Stardust: A Not-So-Eloquent-But-Nevertheless-Meaningful Review

Stars. For ordinary boring unimaginative beings, they're just inanimate metallic heavenly bodies that for certain reasons unknown has the capacity to fall and tumble into the earth, but then, in Neil Gaiman's world, they're temperamental delicate beings that shine, glimmer and sparkle in the shadows of the dark.

Neil Gaiman. He never fails to amaze me! A story teller of grand caliber, who in my own humble opinion have once been either a fallen star, or a naive half-human half-Faerie wandering prince, or an ambitious cold-hearted witch or a cunning unduly suspicious king-to-be, to have depicted vividly the entire story in a very convincing and amusing manner. With his superior imagination and witty words, HE is an author worthy of godlike worship and praise.

The story started in a town appropriately called Wall since the only interesting fact about the place is that a wall separates it from Faerie land and it is in Wall that Victoria Forrester, Tristran Thorn's ultimate love asked for a fallen star in exchange for anything that his heart desires. And so, Tristran, with love for a reason and nothing but a leather backpack in his shoulder, courageously embarked on a journey and unknowingly face his destiny.

Along the way in his quest for the fallen star, Tristran met a hairy midget who helped him reach the star in the fastest method possible and that is through a Babylon candle. Then he found Yvaine, the fallen star who unfortunately broke her leg on her fall. Upon pursuing Yvaine who was getting away astride in a unicorn, he met Primus, the eldest among the princes of Stormhold. After that, Tristan faces the witch-queen, who was also pursuing the fallen star but unlike Tristran, she only wants her shining heart to bring back her own and that of her witch sisters' youth. And while escaping the sly witch-queen, they met the magnanimous captain of the Perdita, a flying ship which captures lightning.

Stardust is not your average fairytale story. It does not involve any violent battles between good and evil. Nor does it have a happy ending. What makes it special is that what happens in the story can happen in reality. Well, aside from the flying ship, possessed tree, and any other odd things and people in the story, the emotions and actions of the characters are real enough to be able to garner an empathy among characters and thus making the reading experience a gratifying and of course amusing one.

What can a book club do for you?

Ok. So here is the deal. If you are not familiar with Jane Austen then you better stop reading at this very moment.

I've just finished watching this new movie. Not an Austen book adaptation. Not on the life of Miss Austen. But about the lives that were touched by Jane Austen. It's titled The Jane Austen Book Club. Not so creative title but definitely a very appropriate one.

It's a story that revolves around the members of the book club. There was Jocelyn, the dog lover who does not settle for second best and that includes love. There was Sylvia, a new divorcee who is struggling to let go of her lost love. Allegra, Sylvia's hasty daughter who prefers women and loves adventure. Prudie, the high school French teacher who was never been to France and is fantasizing about her hot student. Grigg, the science fiction fanatic who only joins the club because of Jocelyn. And there was Bernadette, the most uncomplicated human being in the group who was making marriage a habit. As the book club progressed from Emma in February, Mansfield Park on March, Northanger Abbey in April, Pride & Prejudice on May, Sense & Sensibility on June and lastly Persuasion on July; they are not aware that they are not reading but living the lives and learning the lessons from Jane Austen's characters.

This is one of the movies that made me not drag the slider of my player to forward the events. And for me, that's a big plus. It's an all-in-one movie. It deals with matters involving love, homosexuality, adventure, contentment, attraction, shame... and the list goes on. The characters are never boring and I was satisfied with the acting. I personally love Jocelyn. It reminds me of someone a know. This movie makes me want to read Jane Austen's books. Unfortunately, I've only read Pride & Prejudice and that was a long time ago so this movie is an eye opener for me. It made me see my own ignorance and neglect on the finer aspects of literature.

So, back to the movie... What can I say?

Heart-warming, unpredictable, wholesome and simple... Just like Miss Austen's famous characters...

I may mess up this review but please, I really mean please, don't let this be one of the reasons not to watch this classic because you will surely regret it.