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catbeeisafraid's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
softrosemint's review against another edition
4.0
I had a lot of fun reading this - certainly a lot more than I had expected. Watched the movie right after and I thought it was interesting since the novel definitely added a lot more richness to the world and the characters but some of the dialogue worked a lot better in the film. The film was also kinder to: Buttercup (not being shown as a complete idiot) and fat people, bizarrely.
crsherbo's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
blueup's review against another edition
5.0
"I WANT DOMINGO MONTOYA, YOU SON OF A BITCH"
Oh how I loved this book!!!♥
Oh how I loved this book!!!♥
cheerbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I have been a huuuuge fan of The Princess Bride movie ever since I saw it when I was in high school. Romance, humor, swordfighting, it has EVERYTHING ou could want! I didn't even know it was a book, and once I learned that I swore it off because how could the book live up to my expectations? Well after using it as a recommendation on my advice/book podcast I had to read it and I'm stunned to tell you that the book managed to exceed my high expectations and that the movie was a stunning homage to the source material. This book is a wild ride and William Goldman was a creative genius.
In the simplest terms the movie The Princess Bride is based on a book, which is actually based on another book that doesn't exist. Yep, I know. It sounds very confusing. Allow me to explain. The full title of Goldman's book is The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure. In the book, a fictionalized version of the real author, William Goldman, talks about how when he was sick, his father read him Morgenstern's book, and it really helped him out. And so when it's his son's 10th birthday he wants to give his son a copy of the book. He works hard to track it down (having a tough time finding a Florinese/English translation) but manages to give it to his son.
Unfortunately the son doesn't really like it and Goldman is crushed. When Goldman takes a look at the book he realizes that this is not the book he remember at all and surmises that when his father read it to him, he was pulling out the good stories and skipped large chunks of Morgstern's writing. To preserve what he rememberd, Goldman decides he's going to write the abridged version and thus The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale. But y'all, that is all made up. It's all pretend. COLOR ME STUNNED.
The facts are that William Goldman was a real person and he wrote this book. But all the stuff about his dad reading it to him when he was sick, and later as an adult trying to buy it for his son? Bunk! The real William Goldman doesn't even have a son, he has two daughters. He also talks about how later in life he travels to the Morgenstern Museum in Floren with his grandson. That's also not true, because Floren is NOT REAL. I know I'm joyfully ranting on this a little bit, but it is just so fantastic to me, like the actual definition of fantastic. William Goldman, though you are no longer with us, I would like to say I am very proud of you for dreaming all of this up, which then led to the movie because that thing is beautiful.
I am pleased to report also that much of the dialogue in the movie is taken straight out of the book, not surprising because Goldman was the film's screenwriter. Also having the grandson/grandpa conceit to mirror what he did with the book was inspired. HIGH FIVES TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
The only real umbrage I take with the story is with our Princess Buttercup. She is...not great. In the movie she is heralded for her beauty and action-wise mostly bosses around a farm boy, gets captured, and shouts uselessly while her man is getting attacked by a giant rat. Get it together, ma'am. I hoped that maaaybe the book would give her more to do but alas, nope. But look, aside from that preference Goldman knocked this one outta the park and I'm grateful and in awe of his brilliance.
And if you made it through all 600 words of this review (WELL DONE) and somehow you're eager for more, then you should check out the episode of my podcast "Brag it Up" where upon I use the characters from The Princess Bride to show us all about how you should be proud of your achievements and confident in your skills. K byeeeeeee.
In the simplest terms the movie The Princess Bride is based on a book, which is actually based on another book that doesn't exist. Yep, I know. It sounds very confusing. Allow me to explain. The full title of Goldman's book is The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure. In the book, a fictionalized version of the real author, William Goldman, talks about how when he was sick, his father read him Morgenstern's book, and it really helped him out. And so when it's his son's 10th birthday he wants to give his son a copy of the book. He works hard to track it down (having a tough time finding a Florinese/English translation) but manages to give it to his son.
Unfortunately the son doesn't really like it and Goldman is crushed. When Goldman takes a look at the book he realizes that this is not the book he remember at all and surmises that when his father read it to him, he was pulling out the good stories and skipped large chunks of Morgstern's writing. To preserve what he rememberd, Goldman decides he's going to write the abridged version and thus The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale. But y'all, that is all made up. It's all pretend. COLOR ME STUNNED.
The facts are that William Goldman was a real person and he wrote this book. But all the stuff about his dad reading it to him when he was sick, and later as an adult trying to buy it for his son? Bunk! The real William Goldman doesn't even have a son, he has two daughters. He also talks about how later in life he travels to the Morgenstern Museum in Floren with his grandson. That's also not true, because Floren is NOT REAL. I know I'm joyfully ranting on this a little bit, but it is just so fantastic to me, like the actual definition of fantastic. William Goldman, though you are no longer with us, I would like to say I am very proud of you for dreaming all of this up, which then led to the movie because that thing is beautiful.
I am pleased to report also that much of the dialogue in the movie is taken straight out of the book, not surprising because Goldman was the film's screenwriter. Also having the grandson/grandpa conceit to mirror what he did with the book was inspired. HIGH FIVES TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
The only real umbrage I take with the story is with our Princess Buttercup. She is...not great. In the movie she is heralded for her beauty and action-wise mostly bosses around a farm boy, gets captured, and shouts uselessly while her man is getting attacked by a giant rat. Get it together, ma'am. I hoped that maaaybe the book would give her more to do but alas, nope. But look, aside from that preference Goldman knocked this one outta the park and I'm grateful and in awe of his brilliance.
And if you made it through all 600 words of this review (WELL DONE) and somehow you're eager for more, then you should check out the episode of my podcast "Brag it Up" where upon I use the characters from The Princess Bride to show us all about how you should be proud of your achievements and confident in your skills. K byeeeeeee.
abirch22's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
crumb92's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5