Dearest Bookworms,
Have you ever heard people claim they’d love to have Morgan Freeman narrate their lives? Morgan Freeman is a whole lot of wonderful, I’ll grant you (March of the Penguins, holla!) However. I’m convinced people find the decision to nominate Morgan Freeman as their life’s narrator such a simple one is because they’ve yet to listen to Neil Gaiman read one of his books aloud. Thanks to Scribd, I’ve been audio-booking more than ever and one of my first selections was Stardust by the man himself. (Neil Gaiman, not Morgan Freeman. I don’t know if Morgan Freeman writes books. He might, he’s probably good at everything and spends his free time teaching poverty stricken children how to play the violin, but I digress…)
Stardust is a whimsical fairy tale following a young Tristran Thorne. He lives in the town of Wall, England which lies on the border between this world and Faerie. Tristran spends his time going about his daily life all Victorian style and pining for the town beauty, Victoria Forester. One evening Tristran and Victoria see a shooting star. Victoria tells Tristran she will marry him if he retrieves the star for her, and so he sets out on a quest to find it. Unbeknownst to Tristran, his visit to Faerie will be something of a homecoming, as he’s the product of a tryst between his mortal father and an enslaved faerie princess. His adventures beyond the wall include battling witches, elf lords, curses, magic, and mayhem of the best kind.
I have heard tell that the movie version of Stardust is better than the book (blasphemy? Perhaps, but it’s been known to happen.) Clearly I need to see this movie, because the book was utterly charming with just the right amount of Gaiman-style darkness. Fans of Neil Gaiman, fairy tales, and good old fashioned quests ought to pick this up. And then probably see the movie, because it’s apparently awesome.
Talk to me, Bookworms. Have any of you seen a shooting star? Meteor shower? A plane you pretended was a shooting star just so you could make a wish? (Seriously, I cannot be the only one to have done that plane thing…)
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*
Mary @ Keep Talking Nerdy
It is a very good movie, one I own, but I have yet to read the book so I think I’ll have to read it now, haha. Especially if you say Neil Gaiman does the voice. I’ve never seen a shooting star (T^T) and if I’ve wished on a plane, I don’t remember. I wish I have either way though, I feel like a shooting star is one of those magical once in a life time occassions…
Bryn @Gleaningful
I loved this movie and I’d like to read the book to my kid eventually. And yes I’ve seen quite a few shooting stars! But I’ve never seen a meteor shower or an eclipse before.
Jayne
Well darn, I was hoping for some book to movie comparisons. I haven’t read the book, but the movie was wonderful! I’ve read that there are quite a few differences, which is why I haven’t read the book yet.
And you’re right, Neil Gaiman is a fantastic narrator. I listened to his narration of The Ocean at the End of the Lane and it was magical. And not just because of the magic in the book… Because of his narration :).
Jennine G.
So now I have a two-fold goal for Neil Gaiman…to read him and hear him read! I’ve been meaning to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane, but I’ll look out for this one too. Would be cool to read/hear book and see movie.
Jancee @ Jancee's Reading Journal
I just finished listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which is also narrated by Gaiman himself. Such a fun experience, and now I want to listen to everything he’s narrated!
Megan M.
I looooooooove this book! I haven’t seen the movie, either, but I remember seeing the previews and wondering how it was possible that Michelle Pfeiffer is even MORE beautiful than she was when was younger. It’s not fair!
Wesley at Library Educated
I loved the book and thought the movie was terrrrrrrrrrrrrible. It deviates from the book so much and in the book the brothers are scary and ominous and the movie they’re basically clowns. I was so glad I started with the book because if I’d started with the movie I’d not have bothered with the book!
Heather @ Capricious Reader
I HAVE seen a shooting star. Never spoke with one though.
And I would love for Neil Gaiman to narrate my life. Would make it much more exciting, although I’m not sure how much excitement this old girl could take.
Words For Worms
That’s a good point. Old broads need to limit our excitement. The vapors.
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
I have a hit and miss relationship with Neil, and truthfully, this one didn’t blow me out of the water. The Graveyard Book, tho. That’s where it’s AT!
Words For Worms
It’s in the queue, Andi-Roo!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
I loved the movie so I’d really like to read this book. I got to go to a talk by Neil Gaiman and thought he was fantastic, so I love the idea of listening to him read his own story!
Words For Worms
I’d love to see him sometime!
Jenny @ Reading the End
The movie’s not at all faithful to the book, so I’d let some time pass before you see it. But it is nevertheless a super charming movie — I do not love the book Stardust (alas!), so I love the movie better. Frankly. Charlie Cox is so adorable.
I saw a shooting star one time and it was SO GREAT. My mother told me shooting stars weren’t so awesome, but I learned that she only thought that because the shooting stars she had seen in the past were lame ones. The shooting star I saw was amazing and huge, and I wanted to see twelve more. (But so far I have seen none more.)
Ciska @ Ciska's Book Chest
Books narrated by Neil himself are a big YES!! I went to a reading and he did a part of Ocean there and it was mesmerizing. I am currently listening to Neverwhere.
I have not read this one yet but it is on my list. Always love to make a book/movie comparison.