A review by dune1984
The Princess Bride by William Goldman

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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