This week we have a book review! For any of you who haven't read the book before, there are mild spoilers. Nothing much to worry about if you've seen the movie, but just in case. You've been warned. ;)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was pretty disappointed with this. I have almost never said this, but I actually liked the movie better.

I enjoyed the first part, mostly (there was some content I thought could have been left out that would not have affected the story in a negative way), but once Tristran made it across the wall, it seemed to...degenerate, I suppose is the word.

The style is reminiscent of The Hobbit, but without as much characterization. You never truly get inside Tristran's head, which I suppose is my biggest complaint. He just does random things, and you never really understand why, or even get to know him. He was like a stranger through the whole thing. There was very little in the way of relationship development as well. He starts out with the star hating him, and at the end they're married, with almost nothing to develop the relationship between.

Tristran never seems surprised by anything that happens to him, and everything seems to go his way from the get-go. Sure, there are people after the star. But they never seem to be in any actual danger. There's always a convenient way of escape or helper nearby. There aren't any surprises (though that might be from seeing the movie first) and most everything could be predicted. From Tristran's heritage, to the relationship with the star.

And then the ending...it couldn't have ended happily, with the couple returning to Stormhold to live for many years. It had to go further, and say that Tristran died of old age, and the star would stare up the sky, sad. What a mournful ending.

I would have guessed this book was for children, were it not for the sexual content. It was simplistic in nature, without a complex plot, and often skipping large chunks of time that could have been spent developing characters.

All that said, it wasn't a bad book. Just not my kind of book, is all. If you're looking for a quick, easy fantasy read and don't have a problem with two sex scenes (one could have been left out entirely and implied to have happened, and the second, while certain elements were necessary for the story, could also have been implied) and less than the usual happily-ever-after.

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