Stardust, a readers delight.

Go, and catch a falling star,

Get with child a mandrake root,

Tell me where all past years are,

Or who cleft the devil's foot, 

Teach me to hear mermaids singing,

Or to keep of envy's stinging,

And find

What Wind

Serves to advance and honest mind.

- John Donne 

"Stardust" By Neil Gaiman is an imagery rich, prose written, novel. The story begins in late April of 1839; when John William Draper had first photographed the moon. The Story begins from the perspective of Dunstan Thorn. Dunstan is a young man, madly in love, who lives in the city of Wall, ( human city on the boarder of Faerie). The town is named and protected by a large wall, which is guarded at all times to prevent the people of Wall from leaving. Only once a year when the market comes to town, are the residents of wall free to roam. 

Dunstan is 18 when the story begins.  He has just finished a shift as the wall guard, when he meets a vagabond in need of lodging. The vagabond pays Dunstan in gold, and in a promise of his hearts desire. Dunstan does not think twice about his hearts desire as he wonders the market in search of a gift for his love, Daisy. He finds a glass charm and makes an exchange with a Violette eyed slave girl. 

9 months later, an infant is pushed through the opening of wall. He sleeps in a cradle and is accompanied by a card introducing him as Tristan Thorn.

The Story begins again as Tristan Thorn comes of age and begins to compete for his hearts desire. Tristan is infatuated with a young lady by the name Victoria Foster. In lust Tristan Thorn promises to fetch for Victoria a star they witnessed fall. Tristan embarks on a journey deep into Faerie: a journey of discovery, surprise, magic, and destiny. 

I was unavoidably detained by this novel. The story is beautifully written with characters so full of charisma. In a quest to quench one's heart desire the self discovery can illuminate the disparity between the minds desire and the hearts. Stardust is a tale of love, loneliness, courage, and patience. It is a wonderful read, that will steal your heart and question your mind.   

A bewitching Read

I'm kind of a nerd who loves to read. Escaping to a fictional universe is a such a joy, I love the poetism in sentences and I'm a sucker for stories of magic, love, the impossible...whatever. A strong writer  can solicit the imagination far more powerfully than any TV producer. The Twilight series was a fun easy read; the marriage of plausible and fantasy tickled my interest. Twilight was good, but the series has nothing on what is to be "The All Souls Trilogy," by Deborah Harkness.

The first book in the series: "A Discovery of Witches, (Harkness 2011) appeared on my desk randomly. I didn't open the book right away, in truth I doubted the books potential, a historical fiction, really? 

I had finished my summer reads early, I had  packed two books for a three week vacation at the lake cabin not realizing the total isolation I would endure. I was in desperate need of new novel. The cabin had no phone, Internet, and horrible cell service.  When I rediscover, A Discover of Witches, lounging about I was mystified.  Within minutes of reading I had become completely and irrevocably bewitched by the story line. I could not put the book down.

Deborah Harkness has created a world so believable that the fidelity of the circumstances could and would be plausible in our physical world. The world of the novel is populated by witches, demons, vampires and humans. The story is centered around an idea of origins: who are we, and where do we come from? When a young witch discovers an ancient manuscript that is believed to explain all that has ever been asked- chaos and confusion run amok.

The discovery is scandalized by creatures, and accompanied by forbidden love. The book is addictive. You have to read it! Its captivating; in short it is twilight for adults-. I am in  and eager state of  anticipation  awaiting the release of the second book in the soon to materialize All Souls Trilogy.