Dear Mr. Gaiman,Damn you. Damn you straight to hell. You've written beautiful faerie stories in your plainspoken postmodern prose, and left my own projected frontiers woefully trodden. It has nothing to do with your brilliance. Had I been born before you I would most likely be the one writing clever novels about fallen stars and sly gods. I would've, I swear!But instead, I was born forty years too late, and your Faerie, Neil, -do you mind if I call you Neil? Your Faerie, like all of your creatio [...]

Inevitably I was reading this against the movie, and I'm here to say that I think the movie and the book are both brilliant. So ha!I love the movie. It's absolutely wonderful. And I loved the book. But they are quite different. The novel definitely feels more adult. Not because it has "adult themes" just in the overall tone and language. The movie is definitely more "family friendly." The movie is wittier and funnier and sillier and faster paced, and the book is slower and more whimsical and fe [...]

A friend gave me this book and I decided to read it before going to see the movie, since I'd heard so many rave reviews of the film. If the movie hadn't been my carrot, though, I never would have made it through the first chapter, let alone the entire story. Let me say that I adore the fantasy genre (check my book list), so this is not outside my interest. However, in attempting to write a "fairy tale for adults" Gaimon completely missed the mark. Apparently his idea of what makes a story "for a [...]

The more Gaiman I read, the more I understand why people are so caught up in the magic he wields. Because that is basically what he does. He's not an author, he's a magician, painting magic pictures of rich, exciting worlds that come to life so quickly. Worlds that somehow seem complexly developed after just two chapters of Gaiman's writing. Gaiman is simply a master storyteller. He creates moods that permeate entire novels and, whether you happen to be reading his adult or young adult works, he [...]

This is the one case, the ONLY case (so far. Edit: not anymore, Bridget Jones gets the honor too), where I prefer the movie to the book. I know it's a sacrilege and you can all burn me at the stake, but it is nonetheless the truth. It's also one of the few times I watched the movie before reading the book, simply because I had no idea the book existed. And I loved the movie. I mean, really, really loved it. So of course when I discovered it was based on a book, I rushed to get it. Now, please do [...]

That is all.

I hate Tristan Thorn, though I do suppose that everybody has been in his shoes at one point in their life. Everybody was young once and everybody has been naively in love with someone they barely know. I can’t blame Tristan for his natural puppyish passions, he is only seventeen after all, but I can hate him for it nonetheless; he is completely unbearable at the beginning as his love-sick foolishness knows no bounds. Indeed, when Victoria Forester, the woman he thinks he in love with, agrees t [...]

*3.5 of 5 shooting stars*‘‘For a kiss, and the pledge of your hand,’’ said Tristran, grandiloquently, ‘‘I would bring you that fallen star.’’ He shivered. His coat was thin, and it was obvious that he would not get the kiss, which he found puzzling.The main heroes of the penny dreadfuls and shilling novels never had these problems getting kissed.‘‘Go on, then,’’ said Victoria. ‘‘And if you do, I will.’’‘‘What?’’ said Tristran.‘‘If you bring me that sta [...]

There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire.This is a charming journey of self-discovery by a character who has a dual nature, human and fairy. He makes it work, with the assistance of sundry others. Beginning his journey seeking his heart’s desire, he finds by the time he returns home that what he truly values has changed. The characters are…wellfairy tale characters and we should not be looking for great depth here. There is darkness, evil, and real risk for our nice [...]

The world-building, the characters, the story - all absolutely amazing!He wondered how it could have taken him so long to realize he cared for her, and he told her so, and she called him an idiot, and he declared that it was the finest thing that ever a man had been called.There's the wonder, there's the intrigue, there's the titch of magic interspersed with ethereal. Neil Gaiman has finally caught me on a story.We have Tristian, a product of his father's wandering gaze and a fairy lass, who in [...]

3.5 stars. Neil Gaiman and I have a love-hate relationship, and I hope that bothers him as much as it bothers me. He's a gifted writer and I keep thinking that I ought to love everything he writes, but so far his books have struck me either as: • so bizarre and off-putting that I couldn't get into it <---American Gods,• hauntingly beautiful but kind of confusing <---The Ocean at the End of the Lane, or• having a marvelous setting but being a little on the predictable side <---Neve [...]

There's more to this Adult Fairy Tale than meets the eye. This beloved new classic is a tight little package for the consideration of any jaded or unbelieving adult out there. A fast read, it is pleasurable, readable, crazy with the fusing of real "drama" with that of a New World (or Alternate Dimension).

Since I saw the movie before I read the book, I must preface my review with that fact since a comparison between the two was inevitable and, moreover, greatly influenced my opinion of the book. I loved the movie! I liked the book. Unlike most book-to-film adaptations, however, I felt that the movie had more character development and more details; and, indeed, more heart and more humor. I cannot objectively consider the merits of the book because I missed so many aspects of the movie-story as I r [...]

“You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.”My first Neil Gaiman book was a disappointment. I didn't like this very much. It wasn't a bad book exactly, but it was also far from being a good one. The characters didn't have much depth, the plot was unrealistic and completely predictable. For me this is one highly overrated novel and I don't get what the fuss is all about. I still haven't watched the movie but I feel like this could be one of those rare cases, when the screen adaptio [...]

Quick question: how many Daleks does it take to conquer Neil Gaiman?Answer: I don't know - since I am a blasphemous wench and have never seen a Doctor Who episode. Nor do I actually know what a Dalek is and what it does.To add to my nefarious ways, I'm also not a Gaiman fan (though not for lack of trying!) Clearly, whilst I am a scifi fan - I'm not the RIGHT kind of scifi fan!It's rather like two Star Trek fans meeting on the street:"So which episode of Enterprise is your favourite?" The first T [...]

My high expectations for this book (the first I've read of Gaiman's) were badly disappointed. The writing was poor, the story cliché and shallow, and the content problematic. I've read that Gaiman is better with graphic novels, and that seems likely. He obviously has some talent, so I'm hoping this book is just a miss.One issue I had with Stardust was the writing itself. Gaiman tries to write an "adult fairy tale" with what I think are terrible results. The tone is light-hearted and sarcastic, [...]

Man, oh man, what a storyThis review is intended for the fully illustrated version. We have Tristan, half fairy thanks to his father's infidelity. In a fit of youthful passion Tristian promises the beautiful Victoria to bring her back a star. But to do that, he has to crossthe Wall. Since he's young, dumb and full of love for his sweet, he takes off with nary a thought.And thus begins his harrowing journey.tHe crosses the gap in the Wall and into the land of fairy. While he may not have gained w [...]

This is my second Gaiman book, and it's my favorite so far! First, I must say Stardust is one of my favorite movies ever, so I wasn't sure about reading the book! But alas, the time came! There were some different aspects to the book than the movie, and I really liked seeing the differences. I still like the movie better, but Gaiman's writing is so extraordinary. It sucks me in and doesn't let go! Tristran was a bit of an idiot, but he was also one in the movie, too! But I really loved Yvaine, s [...]

3.5/5I really enjoyed this book! Even if I enjoyed the movie more than the book.I love that this is an adult fairytale & I love the comedy aspects of it, but part of it felt like a not totally complete story, whereas the movie really did bring things around.Regardless, I LOVE Neil Gaiman's writing style and storytelling. He truly is a master story teller! The audiobook was narrated by him and it made the story that much better because of it.

To tell the truth, I didn't believe it was possible. My copy of "Stardust" promises so much just by images on the cover - and the volume is so slim, barely reaching 200 pages. How will all these events and characters fit in such slim space? - I asked myself, and started reading on the evening of October, 2nd. By 4AM, October 3rd, I learned that not only it is possible, but also that Neil Gaiman is a talented, gifted writer with gorgeous imagination and invaluable, rare talent for recreating the [...]

Everything about this one just worked for me. I loved it. The characters, the writing style, the plot, the romance, the magic. It was brilliant. This edition had a forward explaining that it was written as a fairy tale for adults that would have live in the 1920's, and it hit the mark so well. One of my favorite Gaiman books so far that I've read.

What a beautiful way to end my reading year!And that ending -THE PLOTThe stars were laid out like worlds or like ideas, uncountable as the trees in a forest or the leaves on a treeA whimsical and atmospheric story which follows the adventures of an eighteen year old, Tristran Thorn, as he ventures out into the magical world of faerie-a world which borders his own little town, Wall. And why you ask did he undertake such a journey? Well, it's very simple. He did it for love.Stupid, blind, nauseati [...]

I will never understand how this book is so highly rated. Never. I read this after I saw the film because I thought, "hey, I'd love to see that explored more and see what parts they left out because that film was great!"Let me tell you, that wasn't what happened. How they got that film from this book I will never know. All the interesting characters you meet in the film are almost an afterthought in the book, there and gone in a flash. I am so disappointed by this book. It's been almost ten year [...]

Every lover is, in his heart, a madman, and, in his head, a minstrel.¡Qué libro! El quinto que leo de Gaiman y, como siempre, me deslumbró con su habilidad para mezclar una atmósfera oscura con una infantil y, hasta cierto punto, tierna. El universo de realidades que crea es de lo mejor que leo en el género. Al principio se me hizo un poco pesado y, aunque me duela decirlo, aburrido, pero conforme iba avanzando, me atrapaba más y más. También no saber bien qué era lo que sucedía fue un [...]

Nail Gaiman, you bastard, I love you"There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart's Desire."Es difícil describir aquello que te hace "realmente feliz", pues, a mi parecer hay muchos tipos de felicidad. Sin embargo, les cuento que este libro me hizo verdaderamente feliz, y creo que no había estado con una sonrisa así de boba desde hacía mucho tiempo. ¿Pero cómo podría no estarlo?, si se trata de un cuento de hadas para adultos, o al menos para los mayores; además de tener una l [...]

Zvjezdana prašina ima priču koju mi jedino Gaiman može učiniti zanimljivom, jer nisam baš veliki fan fantastičnih romana, a još manje tih bajki za odrasle.No, kod Gaimana je to samo površina, platno u koje je upleo mnoge male mudrosti koje je ili shvatio ili prepisao odnekud. Kako god one su tu i uvijek na pravom mjestu, nikada ne guše samu radnju i uvijek ih izgovore pravi likovi ili budu u samom opisu. Napisane su sa dozom odličnog humora i nepretenciozno.Kod njega se čini da mu ide [...]

This book was my favourite read of Neil Gaiman's so far! Not that I didn't love the two I had previously read but this was also the first adult book of his that I've read and that definitely made a difference. There was no holding back and I loved the mixture of magic, adventure, intrigue and romance that surrounded this novel. Neil Gaiman is ever the clever and witty writer and this came out in a whole new way for me in this adult novel.Tristran lives in the town of Wall that borders the land o [...]

“She says nothing at all, but simply stares upward into the dark sky and watches, with sad eyes, the slow dance of the infinite stars.”Stardust is what fairytales should be like. Otherworldly, strange and dazzling with a dash of dangerous. Neil Gaiman's narrative skill is charming and delightful. His world building is exceptionally remarkable and as clear as a lush picture painted to life.“You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.”In Stardust, Gaiman takes us on an unforgetta [...]

This might be one of the few times I ever say this, but I honestly thought the movie was better

This was a delightful adult fairy tale that had me engrossed from start to finish. I picked up the audiobook, which is narrated by Neil Gaiman, and it was wonderful. As the saying goes, Neil Gaiman could read me his shopping list and I'd enjoy it.