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ranee_samaniego's review against another edition
4.0
The Princess Bride was a heartwarming, nostalgic read for me. I have always loved the movie, and the book did not disappoint.
This is a abridged edition of S. Morgenstern's original with quite a bit of commentary from William Goldman, so be aware!
Pros:
+ I loved that we got more background on each of the characters!
+ The writing style was engaging and flowed well.
+ The pacing was good! I never felt bored and was constantly eager to turn the page to see what happened next.
Cons:
- The ending felt a bit undone. I wish it had ended like it did in the movie (as William Goldman himself says too).
- While, as a fan of the movie, I enjoyed Goldman's insertions and explanations, at times they detracted from the actual story and plot.
- This is evidently a book written by a man - Buttercup is quite one-dimensional and dull, with the entirety of her character revolving around her external beauty.
This is a abridged edition of S. Morgenstern's original with quite a bit of commentary from William Goldman, so be aware!
Pros:
+ I loved that we got more background on each of the characters!
+ The writing style was engaging and flowed well.
+ The pacing was good! I never felt bored and was constantly eager to turn the page to see what happened next.
Cons:
- The ending felt a bit undone. I wish it had ended like it did in the movie (as William Goldman himself says too).
- While, as a fan of the movie, I enjoyed Goldman's insertions and explanations, at times they detracted from the actual story and plot.
- This is evidently a book written by a man - Buttercup is quite one-dimensional and dull, with the entirety of her character revolving around her external beauty.
mirka_magratas's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
gouachebleue's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.5
I don’t care that you hate your wife William 🤨
heathercottledillon's review against another edition
4.0
William Goldman claims that as a boy he loved to hear his father read the S. Morgenstern classic, "The Princess Bride." Only later did he find out that his dad had skipped huge parts of the story--the long, boring sections. So Goldman came up with this, "the good parts version," with tons of lengthy descriptions left out and his own thoughts and experiences inserted throughout the story. In reality, he's making the entire thing up--there is no Morgenstern and Goldman is the one who dreamed it all up. I've loved "The Princess Bride" movie for as long as I can remember but I'd never read the book, and I'll admit it: until I started reading, I really thought that it had been written by some guy named Morgenstern and that Goldman had abridged it. It wasn't until I got into the introduction that I figured it out! It's an interesting way to tell the story, and I think Goldman did it this way to make it stand out, to get some laughs about the publishing industry, and to show how much a good book can suck you in and affect your life.
I LOVE the story itself. It's got everything: action, adventure, love, humor. The dialogue, especially, is fantastic. The book seems to make fun of itself (or fairy tales in general) and almost all of the characters are stereotypical (the dashing hero who can do everything well, the beautiful but dumb princess, the arrogant and evil prince). But no matter how ridiculous the characters are, or even what they do--Wesley is a killer pirate, after all--I still love them.
"The Princess Bride" is one of the few stories that I prefer as a movie as opposed to a book. Perhaps it's because I've loved the movie for most of my life, but something about it seems to translate on screen better than on paper. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, though.
I LOVE the story itself. It's got everything: action, adventure, love, humor. The dialogue, especially, is fantastic. The book seems to make fun of itself (or fairy tales in general) and almost all of the characters are stereotypical (the dashing hero who can do everything well, the beautiful but dumb princess, the arrogant and evil prince). But no matter how ridiculous the characters are, or even what they do--Wesley is a killer pirate, after all--I still love them.
"The Princess Bride" is one of the few stories that I prefer as a movie as opposed to a book. Perhaps it's because I've loved the movie for most of my life, but something about it seems to translate on screen better than on paper. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, though.
r_j_setser's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops."
After growing up with the movie and still watching it several times a year, quoting "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife" quite often to my husband, and randomly exclaiming "Anyone want a peanut?" throughout my days; I've finally read the book. And I can't believe that it took me so long to do so.
This is a work of satirical art and I haven't laughed this hard at a book in I don't even know how long. That being said, do not take this book seriously. You can't, or you'll walk away from it deeply offended and irritated. I've never had a work of fiction make me question my reality, but here we are. I won't include spoilers in case you'd like to experience the brilliance of Goldman's 25th and 30th anniversary introductions for yourself, but just know: he got me.
The Princess Bride is meant to be read aloud and I want to immediately start it with my husband. That being said, however, there were a few things that would make me hesitant to read aloud to kids without interjecting (as Goldman's father often did with him). The main thing being how often Buttercup gets slapped and it being okay. Once again, this is satire and it is humorously exaggerating the toxic masculinity and helpless femininity tropes and I believe it's supposed to make you uncomfortable (because that's what satire does), but as I mentioned earlier if you take it seriously, you will walk away from this book offended.
Overall, this is a book that any lover of the movie needs to experience at least once! I wasn't expecting the book to be too vastly different from the movie, but it is. They are each works of art and I can't say that either is "better" than the other. If you love the movie, you also need to read the book, but only because there is more to the story than you could possibly imagine! As it is, this book is so unique and unlike any other (that comes to my mind) that I can't rate it anything but 5 stars, but I do recommend it with caution: you need to understand satire.
Content warnings: Cursing: one use of "SOB" and occasional minor words. No gore, very minor action. And only a couple mention of kisses. Other warnings would include some intense nightmares, animal cruelty, and various discriminations.
After growing up with the movie and still watching it several times a year, quoting "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife" quite often to my husband, and randomly exclaiming "Anyone want a peanut?" throughout my days; I've finally read the book. And I can't believe that it took me so long to do so.
This is a work of satirical art and I haven't laughed this hard at a book in I don't even know how long. That being said, do not take this book seriously. You can't, or you'll walk away from it deeply offended and irritated. I've never had a work of fiction make me question my reality, but here we are. I won't include spoilers in case you'd like to experience the brilliance of Goldman's 25th and 30th anniversary introductions for yourself, but just know: he got me.
The Princess Bride is meant to be read aloud and I want to immediately start it with my husband. That being said, however, there were a few things that would make me hesitant to read aloud to kids without interjecting (as Goldman's father often did with him). The main thing being how often Buttercup gets slapped and it being okay. Once again, this is satire and it is humorously exaggerating the toxic masculinity and helpless femininity tropes and I believe it's supposed to make you uncomfortable (because that's what satire does), but as I mentioned earlier if you take it seriously, you will walk away from this book offended.
Overall, this is a book that any lover of the movie needs to experience at least once! I wasn't expecting the book to be too vastly different from the movie, but it is. They are each works of art and I can't say that either is "better" than the other. If you love the movie, you also need to read the book, but only because there is more to the story than you could possibly imagine! As it is, this book is so unique and unlike any other (that comes to my mind) that I can't rate it anything but 5 stars, but I do recommend it with caution: you need to understand satire.
Content warnings: Cursing: one use of "SOB" and occasional minor words. No gore, very minor action. And only a couple mention of kisses. Other warnings would include some intense nightmares, animal cruelty, and various discriminations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Body shaming, Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Child death and Suicide
inas_mjidi5's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.5
christinamin12's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes