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sofipitch's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Very similar to the movie, so if you love the movie you'll enjoy this. The action scenes are really well written and despite having scene the movie and knowing how it ends I felt like I was still on the edge of my seat reading the last bit. That's good writing. I liked the ending, I actually wish they could have added the author's last aside/closing to the movie, like having the grandpa say it or something. I liked the author's repeated statement of "life isn't fair" while the tale emphasis is you shouldn't give up, you should still fight for what you love.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
janessa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
As a long-time lover of the Princess Bride movie adaptation, I've had this book on my "To Read" list for a very long time. And to be sure, the main story-line of the book lived up to the fun, ridiculous romp which was the movie. With many of the most famous lines of the movie being taken straight from the book, you almost feel as though you are getting the chance to watch the movie as you read, with more back story and depth of plot sprinkled throughout.
BUT I have issues with the book as well. My problem mainly lies with the self-named, "William Goldman" narrator throughout the book. I hated him. He was a gross misogynistic, fat-phobic, self-absorbed man. I do not know if Goldman thought himself clever or satirical in the making of this character, but the acidic hatred in the narrator's words about his son and his wife was beyond repair. Thank goodness I knew the story that was going to follow the little introduction to the "abridgment" or I would have stopped out of sheer distaste for the narrator himself. Not to mention how in the 25th-anniversary edition (the version I read) you finish the great tale only to enter back into a slog of the narrator's fat-phobic, misogynistic rantings again, and a truly weak final chapter addition to the book. I would highly suggest readers only read the original version, or skip the Buttercup's Baby portions of the novel altogether as they add nothing of substance to the book itself.
If I could get an abridged version, removing all of the parts spoken by the "William Goldman" character, I would be able to give THAT book five stars.
BUT I have issues with the book as well. My problem mainly lies with the self-named, "William Goldman" narrator throughout the book. I hated him. He was a gross misogynistic, fat-phobic, self-absorbed man. I do not know if Goldman thought himself clever or satirical in the making of this character, but the acidic hatred in the narrator's words about his son and his wife was beyond repair. Thank goodness I knew the story that was going to follow the little introduction to the "abridgment" or I would have stopped out of sheer distaste for the narrator himself. Not to mention how in the 25th-anniversary edition (the version I read) you finish the great tale only to enter back into a slog of the narrator's fat-phobic, misogynistic rantings again, and a truly weak final chapter addition to the book. I would highly suggest readers only read the original version, or skip the Buttercup's Baby portions of the novel altogether as they add nothing of substance to the book itself.
If I could get an abridged version, removing all of the parts spoken by the "William Goldman" character, I would be able to give THAT book five stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Torture, Violence, and Animal cruelty
dune1984's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This might be my favorite book ever. Like most, I saw the movie first, and I recommend that order. The movie is amazing, and tells the story of Buttercup and Westley beautifully and hilariously, but the book is an entirely different experience. You might be thrown off by the metanarrative of the fictional William Goldman's regaling of his family troubles as he supposedly abridges a book from his youth, but it is all part of the larger narrative. You read the epic tale of love and loss that is Buttercup and Westley, but also the fictional C.S. Morgenstern, desperate to tell the storied history of his home country, and William Goldman himself, who married a wife he doesn't love, writes books he doesn't like, and has a son he doesn't connect with. And the writing itself is astounding, expanding upon the scenes you so loved from the movie. The first few minutes of the movie are blown into a long introduction chapter, with Buttercup navigating her own prejudices and feelings, culminating in the news of Westley's death. It's hilarious too, with running jokes that make no sense, claiming history that doesn't exist, interjecting with statements from the supposed "reviser". It's an amazing book, and well worth the read if you are the type willing to wade through an extremely wordy book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Antisemitism
lilacsophie's review
adventurous
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
georgiaellenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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