The Princess Bride in Classics Without All the Class

Aug 04, 2012 Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, book-to-movie-adaptation, ymmv, historical, relationships, dark, fiction, creatures, four-stars, humour

Rating: 3.5

I read this book with a mixed heart.

I loved "Morgenstern's" parts of the novel- witty and snarky, I was laughing a lot and quoting choice parts to my family.

What detracted from the enjoyment was Goldman's comments in the first 35 pages and I didn't even read "Buttercup's Baby" segment. The misogyny, fat-shaming, and one homophobic comment (fearing that his son will turn into a pouf) was really grating to read- I had so much second hand embarrassment, that it was kind of amusing how ...more

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Nov 11, 2015 Kaitlin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, fantasy, american-lit, 20th-century, male-author, 05-stars, over-five-stars, have-in-book-form, pirates, also-a-movie

I've seen the movie version of The Princess Bride growing up but never read the book until now and LOVED IT!!!! Every thing about it was amazing. The story, the characters, every thing about this book is amazing. I don't know how to put gifs up but I'm putting up two funny clips from the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JGp7...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58Lp...

...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Laurentiu Lazar rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013

This book was "Absolutely,totally,and,in all ways,inconceivable" , haha, not really, but I like that phrase, a lot. Or maybe just a bit, at times.

I've seen the movie before reading "The Princess Bride" so I had some ideas already formed in my head, regarding the plot. What surprised me is that the adaptation was extremely good, with only minor glitches along the way, most likely due to the fact that Goldman wrote the screenplay.

Goldman's side notes/story is confusing at times and the funny part This book was "Absolutely,totally,and,in all ways,inconceivable" , haha, not really, but I like that phrase, a lot. Or maybe just a bit, at times.

I've seen the movie before reading "The Princess Bride" so I had some ideas already formed in my head, regarding the plot. What surprised me is that the adaptation was extremely good, with only minor glitches along the way, most likely due to the fact that Goldman wrote the screenplay.

Goldman's side notes/story is confusing at times and the funny part is that S. Morgenstern is a fictional character, so all the comparisons/stuff said is... a spoof of real life?? compared to a fantasy world? it might have been his idea. So...

...Goldman hates his publishers,jokes regarding his overweight child,criticizes Morgenstern's writing. All this " real life" insiders always came to cut, usually, some of the most action packed scenes. Some may feel a bit of irony since he said "The 'good parts' version abridged by William Goldman", for sure many of us feel disturbed,confused,annoyed by his freaking "abridgement technique", an uniquely writen book.

So here comes the question, why all those interuptions?? Hello?? Inconceivable!!!

Into the book we have chapters that describe Fezzik and Inigo Monoya, backstories which fill up some gaps that the movie has. Other differences that come into my mind are the Zoo of Death, which is totally omitted in the movie and the beginning where Buttercup is way better described.

As for the movie, the interpretation of Vizzini by Wallace Shawn is priceless. Funny like hell. I just keep seeing him shouting the magic word "inconceivable". Billy Crystal's Magic Max character also really memorable, as well as Mandy Patinkin's Inigo Montoya role. Wonderful acting.

"Hello,my name is Inigo Montoya,you killed my father prepare to die."

Cliffs of Insanity, the Fire Swamp,Zoo of Death, Vizzini, Miracle Max,Butercup,The Dread Pirate Roberts ,Humperdinck all names that send you into the imaginative realm of fantasy - fairy tale. For me at least it seemed entertaining.

Two short quotes I liked:
"Life is pain, but life is also true love. Love conquers all."
"Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death,that's all."

Both movie and book are worthwhile, so if you want an entertaining, fantasy and complex book this is for you. ...more

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Nov 23, 2010 Micah rated it really liked it

So flippin' fun. Weird fat jokes aside, this is one of the few books where I felt like the movie was as good as the story, and the story was great. ...more

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