Goldman, William - The Princess Bride - Relaxed Buddy Read (read the book & watch the movie)- Start December 7, 2013 REVISIT JUNE 2017

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapters 2-5
Such fun! I have been giggling the whole way. The Zoo of Death, the notations about what he cut out, the names of the characters (Humperdinck, Buttercup) is all poking fun at these types of stories that take themselves too seriously. I am appreciating this more and more as i go as a very clever piece of writing.
Chapter 5 was great how we met the three bandits and their back story. What a cliffhanger to leave it on though! Ah!

Curious about what happens if you write on for the reunion scene (page 172 of my version)?
Check out this article: http://articles.latimes.com/1987-10-2...

[Jess]

Chapters 2-5

@Karen, thanks for the link. I figured that the reunion scene was another joke from the author.
I've seen the movie before, and I was really surprised by how closely some of the scenes mirror those in the movie.
But we also get to go inside the heads of the characters, which is something I've been enjoying.

[Kristie]

So behind on this one already! One more week of school finals and I'll have a little more reading time. Can't wait to catch up!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Same here Jessica

No worries Kristie! I haven't gotten any further than chapter 5 yet. It is hard to stop reading though, I am really enjoying it!!

[Logan]

Introduction and Chapter 1

The first time I read this, I was probably 10 years old. The only memory I have of it is thinking that it was tough to get through at certain points. I'm guessing it was the intro and sidebars that did me in! Like little Billy, I was probably anxious for the action and "good parts." :)

I can appreciate the narrative a bit more as an adult reader, and I like how his unreliability adds to the tension. It makes it hard to guess what will come next in the story, while also driving up our expectations for something outlandish. He sets up the heightened, tongue-in-cheek adventure story quite well, even if it does make him supremely irritating and unlikeable.

Once I decided to just be okay with not liking the William Goldman character he inserted into this tale, I could enjoy myself a little more. At this point, I'm still not sure why the story needed the narrator. Was it just to set tone? I kept thinking "How in the world did he ever sell this manuscript?" Because for me, the humor and the way he flips the fairy tale genre work just fine on their own once the "real" story begins. Maybe it will be more clear as I read on.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I wondered that same thing Logan. It seems pretty incredible that he was able to sell this. But I guess at the time, he was already quite a successful writer!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapters 6 - end

I have to admit that I felt the story dragging a bit with chapter 6 with the plot to rescue Westley. I'm not sure why, maybe I was just not in the right mood when reading!
However, I really did enjoy the book and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. I can also see myself reading it again some day. It is 4.5 stars for me

[Renee]

Chapter 2 - 5
I'm enjoying it more now that we are into the fairytale, the parts that are more like the movie. I'm finding Buttercup quite a weak character and honestly don't know what Westley sees in her. It's a better adventure story than romance.

[Renee]

By the way, You can also request the reunion scene by email and get it immediately

http://www.harcourtbooks.com/princess...

(It's not a reunion scene, but the updated version of the litigation story referred to in the link that Karen posted)

[Logan]

Chapters 2-5

I'm also liking it much more now that it has more action. And I agree that Buttercup is not worthy of Westley. It seems odd that he would love her when she's so selfish and ignorant and apparently happy to stay that way. I love Inigo and Fezzik and can't wait to see them again!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I guess I didn't think too much about Buttercup. I just took it as Goldman poking fun at all those adventure books with the gorgeous princess and so he wanted to make her useless. This was written in the 70s too so perhaps he was after some controversy by stirring up any feminists!

[Logan]

That's an interesting point! He does seem to go out of his way to demean his "wife" throughout the book, so maybe you're on to something there.

I think it's more likely what you said about poking fun at her. In these types of stories and fairy tales the princess is this beautiful person raised on a pedestal of perfection, and to have her with this HUGE flaw where she's as dumb as rocks and not particularly savvy is a cool way to flip it.

I'm at chapter 7 now - the end is near!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Haha - dumb as rocks! Love it
Yes I hadn't thought about his wife - so true

You're almost there! :)

[Logan]

Chapters 6 - end

It was cool to have the action in this section differ a little from the movie when Fezzik and Inigo visit the Zoo of Death. Other than that, most of the book really felt like reading the screenplay - so fun!

I really liked this book's humor. If the intro wasn't necessary to understand the asides sprinkled throughout the rest of the book, I'd tell people to skip it. For me, Goldman's voice is so obnoxious and I couldn't bring myself to read Buttercup's Baby because I didn't want to devote another second to his insufferable ramblings.

The book gets 4 stars for the actual story, negative a hundredy million stars for anytime the narrator speaks.

[Renee]

The movie is one of my all time favorites and this is one case where I like the movie better than the book. I didn't like the way the author kept interrupting. I did enjoy the style of humor. I agree that he was using Buttercup to poke fun at the damsel in distress character. I did send away for the reunion scene, it's a couple of pages in similar style to introduction. I haven't read buttercups baby yet but I might give it ago when I catch up with all the other books I'm reading at the moment.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Logan & Renee

I re-watched the movie last night and actually I think the movie is the "good parts" version as it doesn't have Goldman's naration! I had not connected previously that he wrote the screenplay for the movie too.
I have to say in the movie, The Sicilian is much nastier to Inigo and Fezzik than in the book. I guess that was intentional as he is the one that dies :o

Re: Buttercup's Baby ; I had to google what you both were referring to as that isn't in my copy! If you check out the wikipedia entry it isn't ealy worth reading apparently!!
I also have the reunion scene (which is actually just those "letters" referred to before) emailed to me, but I haven't read it yet :)

[Jess]

Chapter 6-End
I definitely enjoyed this book. The combination of humor and adventure was a really good mix. I loved Inigo and Fezzik's friendship, they're just go fun together. I even liked Westley and Buttercup's romance, because it had some humor mixed in and poked fun at the usual cliches. I do agree with some people that Buttercup does come off as somewhat useless, but I can't tell if that is on purpose so the story sticks with certain fairy tale cliches, or if the author is just giving in to stereotypes.

The only other thing I can't make up my mind about is the bizarre narration from Golding. It's such a strange mix of fiction and true events. He makes up a whole new family for himself, and pretends like Florin is real, but he has some stories about making the movie that are apparently true. I just don't get what the point of it was. From a literary analysis point of view, it's an interesting framing device that allows Golding to poke fun directly at hollywood and the publishing industry. But it also confuses the reader to a level I'm not sure I find acceptable.

All in all I gave it 4 stars. Really unique and fun, if somewhat confusing.

[☆Joycedale☆]

Don't laugh at me but when I first read this I didn't know the story behind it and thought it was all true.

[Logan]

I'm definitely not laughing at you. I think the point was to try and trick the reader into believing him. Unfortunately, tha fact also made me annoyed with the author. Still enjoyed the book though!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm not surprised either Joycedale! I think a lot of people would've believed it

[Michelle]

I've just started reading this for my real life bookclub and I'm not sure how I think yet. It's a bit different to what I was expecting as I've also never seen the movie.
Some of the little side notes are a tad irritating but it's certainly a really easy read otherwise.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Rebooting this thread!

[Adi Rocks Socks]

Introduction & Chapter 1

I have the 25th anniversary edition, which has two introductions – I skipped the first one, being me, haha.

In the midst of the actual introduction, I almost started believing that there really was an S Morgernstern who wrote an older book, but let's jusy say I wasn't as susceptible as I might have been had I not read Memoirs of A Geisha. (That author's done something similar.)

I absolutely loved the style, though the asides took a while to get used to. The style almost reminds me of Lemony Snicket, just almost. So far, I'm really enjoying the book.

I can't get over chapter 1, though. Westley freaking died! I just can't process it, and I'm kind of glad there's a break point here, because what just happened is all that's going through my head. I'm kind of hoping he'll be back later, that he isn't really dead, so fingers crossed!

(I haven't watched the movie yet – I think I'll watch it after done with the book.)

I still can't believe Westley is dead. I liked the idea of him and Buttercup together. :3

(Also, any thoughts on her name being Buttercup?)

[LittleRedRidingHood]

Introduction & Chapter 1

Yes, there is no Morgernstern. :-) I actualy didn't know, totally bought it. Until I checked the cover again. If this would be an abridget version Goldman wouldn't be named as author due to violation of authors rights. Thank god we have google.:-)

Parenthesis didn't bother me. I was more annoyed by Goldman's explanation slapped right in the middle of the scene about why they are there.

When it comes to Buttercup, I guess he's poking fun at fairytale stereotypes. Princess are all pretty, lovely, smart, kind and constant. And our Buttercup well she's pretty alright, but quite frivolous, silly, rude and dumb or I shall say slow, pot calling the kettle black. Poor Westley.

The death was quite a shock. Just when I started enjoying Westley is killed. Well I guess that means one down, more to go. There are mentioned adventures and romance. Buttercup will have her hands full for sure.

I also didn't watched the movie, but the main actor played in Robin Hood parody, so I'm definitely watching it after I finish reading the book.

[Adi Rocks Socks]

Chapters 2 to 5

Whew, it took me quite some time, almost two weeks, to get through the fifth chapter – it was pretty long, but wow, it was absolutely a treat to read. Every now and then I thought the descriptions were a tad too much, but nevertheless, I loved every second of it.

My beloved Westley is alive! Hurray! I had this lingering suspicion that the man in black was him, but I wasn't sure, and then ta-da, it really is him!

My opinion on Humperdink is divided – I don't know if I like him yet or not. Did/Do you like his character? I found his POV fun to read, but I still don't know if I like him. :3

You called it! Poor Westley indeed! She actually left him even though he risked being bitten by the ROUS and actually scaled the Cliffs of insanity for her! And yet, I can't bring myself to actively hate Buttercup, because that amount of shallowness is expected of her? I dunno.

I absolutely loved Inigo and Fezzik's back stories, and I can't wait for the eventual merging of plot threads, where Inigo duels the six-fingered Count. I have a feeling he and Fezzik are going to end up bandying with Westley. :D They'd take the criminal world by storm.

I really excited about this book -- I haven't been this genuinely excited by a book in a while, so yay! As I said earlier, I'm loving every minute of it. :)

[LittleRedRidingHood]

Chapters 2 - 5

And here waltzes in prince Humperdinck, the great huntsman with a bizarre hobby. The Zoo of death gave me creeps. I see him as vein and spoiled, he almost acts as a child. He gets what he wishes or else. Just the proposal itself, marry me or die. Charming.

I actually prefer his royal family more. The mumbling king Lotharon and his wife were hilarious. I’ve noticed that prince addresses his stepmother as E.S. (evil stepmother) analogy to Cinderella or Snow-white, but it didn’t seem as she would act evil towards him or is that because she kind of made up what king mumbled?

The Preparation chapter really bring out the mockery on the new level, where it ridicules the rules and rituals of royal families in past times.

And then came my favourite part so far. I’m definitely enjoying adventure aspect of a story more than romance. Love the bandits and Spiderman like Man in the black aka Westley. I hope that story for Fezzik and Inigo doesn’t end up here. But I just can’t seem to like Buttercup. She obviously prefers life over death (who doesn’t), but Westley climbed a mountain, bested the masters in their art and walked the deadly swamp for her and she still chooses prince over him. Man, she’s fickle. It broke my heart. I really don’t see what Westley sees in her. Maybe Humperdinck and Buttercup are just made for each other.

I hope that six fingered count gets what he deserves and Inigo can finally get his revenge. And maybe we will see some rescuing actions, when as you said Fezzik, Inigo and Westley join forces, storm the castle and save Buttercup. After all the title is princess bride.

[Adi Rocks Socks]

LittleRedRidingHood wrote: "Chapters 2 - 5

And here waltzes in prince Humperdinck, the great huntsman with a bizarre hobby. The Zoo of death gave me creeps. I see him as vein and spoiled, he almost acts as a child. He gets w..."

I absolutely agree with you. The royal parents were so much more likable! I think his stepmom was dubbed "evil" because that's the fairy tale stereotype, though she's actually pretty sweet. The Prince is totally a spoilt brat, and it's just like him to call her evil even if she isn't, just for the sake of it.

Hahaha, I think romance is pretty much absent at this point, what with the absurd zoo and all the fencing and cliff scaling and rock throwing.... I think that's why chapter five was so enjoyable despite its length.

Westley, ah poor Westley! Buttercup doesn't deserve that poor soul. I sort of wish Humperdinck and Buttercup end up together, just to spare Westley the fate of ending up with such a vain and shallow person, haha.

I can't wait for Inigo to say, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!" to the Count. :D :D