Book Review: Stardust

Stardust (The Gift Edition)

By: Neil Gaiman

Published By: William Morrow

Publication Date: October 30, 2012

Page Count: 288

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Kindly Provided by Publisher

Audience: Adult - Fantasy

Stardust is my favorite Neil Gaiman novel; I was ecstatic when I received the newly released gift edition from the publisher. I couldn't wait to reread this beloved novel and spend more time with some of my favorite characters. First, if you're a fan of Stardust or Neil Gaiman, you should snag yourself a copy of this version. It is just so pretty. It looks so nice in my bookcase. I can only hope that eventually more Gaiman titles will be released in this format. I'd love to own the entire collection.

I love the fairy tell feeling that Stardust conjures and the memorable characters. There is so much visual stimulation in this novel. It was so much fun for me to see everything play out in my mind. I saw the movie before reading, but I found that even though the two do have differences, if I thought of them as totally separate entities I could enjoy them both equally. I did, however, see Henry Cavill in my mind as Tristran - mainly because I tend to cast Henry as lots of leading men in my mind.

One of my favorite things about this book is the vast amount of creativity that Gaiman infuses into the tale. I loved the lore about the wall and the fallen star. I have seen fallen stars used as characters in a few books, but in my opinion, Gaiman still does it best. I loved losing myself in this novel over the holidays. The magical journey made my holidays more festive. I also love when an old favorite can still inspire my imagination. This is one of those novels that gets better each time I reread it. I might need to make rereading this one a yearly tradition.

Stardust is the perfect read when you're craving a little magic in your everyday life. I also love how it always takes me back to my childhood a bit. It's one of those books that can help me forget that I'm an adult; it lets your mind wander through more imaginative avenues than the typical adult read. It has a hint of whimsical layered between Gaiman's signature prose. The romance in this one is also pitch perfect. 

One Last Gripe: I love the illustrations in this edition, but I wish there had been more of them.

My Favorite Thing About the Book: The characters

First Sentence: There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart's Desire.

Favorite Character: Tristran

Least Favorite Character: I don't have one

Summary:

This special gift edition will be beautifully packaged in a smaller trim size with a one-piece fine cloth case, a gold-stamped cover, and a whimsical interior design, featuring a frontispiece illustration and line chapter opener ornamentation by noted artist Charles Vess. It will also contain an introductory note by Neil Gaiman.

Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria Forester--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 stone barrier, Tristran learns, lies Faerie . . . and the most exhilarating adventure of the young man's life.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman comes a tale of the dark and miraculous--a quest for true love and the utterly impossible.