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marilu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Buttercup is only interesting in the first two chapters, after that she's only a dumb passive character. Would have liked a better female representation.
I like Inigo and Fezzik as characters and especially the kidnapping scene and how they fight with Westley before they get to know him. Also the resurrection scene had some hilarious dialogue.
I like Inigo and Fezzik as characters and especially the kidnapping scene and how they fight with Westley before they get to know him. Also the resurrection scene had some hilarious dialogue.
awest93's review against another edition
2.0
This is difficult to write, but... the movie was (way) better. The book is full of fatphobia, ableism, misogyny, and even a few racial slurs. The "running joke" about the abridgement and Goldman's life got too gimmicky and I actually couldn't wait to be done. Everything worthwhile made it into the movie, I promise.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
I had this book marked on my 'read' books for the longest time. It dawned on me that after seeing a special screening of the movie followed by a Q&A with Cary Elwes, I actually have never read it. Normally when an author adapts their own story into a screenplay it becomes a bit of a 'well, should I read it?' if I already seen the movie? (Normally I make it a point to read the book before the film.)
The movie is a bit of those 'do you remember where you were when you first watched it?'. I do. I remember being at home, sick, from school. Looking for something to watch. My mother's friend gave us a bag full of 'family films', the kind that you watch and answer questions on the back. This was the only film among them that didn't have questions and looked rather interesting. I took it out, was delighted to find that the boy in the film was sick too... and then, the story began and I was enthralled. So it remained one of my favorite fantasy films.
So this book... does it live up to the movie?
I have to say it's one of those books that I actually find not as good as the film. It's not a bad book (like Jaws, Planet of the Apes or Practical Magic) in terms of being adapted... it's just, odd. It's written oddly and the characters of Buttercup and Westley are slightly different. I feel like whatever William Goldman did to his book to make it flow better on screen helped it.
I did enjoy the book for giving me the background information on some of the scenes and why they were the way they were. Also, understanding Fezzik and Inigo's backstories helped round out their character more.
But, can we PLEASE talk about how much of an ass Westley is and how... weird Buttercup is? Westley hardly shows any romantic affection or scenes with Buttercup before he peaces out to find his fortune. Then when he becomes the Dread Pirate Roberts. Remember that scene where he is trying to test her out to find out where her heart lies? He is pretending to be DPR and he gives that line about the "next time my hand flies" yada yada? HE ACTUALLY CRACKS HER ACROSS THE FACE. Also, when he is escaping from the castle... he is saying nasty things to her and treating her like shit.
William Goldman made Westley so much more of a dream and so much more of handsome cavalier than a man who is can be as nasty as Prince Humperdink.
As for Buttercup being weird, well, her thought processes are usually out in left field and she normally is reacting to what other guys are doing. She has one or two good scenes on her own, but her character is dwarfed by how interesting other scenes and characters are.
The dialogue in some scenes were taken straight out of the book. That I am thankful for, because the Battle of Wits scene, Inigo's fight, and 'to the pain' are my favorite moments.
I will say that William Goldman truly wrote a great fantasy that was better suited for the film. I only wish that the book was as good.
The movie is a bit of those 'do you remember where you were when you first watched it?'. I do. I remember being at home, sick, from school. Looking for something to watch. My mother's friend gave us a bag full of 'family films', the kind that you watch and answer questions on the back. This was the only film among them that didn't have questions and looked rather interesting. I took it out, was delighted to find that the boy in the film was sick too... and then, the story began and I was enthralled. So it remained one of my favorite fantasy films.
So this book... does it live up to the movie?
I have to say it's one of those books that I actually find not as good as the film. It's not a bad book (like Jaws, Planet of the Apes or Practical Magic) in terms of being adapted... it's just, odd. It's written oddly and the characters of Buttercup and Westley are slightly different. I feel like whatever William Goldman did to his book to make it flow better on screen helped it.
I did enjoy the book for giving me the background information on some of the scenes and why they were the way they were. Also, understanding Fezzik and Inigo's backstories helped round out their character more.
But, can we PLEASE talk about how much of an ass Westley is and how... weird Buttercup is? Westley hardly shows any romantic affection or scenes with Buttercup before he peaces out to find his fortune. Then when he becomes the Dread Pirate Roberts. Remember that scene where he is trying to test her out to find out where her heart lies? He is pretending to be DPR and he gives that line about the "next time my hand flies" yada yada? HE ACTUALLY CRACKS HER ACROSS THE FACE. Also, when he is escaping from the castle... he is saying nasty things to her and treating her like shit.
William Goldman made Westley so much more of a dream and so much more of handsome cavalier than a man who is can be as nasty as Prince Humperdink.
As for Buttercup being weird, well, her thought processes are usually out in left field and she normally is reacting to what other guys are doing. She has one or two good scenes on her own, but her character is dwarfed by how interesting other scenes and characters are.
The dialogue in some scenes were taken straight out of the book. That I am thankful for, because the Battle of Wits scene, Inigo's fight, and 'to the pain' are my favorite moments.
I will say that William Goldman truly wrote a great fantasy that was better suited for the film. I only wish that the book was as good.
nancyhashope's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
elly_young's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the movie so was ecstatic to find it was also a book, the narrative style takes a little getting used to but I loved it from beginning to end!
aotales's review against another edition
3.0
Probably one of the most sarcastic novels I have ever read, still not sure why Goldman goes to all the trouble of writing the first 31 pages or inventing S.Morgenstern, but after watching Butch Cassidy ... this kind of humour makes a bit more sense. For me the constant Morgenstern reference interruptions were annoying. But it is an entertaining read, very whimsical.
thaurisil's review against another edition
3.0
I read this five years ago, when I was 17, and I gave it 5 stars. I just finished reading it for the second time, and I am completely underwhelmed by it.
In this book, Goldman pretends to be abridging a story by S. Morgenstern, a fictional author from the fictional country of Florin. Morgenstern, according to Goldman, wrote an excellent action-fairy tale, but destroyed it by making it satirical, and Goldman's aim is to abridge the story so only the "good parts" are left. What we get is a story of beautiful but brainless Buttercup and multitalented but poor Westley. Westley goes missing out at sea and Buttercup is forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, ruler of Florin. Of course, this being a fairy tale, Buttercup and Westley end up together in the end, but not before we meet Inigo, a Spaniard and master swordsman on a quest to avenge his father, Fezzik, a dumb but strong strong Turkish giant, and Count Rugen, the prince's sidekick with an obsession over torture. Interspersed in the narrative are Goldman's comments in italics, in which he talks about the parts he has cut out and his reactions when his father first read the story to him as a kid.
I can see why I liked this the first time I read it. The main story itself is entertaining, with fast-packed action, plenty of suspense, and the promise that everything will work out well at the end. But the cherry on top is the back story that Goldman creates for it, and his italicised comments that make you feel that you are reading something for adults, especially when he rants about publishing houses in America. Fezzik and Inigo are endearing characters, and I particularly like how Fezzik is a giant who loves rhymes.
This second time round though, I saw the flaws in the book. Buttercup though beautiful is dumb, and the Prince was probably more deserving of her than Westley was. And what is up with Westley? He's perfect, so perfect that he defeats death, whereas I like characters to have some weaknesses. Then there's the back story, which though it adds an extra dimension to the story, is too unbelievable to fulfill the purpose of grounding the story in reality. And although it is fictional, it is essentially Goldman's autobiography, which makes him come off a bit full of himself.
The book is still entertaining, but it's probably most suited to teenagers.
In this book, Goldman pretends to be abridging a story by S. Morgenstern, a fictional author from the fictional country of Florin. Morgenstern, according to Goldman, wrote an excellent action-fairy tale, but destroyed it by making it satirical, and Goldman's aim is to abridge the story so only the "good parts" are left. What we get is a story of beautiful but brainless Buttercup and multitalented but poor Westley. Westley goes missing out at sea and Buttercup is forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, ruler of Florin. Of course, this being a fairy tale, Buttercup and Westley end up together in the end, but not before we meet Inigo, a Spaniard and master swordsman on a quest to avenge his father, Fezzik, a dumb but strong strong Turkish giant, and Count Rugen, the prince's sidekick with an obsession over torture. Interspersed in the narrative are Goldman's comments in italics, in which he talks about the parts he has cut out and his reactions when his father first read the story to him as a kid.
I can see why I liked this the first time I read it. The main story itself is entertaining, with fast-packed action, plenty of suspense, and the promise that everything will work out well at the end. But the cherry on top is the back story that Goldman creates for it, and his italicised comments that make you feel that you are reading something for adults, especially when he rants about publishing houses in America. Fezzik and Inigo are endearing characters, and I particularly like how Fezzik is a giant who loves rhymes.
This second time round though, I saw the flaws in the book. Buttercup though beautiful is dumb, and the Prince was probably more deserving of her than Westley was. And what is up with Westley? He's perfect, so perfect that he defeats death, whereas I like characters to have some weaknesses. Then there's the back story, which though it adds an extra dimension to the story, is too unbelievable to fulfill the purpose of grounding the story in reality. And although it is fictional, it is essentially Goldman's autobiography, which makes him come off a bit full of himself.
The book is still entertaining, but it's probably most suited to teenagers.
kessler21's review against another edition
4.0
The movie is one of my all time favorites and after reading [b:As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride|21412202|As You Wish Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride|Cary Elwes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1418103917l/21412202._SY75_.jpg|27029851], I felt it was time to tackle the book.
I am impressed at how closely the book and movie are and the majority of my favorite lines in the movie are also found in the book. It gives so much credit to Goldman as a superb author.
The narrator of the book caught me off guard and it took a while to become comfortable with him. After finishing the book, it does make the book better. The abridged version of The Princess Bride. ;)
I am impressed at how closely the book and movie are and the majority of my favorite lines in the movie are also found in the book. It gives so much credit to Goldman as a superb author.
The narrator of the book caught me off guard and it took a while to become comfortable with him. After finishing the book, it does make the book better. The abridged version of The Princess Bride. ;)
saige's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0