Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

11 reviews

monstrouscosmos's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Characters: 8/10
Relationships: 5/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 10/10
Writing Style: 6/10
Plot/Intrigue: 7/10
Internal Logic: 8/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Overall: 52/70, 3.75*

this was recommended by a beloved friend, and I'm glad to have finished it for the first time. it's definitely fun! it absolutely reads like what it is, which is well written scenes tied loosely together. the framing device is really fun! but I found it quite difficult to follow along as an audiobook. maybe it would be easier to sight read? I found myself repeated passages and chapters, and ended up listening to it twice all the way through back-to-back just to keep up. I loved the exploration of Inigo's backstory and the fight scene on the cliff especially, I think they were some of the more detailed scenarios which definitely helped me follow what was happening. my wife and I watched the movie together while I was reading (my first time watching it all the way through), and this is one of the few times I think I prefer the movie to the book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Torture, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, and Grief

lauramcc7's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: War

sweetchocolatez's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Addiction, Kidnapping, Blood, Alcohol, Violence, and Torture

Minor: Fatphobia and Suicide

sadiaa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

niamphoone's review

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

imbored_soillread's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed reading it, and it was well written, a true classic, but I can’t help feeling that in this instant, the movie is better than the book. Wesley seemed almost abusive in the book and I get that it was due to his own pain and trying to save Buttercup, but it doesn’t excuse how he treats her. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Ableism, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content

abbyluvsfrogs444's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This would've been better without all of Goldman's stupid interruptions.

Obviously this is a fictional story and S. Morgenstern did not exist.

I had a very hard time enjoying this book when Goldman kept interrupting himself to add some useless fact or tell a story about his childhood. I skipped the first 42 pages cause he just rambles on. I just wanted the story of Buttercup and Westley. I don't care if you think he was a genius for how he writes this, I found it insufferable. I would've rated it two stars but I did like the story (minus Goldman being annoying). 

Bottom line: THE MOVIE IS BETTER!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Torture, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Gore, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, and Grief

lycheejelly's review

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Torture

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexism

elizabeth_lepore's review

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Antisemitism