From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Princess Bride

William Goldman

Start date: September 1, 2023

Finish date: September 30, 2023

Discussion: Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Science Fiction and Fantasy

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What Members Thought

Apr 23, 2013 midnightfaerie rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics

Choppy, but I suspect it was meant as such, considering it was written as mostly a screenplay and edited by a writer (If you can call him that) who had no concern whatsoever in preserving the sanctity of the original author's intent. A cut here, a slash there, S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale is ripped to pieces under William Goldman's butchering knife. He justifies it by the fact that he leaves a few chapters untouched, yet can't help but interject his unwanted thoughts upon his poor unsuspecting Choppy, but I suspect it was meant as such, considering it was written as mostly a screenplay and edited by a writer (If you can call him that) who had no concern whatsoever in preserving the sanctity of the original author's intent. A cut here, a slash there, S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale is ripped to pieces under William Goldman's butchering knife. He justifies it by the fact that he leaves a few chapters untouched, yet can't help but interject his unwanted thoughts upon his poor unsuspecting readers.

Okay, perhaps I was a bit rough on Goldman, but it was choppy. And Morgenstern's brilliance makes him a hero. Which is easy to do when one doesn't exist. And maybe it was just because I didn't like Goldman much. The way he described his wife and his fat child, got under my skin. He seemed a bit self-absorbed to me, and the fact that he resolved the issue later on with his child really made no difference to me.

That being said, the actual story was engaging and rather sort of brilliant, but I still found it a little too abrupt for real enjoyment. Every time I started to get into the story, I was interrupted. It wasn't as silly as the movie I had seen years ago, and even though it was pretty much the same story, reading it, it didn't seem as silly. I loved the politeness of the dialogue, the satire between characters, and unlike Goldman, the continual explanations of historical events in parenthesis throughout the story. (Knowing it was written way before parenthesis actually existed.) I was tickled by faulty logic and the made-up terrible beasts, R.O.U.S.'s. The characters were engaging and fun if not idiotic, and the book seemed to diminish Buttercup's intelligence to less than nothing.

I love lighthearted stories but there was no depth to anything and so it was hard to get into any aspect of the story. For example how could I believe that their kiss was even better than the top five kisses ever to have been, if I can't even understand their love for each other? They spent time together for years, but what was it that drew them together? Shared interests? Invigorating conversation? Hardly possible (or perhaps inconceivable) if all he ever said was "As you wish." It made me feel as if their attraction was based solely on looks and I had a hard time buying into that kind of love. And then there was one of their first conversations where she made a comment and he said something like "Well, be both know you're not that bright." And she agreed! (I love you til the ends of the earth and I'm glad you know there won't be any stimulating conversation between us because I'm dumber than a box of rocks.)

It's not that I don't appreciate silly, there are some stories that go beyond silly that I'm enraptured with. (The best example off the top of my head I can think of it the movie Crybaby with Johnny Depp) I just had a longing for more information from this book. When I finished reading it, I felt a strong desire to read the original book, to see if Goldman was lying about the tedious and unneeded chapters. Which is when I realized it didn't exist, and that's when the realization of Goldman's brilliance set in. It really was a rather clever ruse masquerading as a literary device.

Overall, it was a fun read for me. Nothing really stood out as exceptional except maybe the style of writing, the politeness in combat, the Aha! moments, none of which had anything to do with Goldman's writing. It was all Morgenstern's. A recent rewatch of the movie that I had pretty much forgotten most of, considering I hadn't seen it for over ten years, yielded nothing extraordinary for me, except an extra added greatness of Fezznik's character, and once again, a silliness that was even more evident in the movie than the book. I understand the leaning toward cultdom for this story, and I recognize the originality that makes it great, but it just isn't my cup of proverbial tea.
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20 likes · Like · see review

Sep 17, 2014 Library Nymph rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, classics

Funny and cute. Now I must watch the movie.

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2022 adele rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-shelf, ehrtbm-book-group, 5star

Hopefully I’ll come back for a more thought out review, but in the meantime, perfect 5 stars. One of my new top favorite books of all time…

But what in the actual f was chapter 1 of Buttercup’s Baby? That is not included in the book’s rating because honestly I’m just going to pretend that whole last section doesn’t exist.

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2019 Beth Buning rated it it was amazing

I really loved this book.
I think my favorite thing about it was the device Goldman used stating that he was re-writing the story.
It was just fun, and witty, and not a bit realistic. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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