling firsthand, not just rely on popular opinions. For context, I also couldn't make it through Norse Mythology!
But Stardust turned out to be a game-changer. Now, I truly understand the magic of Neil Gaiman. What a delightful read! Heartwarming and filled with his signature blend of wit and comedy. I must have missed some of this charm in Sandman and may need to revisit it. And now, I'm definitely motivated to finish Neverwhere. This book is simply awesome! ⭐️ 5/5.
It was okay, it's written well, but the story itself is pretty basic with nothing interesting going on.
Someone recommended this as appropriate for kids and-hahaha-I can't agree. I also prefer the movie to the book, which has never happened in my whole entire life.
2:
See, immediately after finishing the book, I gave it 4 stars because I was SO happy at the idea of Yvaine reigning by herself for years after Tristran's death. Then I remembered how much I loathed the little shit we got as a protagonist, and quickly revised my rating.
Of course, there was the fact that he was a-ok with slaving a girl away in the name of undying, superficial, unrequited love; but there was ALSO the whole entire deal with Victoria. “Oh Victoria, kiss me now since you've done it before, what's the big deal?” Sounds kind of rape-y to me. He fell down a tree outside her window because he was creeping on her? Sounds kind of rape-y to me. And she clearly wasn't taking him seriously when she said she'd give him whatever he wanted from her if he got her the star, and she just said it as a joke, yet he went. That, too, felt kind of rape-y to me. And since I'm on the topic, Tristran's mother also seemed kind of rape-y to me. Maybe it runs in the family.
I, as many others have mentioned in their reviews, enjoyed the movie a lot more. Perhaps it's nostalgia speaking because I watched it as a kid. I don't remember if I enjoyed how the romance was developed there all that much, but it for damn sure must have been done more graciously than in this book. Yvaine hated Tristran's guts from day 1, then she was placated when he reads notes bonded her to him forever against her will, and suddenly she's in love with him? It came literally out of left field.
As if all that weren't enough, the main antagonist faced NO consequences. She just left. Presumably to wait for the next star to fall and then they can rip her heart out. Boooo Neil booooo I'm disappointed boooooooooooooo.
I'm not giving this a 1 star rating because it was at least entertaining and, for all his faults, Neil's a really good narrator. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt this one time, but yeah. Yech.
I have always disliked the movie, but a lot of people like it, so I figured I would read the book. This is my first Gaiman book that I've read, and to my surprise, this book worked much better for me than the movie. This is a fairytale, plain and simple. It knows its place and doesn't try to do more.
Admittedly my disdain for the film adaptation may have been that I didn't fully understand that this is a fairytale for adults. Perhaps I will give the film another chance.
This book still isn't exactly what I want to read, but ultimately, it's not a horrible book.
neil gaiman is a gem. slow dance of the infinite stars is one of my fav lines of all time
3.5-3.75ish. Very good but not great. Kinda feels like the ending was written hastily to get the book done more so than completing the story. As others have said, there's not much of a climax and the ending is just sort of there. Great storytelling, as always, but I feel like there was so much more story to tell.
Prepare yourself to be lost in the wild world of fae. Read it to the end then start again to see how each part was foreshadowed.
I want to spend a day in Neil's mind because I imagine it's like being in a midsummer night's dream — so whimsical and fun and adventure
Gaiman has that really unique writing style of making his stories like fairy tales that feel oddly nostalgic. Even though I have never read the book before and have never seen the movie, I felt like I knew the story. It felt familiar. Not in a creepy way, but in a comforting way. Needless to say, I loved this book and the characters. Highly recommend!
This is a beautiful, original fantasy story. I somehow hadn't read it growing up, but I'm glad I got around to it now. Would recommend.