Sunday, August 27, 2006
****½ Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Fantasy.
I'd started reading this one years ago, then put it down for some reason, and my daughter picked it up. She's nagged me on and off ever since to read it.
Stardust is a fairy tale, with all that implies. There's an impossible quest, true love, things that aren't what they seem, and the triumph of Good and cleverness over Evil.
Tristran Thorn, the product of a human father and, unbeknownst to him, a fairy mother, ventures into Faerie to capture a fallen star and bring it back to win his true love Victoria. He finds the star, which turns out to be in the form of a girl. He encounters a variety of obstacles, including a witch who wants the star's heart to restore her youth and a set of brothers who take sibling rivalry to new heights, who'll stop at nothing to get the jewel the star has with her.
There's really not much more to say. If you liked fairy tales as a child, you'll like Stardust. It's charming and evokes the wonder and excitement of those childhood tales without being condescending or overly sentimental or sweet.
...more
Categories: Books, 4.5stars, fantasy
Labels: 4.5 stars, books, fantasy
