Stardust by Neil Gaiman

I first read Stardust three years ago when I discovered Neil Gaiman. It was not my favorite of his novels, and even though I read through it quickly, I was left uninspired. I later found out the inspiration for the book had come from a night in Arizona, where I live, and was sad that I did not enjoy the book more. Then earlier this year I read his collection of nonfiction The View From the Cheap Seats. In this collection he has several pieces on fairy tales, including a few about the fairy tale he created, Stardust. I now have more appreciation for fairy tales and what they represent, so I decided to go back and reread the book. This time I listened to it via audio book which I think really helped since Neil Gaiman reads all of his novels. So I was able to hear the story told in the way that the author had intended.

I was still not "starstruck" by anything in this novel. Overall it lacked the Gaiman-esque feel that I have become addicted to. But I was able to enjoy the simple telling of a tale entirely his own and meant to be told in such a way. Maybe I just did not appreciate the simplicity enough the first time around, but this time I was in awe of it. I could just imagine Neil writing this book and sitting down carefully choosing which words were or were not necessary. In fact I would imagine that Stardust took just as much precision to write, if not more, than many of his other novels because of the type of book it is. Neil Gaiman wanted it to sound like a fairy tale of old, one that had been passed down for centuries and would continue to be passed down, and I feel that he succeeded.

None of the characters particularly stood out, and perhaps that is part of why I don't love this novel. But I do enjoy the changes in the star, Yvaine, and Tristran's feelings towards not only one another but also their original wishes. I love the land of Faerie as well and the ways that Neil Gaiman describes it.

So, do I recommend this book? Yes, just not as an introduction to Neil Gaiman. After you have read something else of his, then pick up Stardust.

Overall, the story is charming but not memorable, and yet I can feel that I will one day read it again. Not just because it is a fairy tale written in modern times that feels timeless, but also because it is a fairy tale told by Neil Gaiman. I will read it again because simple stories like these, full of magic and life, are important. They remind us where stories began. They remind us that fairy tales are not just for children. And these reminders need repeating, whether we know it or not.