Rating: 
Summary: And worth every penny
Review: Like many, I always loved the movie. I could never find the book in my local bookstores, however. Then, one day at a bookstore in Niantic, CT, there it was. Not only was it a copy of the original 1973 book, but it was a first edition. I immediately grabbed it and bought it. Being a first edition of a hard to find book, the owner of the Book Barn wanted what many would consider a large sum of money for a mere book. But, if you've read it, you understand. I gladly paid what he wanted, and I do not regret it. This story is a great one, and the movie, as good as it is, does not compare to the book
Rating:
Summary: romance and adventure in the world
Review: I was in high school (mid 70's) when I picked up a copy of the book on impulse. Once read, it immediately became my favorite book in the world. It became important to me, iin a way I couldn't explain.
I, too, bought copies to give away to friends. I read it over and over again. I always told people not to skip the introduction. Now that I finally understand why the book is so important to me, it is easier to understand why the two parts of the book (introduction and story) are so integral to each other although seemingly so different.
In my opinion, the book is about being a romantic in a world that has little place for romance. The romantic ideals of true love, loyalty, magick, etc. are qualities that exist in our souls. The difficulty is in making these ideals exist in the real world -- a world that is not, as Goldman points out, fair.
The introduction to the book is as fictional as the story. It tells of a mundane life, one with little romance. It tells of a man whose mind and soul were opened to romance by a special book. He lets slip a chance to have transient lust, the everday world's version of romance, in order to give his son a chance to know magick. The effort fails because the real book, like the world, is too heavy with cluttered details that weigh us down and leave us unable to participate in true love and high adventure. So the author gives us the version stripped of those details in order to allow us to take part, to become knowing actors.
The author never forgets that the world ISN'T fair, that the deck is stacked against the romantic. That is why the hero must die. That is why the end is ambiguous rather than an unalloyed happy ever after. That is why the unabashedly magickal characters in the book are figures of comedy rather than romance, and have been rejected by the powers of the world.
Romance does win. True love happens. Yet Goldman reminds us that in order to survive, it must compromise with the real world; it will be wounded.
One of the impressive parts of the book is that love is illustrated, and does not only exist between the dashing hero and the beautiful heroine. It is also shown, perhaps best, between a father and son (Domingo and Inigo Montoya), between parents and child (Fezzik and his parents), between friends (Inigo and Fezzik), between an elderly long-married couple (Max and Valerie), and so on.
True love, and the process of becoming aware of the soul, are the high adventure. It does not happen easily, and it is not easy to fit into everyday life. The Princess Bride is, in some ways, a manual that helps one make it happen.
Rating:
Summary: The most expensive book I ever bought - again and again
Review: Sure - I recommend books I like to my friends, like everyone else.
And sure - I lend a lot of them to friends as well.
What I don't usually do is buy the same book over and over again. The copy I just ordered will be the 11th I've bought since the mid-70s. More than 20 years later my bookcase still seems incomplete without a copy - and boy - does 'The Bride' have a short shelf-life.
One of the joys in life is meeting someone who has not yet read it.
Then - having reassured them that you fully understand that this is not what they usually read - the anticipation of the next meeting : 'So - what did you think ??' Then the delightful rehash followed by the inevitable : 'Sorry, forgot to bring it with me. Next time, right ?'
Next time, indeed ...
There are only two kinds of people : Those who are delighted after giving in to the story - and those who won't admit it !
It should not be forgotten that Goldman wrote a lot of good stuff - and it saddens me to see that classics like 'Boys and Girls together', 'Marathon Man' and 'Magic'
are no longer available from the publishers. Let's have some reprints.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book!
Review: I have read this book over and over again. I had to buy the hardcover edition because my paperback literally fell apart from being read so often. It is a beautiful book about love. It is a daring book about adventure. It is a delicious book about revenge. It is a hilarious book about people in extraordinary circumstances. It is triumphant and deflating. It is a different book each and every time you read it. I would encourage...even plead with anyone to read this book. You will be well rewarded-it is inconceivable you would not like it
Rating:
Summary: A Wild, Diverse, and all around Great Fantasy
Review: As most of the people who've read this book say, Princess Bride is delightfully entertaining, using every possible angle - from horror to romance to action adventure - to tickle your fancy. Anyone who is daring enough to pick up this 500 page classic will find it was over all to quickly; every bit of it's funny, interesting, and plot-twisted crazily.
William Goldman, who wrote the script for the equally wild movie, does a great job here, and if the rest of the reviews haven't convinced you, here's another recomendation. Literally every type of fantasy lover can find something for them here; if you like it, you can't get enough of it. The only complaint you might have could be about the hefty explainations - sometimes, Mr. Goldman takes his time with character histories and little interuptions in the text. I didn't mind them though; a light reader might. Enjoy! It certainly is a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Death cannot stop True Love-all it can do is delay it awhile
Review: And I'm taking this book with me when I go! I was a huge fan of the movie for years, before I came across the novel, and now my favorite film is far and away my favorite book as well.
(Unfortunately, I gave my blue copy to a guy that turned out to be a real jerk...but that's a different story all together...)
This fairy-tale is the perfect blend of romance, farce, adventure, fantasy, humor and character development. Indescribably wondermous.
I beg you in the name of all sacred books, *PLEASE* get yourself a copy of this book! Read it to yourself, read it to your significant other, read it to your children, read it to shut-ins, read it to strangers on the street! It doesn't matter...just read it! Share the joy that *is* the Princess Bride. Share the joy of Westley and Buttercup and Inigo and Fezzik and Vizzini and Prince Humperdink and Count Rugen and the Fire Swamp and Miracle Max and Valerie and the white horses and the Pit of Despair...
This is what people mean when they talk about wonderful stories. And after all, what girl isn't looking for her Farm Boy to simply answer "As you wish."?
Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie, inconcievably great!!! :-)
Review: This probably sounds a little corny, but the Princess Bride is my most favorite book. 500 pages of exitement, mystery, romance-anything you would ever want in a novel, I couldn't put it down. Just imagine yourself as one of the characters and you can go down to the most bottom level of the animal cages in Prince Humperdink's castle or through the firey swamp as Westley and Buttercup escape once again. I highly recommend this book to people of all ages who are willing to go on a wild adventure
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, Morganstern/Goldman combo is unbeatable!
Review: Well, they did it. I saw the Princess Bride movie when I was little and loved it, but this tops it. This book took me about 3 nights to read, and I loved every page of it. If Goldman hadn't taken out the fifty-some pages of packing, I would have fallen asleep. If you are looking for a spectacular adventure with bits of humor scattered around in between, you MUST read this book. The Princess Bride is fit for ALL ages, so try it out
Rating:
Summary: Finger-Licking good
Review: This is not the sterotypical review that you see. I will not say stuff
like, "this is the most best book I have ever read...". No, no I will
not say that. But I will say that this book is quite on the unique side.
Do you personally believe that books can make you laugh? Has a
book ever made you laugh out loud for more than twenty times?
Well, this book will let you do just that. You will be thought of a
manical insane person, sitting there laughing at a bunch of words.
But, you will not care. You will not turn red. You will keep reading,
laughing as you go along. Does this book start to sound like a
hypnotic-trance with crazed jokes? No, It is not that, it is simply a
good book that no one should go to bed without reading. It will turn
that frown into a smile. It will turn that bad mood into a good mood.
It will turn night into day. It will... just read it. :-)
Rating:
Summary: I have been reading this book every year since released
Review: I actually bought the paperback to take to a July 4th picnic. I couldn't put it down and kept laughing all day. Wonderful, romantic, witty and a blast to read
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