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Summary: Hello my name is Inigo Montoya...
Review: While it can be accounted as the most repeated phrase throughout the book it is also my favorite. I was a little skeptical about reading the book since I had seen parts of the movie and found it stupid, but I was completely wrong. The book turned out to be a great adventure, full of hilarious characters with even more hilarious dialogue. And the movie does a great job at giving birth to the book even though the novel is still much better (that often happens with films based on books). I recommend this book (and movie) to anyone who is looking for something fresh to read (and see), it has everything "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True Love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad Men. Good Men. Beautifulest Ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave Men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles....."
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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."?
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Summary: This is a great book that everyone should read
Review: This is a classic book. After you read it you want every book to be this exciting and fun and romantic. I have read this book more times then I can remember. If you read this book you will feel the same way. This is such a great classic that will forever remain in my library.
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Summary: The classic story of true love vs evil
Review: This book was gifted to me by my girlfriend, and at first I was skeptical about it. I had not seen the movie, and being an avid science fiction reader and writer, the fairy tale concept seemed like a bit of a "girl thing". However, once I delved into its pages, I discovered I couldn't have been more wrong. This is a fantastic novel for everyone, people of all ages. The delightful charm of the story, the epic saga it unfolds to tell, and the spontaneous hilarity covers a plethora of genres; Which guarantees a fast-paced, exciting and truly amazing book that will satisy all-comers. The Princess Bride tells the story of a common girl, who falls in love with an even commoner boy, but marries an exceptionally cruel Prince, without any choice. The boy, now grown into a dashing hero, comes to claim back his true love - but not without a vast adventure before him. This 25th Anniversary Collectors Edition in hard back is the best version to buy, and saves it as a story that you will read to your children, and them to theirs, as Goldman describes himself doing in the introduction. A timeless classic, and one that will remain as one of the greatest tales for generations to come.
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Summary: This book was a significant emotional event for me.
Review: I first read this book when I was fifteen. I've gone through four copies (mostly due to unreturned loans), and I've practically memorized it over the past fifteen years. The book has a great premise of being written by Morgenstern and read to the author as a child, and a wonderful message for anyone who wonders what happened to the fairy-tale endings they never found when they grew up. Goldman's conversational style gives the book an intimacy. The reader really feels like they *know* him. I've read almost all of his other books, and this seems, to me, to be the most polished and sensitive. It's very subtle and charming, and then--wham!--a line like "Life isn't fair; it's just fairer than death, that's all." That's one of my all-time favourite quotes. The movie did a good job of giving a cartoon-like, fun feeling to the story, but I thought the author's interjections and his cynical observations were quite moving, especially when contrasted with the happily-ever-after flavour of Westley & Buttercup's romance. The movie caught the basic "good parts" storyline, but the book has more to offer. I recommend it for anyone who's wondering "Hey...is this all there is??" Somehow, Goldman's book, The Princess Bride, makes you feel better about the answer. (P.S. - I've got the "alternative reunion scene" if anyone wants to read it...)
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Summary: S. Morgenstern, take a bow
Review: I grew up on the movie The Princess Bride, and so naturally I couldn't wait to be completely blown away by the novel. After having read it, I can now truthfully say that the movie, however exceptional it is, does not do the book justice. How could anyone ever make a movie based on a masterpiece? Don't get me wrong-I love the movie, but the book is simply a triumph.
The story tells of Buttercup, the milkmaid destined to become the most beautiful woman in the world, and her love, the farm boy Wesley, who will defy all logic, reasoning, and even death to find her. S. Morgenstern tells their story with wit, humor and charm. William Goldman' abridgment comments allow a brief understanding of Morgenstern's comments and thoughts, a breath of air, before the reader plunges back into the book.
This is a tale that anyone, young or old, can enjoy. It is stories like these that the soul thrives on.
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Summary: Not exactly an epiphany¿but definitely entertaining.
Review: First of all, the whole idea of the "good parts" version of a classic text is hilarious. I wish there was a good parts version of some of the real classics...Goldman's parenthetical statements and commentaries about the original text are what make this book worth reading. His creative comments about the academic interpretations (and his subsequent translations into real people ideas/language) are down right hilarious. Anyone who has ever been up for thesis review or worked in an academic environment can appreciate this to some extent. I especially loved his little comments here and there about the sexes and cultural mores, like his statement about hairdressers and how they have existed from the beginning of time. He says that Adam was the first hairdresser but that the translators of the King James version of the bible did their best to muddle that fact. Too funny! His clever wit and the way he so adroitly bleeds the traditional fairytale of excessive romanticism is great. The movie does not do this book justice. Who would have thought of a princess who never bathes and has goobers behind her ears??? And Buttercup's conversations with people (especially her first conversations with Westly and then the first encounter with Humperdinck) are curt, practical, and free of that overly emotional, utterly feminine heroine stereo-type (for fairytale princesses, anyway). There is a flavor of underlying bitterness in this story and I don't think it's a great fiction to say that Goldman himself has had less than a fairytale love life. His dedication to the dire (not so happily ever after) reality of romantic love in the context of "good parts" is the ultimate satirical element of the story.
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Summary: Five stars are not enough!
Review: When I purchased this book I had heard of the movie, The Princess Bride, although I had never seen it. And I had no idea it was even based upon a book until I saw it in my local bookstore. I bought the book, came home and started reading it and almost immediately came to the Amazon website to order the "original" by S. Morgenstern. I thought, well I'd rather read the original and then I'll go back and read William Goldman's abridgement. Oh brother, it was only then I realized I'd been fooled just like so many other readers! This book is one of the best I've ever read. The way that William Goldman has made it a story in a story is so ingenious and so very, very funny. I laughed out loud so many times while reading it. The tale about the beautiful Buttercup and her true love, Westley, and their rocky road to happiness is a wonderful story of adventure all on it's own. But when you factor in Mr. Goldman's narrative it makes it a rare treat indeed. His wit is outstanding!! So much of the book is tongue-in-cheek humor that it is easy to be fooled. And the humor even extends to the book reviews as there is included in the first pages of the book a review from a bogus Professor Shog Bongiorno who is supposedly an authority on the writings of S. Morgenstern. And of course there is no such author! If you have never read this book you are missing a delightful experience. There aren't too many books that I will read more than once but this will definitely be one of them! :)
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Summary: The Princess Bride is a good book.
Review: The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a truly remarkable book. At the beginning of the book you think, oh, this is just another fairy tale.But to tell you the truth, I thought this book had many twists. The vocabulary is strong so it's not just another quick and childish book. I think a lot of people would enjoy this book because it doesn't just focus on one genre. Some parts of the book could be romantic while other parts are action. I was never bored reading this book. For the most part, I was filled with suspense. The Princess Bride is a book that will make you think differently about fairy tales.
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Summary: My Favorite Book of All Time
Review: I'm not a person who re-reads books or watches movies twice. But I think I've read this book about 3-5 times. I first discovered it when I was a about 14, and it was about 10 years later that I found out there was even a movie about it. I literally threw the book down in moments of uncontrollable, convulsive laughter. This book has made me laugh so many times - I couldn't get enough of it. The movie disappointed me (except for Mandy Patankin and maybe Carey Elwes) and I laugh at those who think the movie is representative of the book. The book is so much better! Thank you, Mr. Goldman, for providing your wit and humor to the world.
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