Find your next favorite audiobook
Become a member today and listen free for 30 daysStart your free 30 daysBook Information
Stardust
Written by Neil Gaiman
Narrated by Neil Gaiman
Book Actions
Start Listening- Publisher:
- HarperAudio
- Released:
- Nov 28, 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780061336225
- Format:
- Audiobook
Editor's Note
Description
Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman comes a remarkable quest into the dark and miraculous—in pursuit of love and the utterly impossible.Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Stardust
Written by Neil Gaiman
Narrated by Neil Gaiman
Editor's Note
Description
Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman comes a remarkable quest into the dark and miraculous—in pursuit of love and the utterly impossible.- Publisher:
- HarperAudio
- Released:
- Nov 28, 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780061336225
- Format:
- Audiobook
About the author
Related to Stardust
Reviews
I am definitely not as taken with the book as many others seem to be. I liked it, but I did not love it. The style it was written in is similar to what Patrick Rothfuss, my favourite author and avid fan of Gaiman, is writing, but fails to capture me as fully as Rothfuss does.
The book gets better in the end, but all in all, many other books have engaged me more in recent memory. I may pick up another more recent Gaiman, just to see how his style has evolved over the years.
The bulk of the story is about Dunstan's firstborn, Tristram, whose mother is a woman of Fairy. At eight years old, Tristram is greatly frustrated and annoyed because his parents send him away to visit relatives just in time to miss the first Fairy Market since his birth, nine months after the last Market. Eight years after that, Tristram wants to win the girl he's infatuated with, and she promises to kiss him, indeed to marry him, if he brings her that falling star that they have just seen falling through the night sky, to the east--the direction of the wall, and Fairy.
And thus begin Tristram's adventures, with a rather different outcome than he plans on. Tristram and all the inhabitants of Wall are fundamentally decent human beings; the outcome depends on that fact. This is a marvelous book.
And thus entered Stardust. I kinda had high hopes for this one.
It was a light read though. Lighter than I expected. I thought it was something it would stick to me, like for a long looooooong time. But I just read it and..the end. Kinda like a bedtime story for older kids.
The first part was intriguing enough, I thought Dunstan was the star of the show. The part I laughed hard most is when the star fell.. it said "Ouch," and then she said "Fuck," and the font size for that word was smaller than average. I dunno why it just cracked me up. :)))
I liked how every loose part came together to a knot, in the end. I thought the story of the seven brothers were the most out of place, because I initially didn't care about their kingdom. Who knew Violet Eyes was sister to those seven brothers. In the end the most out of place was the tale of the Lilim.
Fast forward, well. I knew Tristran would end up with the star. Didn't like Victoria much, she sounds like Austen's Caroline Bingley but with more looks. I also find it weird for Tristran that Yvaine never aged, but at least for some time they were happy. :)
I liked this story well enough but it's not something that left a deep impression in my heart. I'm going to keep reading more of Gaiman's books, though. 3.5 stars :)
P.S. Of all the books I have read, this is the only one where I've seen my favorite word. Gaiman is magical.
The writing isn't bad either. After reading some of Gaiman's other works it's very clear to me that he has a way with words. Sometimes though there are too many words for my liking. The story seemed to really drag at some points making it hard to keep my interest. How many pages does it really need to take to tell the tale about Dunstan Thorn and Lady Una?
It also seemed that there were so many lost opportunities along the ways. There are so many minor, minor characters and there is this exciting new world, but so much seems to be left undeveloped. Usually I'm asking for less world-building, but in this case I did not get close to enough!
Then there is that ending. I think what I disliked the most about the ending is that the witch, who spends so much energy and time chasing down the star, suddenly seems so complacent. Now, maybe that has to do with how tired and old she has become, but I had hoped for a little more of a fight!
Overall, the movie was enough for me.
I wasn't immediately enthralled, but once the story got going it was hard to put down and the knowledge that I still had more of it to read felt like having an unopened gift. Which has to be the sign of a good book.