Review: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

status:	Read in February, 2010
review:	"In the sleepy English countryside.." I love Stardust, it's so very charming. Neil Gaiman is a great author, I'm a massive fan of his books - his stories are always original and thought provoking, one after another. The way his words flow together in Stardust is lovely. The characters are all very likable here, (maybe with the exception of Victoria) and the plot is cute. I need to talk more about the plot of Stardust, i like it. It's simple and sweet, very cutesy. A perfect plot for a ...more "In the sleepy English countryside.." I love Stardust, it's so very charming. Neil Gaiman is a great author, I'm a massive fan of his books - his stories are always original and thought provoking, one after another. The way his words flow together in Stardust is lovely. The characters are all very likable here, (maybe with the exception of Victoria) and the plot is cute. I need to talk more about the plot of Stardust, i like it. It's simple and sweet, very cutesy. A perfect plot for a children's story in other words. I can't argue that Stardust 'the book' is better than stardust 'the film' since I'm a HUGE fan of the film. So basically in my eyes the book could never really live up to the film (i saw the movie first so that might be why). After seeing the movie my attention was caught i wanted badly to read this book. I wasn't really 'that' disappointed with the book in the end. My after thought once i put the book down for the last time last night was, "well i liked it, the movie was better though" - why is the movie better? Because. The villains are brutal in the film whilst in the book the villains are weak, their characters are almost limp. That's Neil Gaimans real trouble as an author for me - it's that in his books you sometimes can almost forget that the 'bad guys' are actually 'that bad', if you get what i mean. Over all it's a good quick read. Great for children and pre-teens, lovely for older teens and up I'm sure as well. Stephanie xx

Instructions by Neil Gaiman

"Instructions," by Neil Gaiman
Art by Jeanie Tomanek.

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before.

Say "please" before you open the latch,

go through,

walk down the path.

A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted

front door,

as a knocker,

do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.

Walk through the house. Take nothing.

Eat nothing.

However, if any creature tells you that it hungers, feed it.

If it tells you that it is dirty, clean it.

If it cries to you that it hurts,

if you can,

ease its pain.

From the back garden you will be able to see the wild wood.

The deep well you walk past leads to Winter's realm;

there is another land at the bottom of it.

If you turn around here,

you can walk back, safely;

you will lose no face.

I will think no less of you.

Once through the garden you will be in the wood.

The trees are old.

Eyes peer from the under-growth.

Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman.

She may ask for something;

give it to her.

She will point the way to the castle.

Inside it are three princesses.

Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.

In the clearing beyond the castle the twelve

months sit about a fire,

warming their feet, exchanging tales.

They may do favors for you, if you are polite.

You may pick strawberries in December's frost.

Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where

you are going.

The river can be crossed by the ferry.

The ferry-man will take you.

(The answer to his question is this:

If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be free to

leave the boat. Only tell him this from a safe distance.)

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.

Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that

witches are often betrayed by their appetites;

dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;

hearts can be well-hidden,

and you betray them with your tongue.

Do not be jealous of your sister.

Know that diamonds and roses

are as uncomfortable when they tumble from

one's lips as toads and frogs:

colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

Remember your name.

Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found.

Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped

to help you in their turn.

Trust dreams.

Trust your heart, and trust your story.

When you come back, return the way you came.

Favors will be returned, debts will be repaid.

Do not forget your manners.

Do not look back.

Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall).

Ride the silver fish (you will not drown).

Ride the grey wolf (hold tightly to his fur).

There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is

why it will not stand.

When you reach the little house, the place your

journey started,

you will recognize it, although it will seem

much smaller than you remember.

Walk up the path, and through the garden gate

you never saw before but once.

And then go home. Or make a home.

And rest.

Stephanie x(:

Book Trailer: The Graveyard Book

'The Graveyard Book'
by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other. This chilling tale is Neil Gaiman's first full-length novel for middle-grade readers since the internationally bestselling and universally acclaimed Coraline. Like Coraline, this book is sure to enchant and surprise young readers as well as Neil Gaiman's legion of adult fans.

This book trailer, narrated by Neil Gaiman with illustrations from the book by Dave McKean, will give you a taste of Gaiman's amazing novel, The Graveyard Book, available in stores now.




XxSteph(:

Boys and Girls Together by Neil Gaiman

'Boys and Girls Together'

by Neil Gaiman

Boys don't want to be princes.

Boys want to be shepherds who slay dragons,

maybe someone gives you half a kingdom and a princess,

but that's just what comes of being a shepherd boy

and slaying a dragon. Or a giant. And you don't really

even have to be a shepherd. Just not a prince.

In stories, even princes don't want to be princes,

disguising themselves as beggars or as shepherd boys,

leaving the kingdom for another kingdom,

princehood only of use once the ogre's dead, the tasks are done,

and the reluctant king, her father, needing to be convinced.

Boys do not dream of princesses who will come for them.

Boys would prefer not to be princes,

and many boys would happily kiss the village girls,

out on the sheep-moors, of an evening,

over the princess, if she didn't come with the territory.

Princesses sometimes disguise themselves as well,

to escape the kings' advances, make themselves ugly,

soot and cinders and donkey girls,

with only their dead mothers' ghosts to aid them,

a voice from a dried tree or from a pumpkin patch.

And then they undisguise, when their time is upon them,

gleam and shine in all their finery. Being princesses.

Girls are secretly princesses.

None of them know that one day, in their turn,

Boys and girls will find themselves become bad kings

or wicked stepmothers,

aged woodcutters, ancient shepherds, mad crones and wise-women,

to stand in shadows, see with cunning eyes:

The girl, still waiting calmly for her prince.

The boy, lost in the night, out on the moors.

****

"Boys and Girls Together was written in a hotel room in Boston. It rained outside, and I was certain I was telling the world something very important." - Neil Gaiman

****

XxSteph(:

Instructions by Neil Gaiman

"Instructions," by Neil Gaiman
Art by Jeanie Tomanek.

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before.

Say "please" before you open the latch,

go through,

walk down the path.

A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted

front door,

as a knocker,

do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.

Walk through the house. Take nothing.

Eat nothing.

However, if any creature tells you that it hungers, feed it.

If it tells you that it is dirty, clean it.

If it cries to you that it hurts,

if you can,

ease its pain.

From the back garden you will be able to see the wild wood.

The deep well you walk past leads to Winter's realm;

there is another land at the bottom of it.

If you turn around here,

you can walk back, safely;

you will lose no face.

I will think no less of you.

Once through the garden you will be in the wood.

The trees are old.

Eyes peer from the under-growth.

Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman.

She may ask for something;

give it to her.

She will point the way to the castle.

Inside it are three princesses.

Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.

In the clearing beyond the castle the twelve

months sit about a fire,

warming their feet, exchanging tales.

They may do favors for you, if you are polite.

You may pick strawberries in December's frost.

Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where

you are going.

The river can be crossed by the ferry.

The ferry-man will take you.

(The answer to his question is this:

If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be free to

leave the boat. Only tell him this from a safe distance.)

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.

Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that

witches are often betrayed by their appetites;

dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;

hearts can be well-hidden,

and you betray them with your tongue.

Do not be jealous of your sister.

Know that diamonds and roses

are as uncomfortable when they tumble from

one's lips as toads and frogs:

colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

Remember your name.

Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found.

Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped

to help you in their turn.

Trust dreams.

Trust your heart, and trust your story.

When you come back, return the way you came.

Favors will be returned, debts will be repaid.

Do not forget your manners.

Do not look back.

Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall).

Ride the silver fish (you will not drown).

Ride the grey wolf (hold tightly to his fur).

There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is

why it will not stand.

When you reach the little house, the place your

journey started,

you will recognize it, although it will seem

much smaller than you remember.

Walk up the path, and through the garden gate

you never saw before but once.

And then go home. Or make a home.

And rest.

XxSteph(: