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15290 ratings, 4.34 average rating, 1921 reviews
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published
December 31st 1973
by Harcourt Brace
binding
Hardcover, 493 pages
isbn
0151730857
(isbn13: 9780151730858)
description
The Princess Bride is a true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Class...more
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avg 4.34
Read in March, 2006
Okay, if you're reading this review and you haven't read The Princess Bride, I probably don't know you.
If you haven't read this book, then all I can tell you is to go out, get it, and read it. Now. Don't bother with the rest of this review, you'll thank me later. It has *ahem*:
Fencing.
Fighting.
Torture.
Poison.
True Love.
Hate.
Revenge.
Giants.
Hunters.
Good men.
Bad men.
Beautifulest ladies.
Snakes.
Spiders.
Beasts of all natures and descriptions.
Pain.
Death.
B...more
If you haven't read this book, then all I can tell you is to go out, get it, and read it. Now. Don't bother with the rest of this review, you'll thank me later. It has *ahem*:
Fencing.
Fighting.
Torture.
Poison.
True Love.
Hate.
Revenge.
Giants.
Hunters.
Good men.
Bad men.
Beautifulest ladies.
Snakes.
Spiders.
Beasts of all natures and descriptions.
Pain.
Death.
B...more
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4 comments
Read in January, 1996
I feel the need to gush. I've set aside the many books I want to read for the moment in favor of rereading this one. I loved it when I read it way back in about the sixth grade, so I thought it was time I give it another shot.
As much as I loved it as a kid, I love it more now. Maybe because I can appreciate it on different levels. I'm only about halfway through on my reread, but I've come to the conclusion that Goldman is a genius. The story, characters, and dialogue are impressive enou...more
As much as I loved it as a kid, I love it more now. Maybe because I can appreciate it on different levels. I'm only about halfway through on my reread, but I've come to the conclusion that Goldman is a genius. The story, characters, and dialogue are impressive enou...more
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10 comments
Read in May, 2008
I'm a little biased when it comes to this book. Yes, I saw the movie first and it made me happier than anything I've ever seen before or since. Yes, I do consider how much a person likes The Princess Bride before determining how good a friend to be with them. (I don't insist on it, but it can queer a good friendship)
I'm not alone in this, but I do share a similar affinity for the book, despite discrepancies that may make others blanche. And even for me Fezzik will always be a Frenchma...more
I'm not alone in this, but I do share a similar affinity for the book, despite discrepancies that may make others blanche. And even for me Fezzik will always be a Frenchma...more
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Read in January, 2004
I can't believe I thought Morgenstern was real. Not for long, really. But still. When I discovered he wasn't I hated this book for a while. But then I reread it and it was awesome in an entirely new way. I'm still not a huge fan of the fake little tidbits that the "abridgment" offers, especially the allusions to Florin as a real place, but I generally just skip over those. Also, I find the story of Goldman and his fat kid vaguely depressing. And I didn't like the part about Westley wea...more
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I am one of the few people in the world who does not think the book is better than the movie here. There is an undercurrent of bitterness in this book that I find off-putting. I am given to understand by a friend that those elements--i.e., the autobiographical stuff in Goldman's own persona--are actually fictional. But I found that they soured my enjoyment of the story they framed. I couldn't enjoy the writing of a writer who seemed as misanthropic and hateful as Goldman came off to me. TPB is s...more
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Does anyone not love the Princess Bride?
The first time I was exposed to the story, I was in single digits, and my parents were watching the movie. I couldn't quite follow the plot, and all the elements got mixed up. I'm pretty sure sure I thought the Albino was a witch. It scared me out of my wits. My dad had a copy of the book in a cupboard by his bedside, and knowing what a terrifying story was contained within, I wouldn't even glance at the harmless cover art (Buttercup on her hors...more
The first time I was exposed to the story, I was in single digits, and my parents were watching the movie. I couldn't quite follow the plot, and all the elements got mixed up. I'm pretty sure sure I thought the Albino was a witch. It scared me out of my wits. My dad had a copy of the book in a cupboard by his bedside, and knowing what a terrifying story was contained within, I wouldn't even glance at the harmless cover art (Buttercup on her hors...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
10 year olds
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in January, 1990
recommends it for:
True Lovers, Pirates, Revenge-Obsessed Spaniards, Everyone...
I have always been a bit of a "literal Libby," and subtle (or not-so-subtle) irony and satire has a tendency to fly right over my head... So it is that when I first read Goldman's introduction to The Princess Bride, in which he discusses the difficulties he encountered in procuring and then revising a copy of S. Morgenstern's "old" classic, I believed him implicitly.
The nascent textual scholar in me was agog, and I simply longed to read the "boring" versi...more
The nascent textual scholar in me was agog, and I simply longed to read the "boring" versi...more
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4 comments
Read in March, 2008
recommended to Gwen by:
Adriennerecommends it for: anyone who loves a great tale
This review will be filled with confessions.
The first one is that the first time I read this book (about 15 years ago) I really thought it was recounting actual events in the author's life. I thought there was an S. Morganstern and a place called Guilder and Florin. At least I hoped there was.
I grew up watching the movie and when I realized that the film was based on a book, I knew that I had to read it. I've come back to it a couple of time since then and it never disapoints me. I confess t...more
The first one is that the first time I read this book (about 15 years ago) I really thought it was recounting actual events in the author's life. I thought there was an S. Morganstern and a place called Guilder and Florin. At least I hoped there was.
I grew up watching the movie and when I realized that the film was based on a book, I knew that I had to read it. I've come back to it a couple of time since then and it never disapoints me. I confess t...more
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Read in May, 2007
Okay, it wasn't amazing, but nostalgia kicked in, and suddenly I was six years old again. It is a great book.
The story is wonderful, but what made this book not 100% amazing is that Goldman butts into the story with little asides in his special italics. Sometimes they are useful; pages are cut out and described in concise paragraphs instead. This was great, but much of the time, the asides were annoying. Still, it is so completely worth the read.
Addendum to Review*
What I think is bes...more
The story is wonderful, but what made this book not 100% amazing is that Goldman butts into the story with little asides in his special italics. Sometimes they are useful; pages are cut out and described in concise paragraphs instead. This was great, but much of the time, the asides were annoying. Still, it is so completely worth the read.
Addendum to Review*
What I think is bes...more
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Sometimes you just have to pick up a book that will make you laugh out loud and will bring back childhood memories. Learning to read, finding a great fairy tale, and being drawn in by adventure. This book has it all - a princess, a hero, a jerky prince, love, adventure, a giant, pirates, and loads of laughter. Love it mucho!!!
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I saw the movie in high school and thought I'd try out the book. Yes, I was one of the duped idiots that tried to find the Morgenstern "original text." The movie brings out more humor than the book but I like both equally.
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Read in January, 2004
I possess the wherewithall to assert that this book is even better than the movie. I laughed out loud many times. I love his writing style.
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4 comments
One of the greatest, most irreverent, fairy-tales I've ever read.
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2 comments
recommends it for:
everyone
Hands down, one of the bext books of all time.
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Read in October, 2008
You know how "The Princess Bride" is one of the bestest movies ever? Well, it turns out it was based on a book, which is even better than the movie. Inconceivable, you say?
Then you need to get your hands on a copy of "The Princess Bride." Not the original by S. Morgenstern, god no. William Goldman's abridged version (this was after bridges). Don't worry if this is all very confusing, it's all explained, or not, in the two introductions and one afterword. In fact, the intr...more
Then you need to get your hands on a copy of "The Princess Bride." Not the original by S. Morgenstern, god no. William Goldman's abridged version (this was after bridges). Don't worry if this is all very confusing, it's all explained, or not, in the two introductions and one afterword. In fact, the intr...more
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Read in September, 2008
I thought this book was so funny and so great! I must give the author credit for an amazing imagination and ability to fabricate an entire life history for himself as well as a fun fairy tale. I've always been a fan of the movie, so it was fun to get more detailed background info on Buttercup, Westley, Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini. I thought Goldman's own background and inserts could get a bit long winded, but that was part of the humor of it. However, I was not able to read both introductions...more
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If you only know THE PRINCESS BRIDE from the film, turn off your computer immediately and find a copy of the book. The film is a thing unto itself and enchanting on its own terms, but because it's a movie Goldman had to redesign his novel in a way that de-emphasized one of its most compelling themes: why books matter, what we learn from them about life and about being human, and why certain books stay with us in the way that they do -- why, in fact, we are all on this website.
Most of this...more
Most of this...more
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Read in March, 2008
If you've seen the movie, you know the story (the movie is very close to the book). The milkmaid Buttercup falls head over heels in love with the farm boy Westley. When Westley leaves to earn his fortune and is reported dead, Buttercup's heart breaks and she agrees to marry Prince Humperdinck although they both know they don't love each other. When Princess Buttercup is kidnapped by a band of ruffians, a mysterious man in a black mask begins to follow them, intent on capturing the Princess. This...more
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recommended to Austin by:
I Liked The Movie, & Bought The Book
recommends it for: Romantic Metatext Fans
recommends it for: Romantic Metatext Fans
The first time I read this book, I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. I really did believe that Goldman did love this book as a child, and that this REALLY WAS the "good parts" version. I'm pretty gullible that way, and the part of me that wanted to believe is the part of me that this book really responded to.
A lot of people will probably think that the adventure elements of the story are "corny". Some will find the humor a little forced and old-fashioned. Surly, ...more
A lot of people will probably think that the adventure elements of the story are "corny". Some will find the humor a little forced and old-fashioned. Surly, ...more
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