Wow, I have just got to say that this book is quite different from the movie. I admit I watched the movie first and fell head over heels in love with it; the music (as soon as I returned home, I bought the entire Stardust soundtrack off of iTunes for my iPod), the multiple plots, the original characters, the character development, the astounding cast, the wonderful computer generation... A absolutely adore it; so much so, that I went to see it again a second time, and still long to see it a third time before I must wait until it comes out on DVD (it's going to be a tough wait for me).
However, as this is a reveiw about the book, I must stop yammering about the movie and get on with what I liked and disliked about the book. Frankly, the movie was far better than the book (and I've never, ever, ever said that before).
In the book, there were many things added to keep everything interesting, playful, and light. However, the comedy and humor was just not there when I felt it should've and could've been. The character development wasn't all that noticeable, and it seemed sort of like Yvaine just sort of randomly threw herself at Tristan in the end and they decided that they were in love with each other on the spot. Had I not seen the movie, I might not have seen it coming. Also, there were little things that the reader would've had to have seen the movie to understand. The ending in the book was far different than it was in the movie and, although I won't give away what the show more ending is, I will say that I believe it to be flawed in regards to what Tristran half is, and what he fell in love with.
The characters in the book were a bit... plain. I just didn't get that same sort of characterization as I did in the movie. There were times in which their personalities shown through and I had moments when I said, 'Aha! There is where that character is hidden!' But those moments didn't happen often enough for my taste. Also, I just wasn't a big fan of how the book was written. I felt as if I was reading a summary of the things the characters were doing, and did not feel as if enough detail had been given when it should've been. There was some lovely imagery in the book, but it didn't occur all the time.
I will say this, though; I'm glad I read the book, as it shed some insight on one or two things they could've added into the movie to make it even more believable, and it also described why certain things happened in the movie where the movie simply didn't. However, the cast brought life and feeling to the characters who were either nonexistent, or just didn't have that 'umph!' in the book.
I give this book three stars because I liked the journey beyond the movie to see what was left out. Though, I must say, the book could've been written better in my opinion, and it also could've had a better ending, as well. show less
However, as this is a reveiw about the book, I must stop yammering about the movie and get on with what I liked and disliked about the book. Frankly, the movie was far better than the book (and I've never, ever, ever said that before).
In the book, there were many things added to keep everything interesting, playful, and light. However, the comedy and humor was just not there when I felt it should've and could've been. The character development wasn't all that noticeable, and it seemed sort of like Yvaine just sort of randomly threw herself at Tristan in the end and they decided that they were in love with each other on the spot. Had I not seen the movie, I might not have seen it coming. Also, there were little things that the reader would've had to have seen the movie to understand. The ending in the book was far different than it was in the movie and, although I won't give away what the show more ending is, I will say that I believe it to be flawed in regards to what Tristran half is, and what he fell in love with.
The characters in the book were a bit... plain. I just didn't get that same sort of characterization as I did in the movie. There were times in which their personalities shown through and I had moments when I said, 'Aha! There is where that character is hidden!' But those moments didn't happen often enough for my taste. Also, I just wasn't a big fan of how the book was written. I felt as if I was reading a summary of the things the characters were doing, and did not feel as if enough detail had been given when it should've been. There was some lovely imagery in the book, but it didn't occur all the time.
I will say this, though; I'm glad I read the book, as it shed some insight on one or two things they could've added into the movie to make it even more believable, and it also described why certain things happened in the movie where the movie simply didn't. However, the cast brought life and feeling to the characters who were either nonexistent, or just didn't have that 'umph!' in the book.
I give this book three stars because I liked the journey beyond the movie to see what was left out. Though, I must say, the book could've been written better in my opinion, and it also could've had a better ending, as well. show less