Kathryn's review

Kathryn's review

Stardust Stardust
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)

446464 Kathryn's review
rating: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars

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 read. I just kept wondering if I would have liked the book better if I had read it first...

That said, I give the book four stars because parts I felt were only three-star-worthy and parts were quite outstanding. Sometimes, it seemed Gaiman was struggling--that he was *trying* to be clever, imaginative, poetic, rather than simply *being* so. Other times, truly lovely and creative passages and ideas came across effortlessly. I felt the character development was lacking--as a cast of ...more

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comments (showing 1-11 of 11)

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message 1: by Melanie
01/02/2008 12:47PM

433333 I didn't realize it was a book, either, until I stumbled across it in Barnes & Noble the other day; I took a picture of it on my cell phone so I'd remember the author and could find it again later ;-> If you get to it before I do, let me know what you think!

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message 2: by X
01/02/2008 03:54PM

599861 I'll look forward to seeing what you think of it when you read it. It's one I've thought of reading someday.

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message 3: by Ann
01/02/2008 04:32PM

446509 I adored the movie, too, and will be adding it to my reading list;) And what a good use for a cell phone!:D

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message 4: by Qt
01/03/2008 08:03AM

447538 It sounds great; I'll probably read it, too :-)

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message 5: by Ann
01/03/2008 08:05AM

446509 We just ordered it, so hopefully it will arrive fairly soon;)

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message 6: by Melanie
01/14/2008 07:27AM

433333 I'm eager to hear what you think of the book since you really loved the movie...I saw the movie last night and, as a movie, I enjoyed it; as a movie that was an adaptation of a book I found clever and fun, I was a bit disappointed. Let me know how it was experiencing the two the other way around!

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message 7: by Kathryn
01/14/2008 07:51AM

446464 Hum, interesting, Melanie! I will be sure to let you know my thoughts after I read the book. However, sounds as though I will have less to be disappointed about moving in this direction. I thought that the movie was quite clever and fun--especially given the dirth of such movies lately--so I hope the book will exceed my expectations.

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message 8: by Ann
01/14/2008 07:53AM

446509 I'm glad the book was better than the movie, because I really liked the movie, so the book should be great!:D Yay!

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message 9: by Ann
02/16/2008 08:48AM

446509 Well, I'm glad that it was still a good book - but sorry you didn't enjoy it more. But, 4 stars is still good:)

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message 10: by Qt
02/17/2008 07:47AM

447538 I enjoyed your insightful review, and still plan to read (and see!) it--as it does sound intriguing, even if not quite as good as you'd hoped.

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message 11: by Kathryn
02/17/2008 08:15AM

446464 Yes, I would still recommend that you read "Stardust." Especially since you enjoyed some of Gaiman's other works so much. I am glad that I read it. But, I do recommend you see the movie after!
:->

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