The Princess Bride (1973)

Totally love it. It's brilliant, funny, witty and touching. However, I don't exactly know how to describe this book to people. Is it satire? romance? adventure? fantasy? or what? and this also what made this book exceptionally special.

I love the narrative tools that were used by Goldman here. It's like a story within a story. It's a kinda similar tool like the movie, but in my opinion, the book is much better.

Doesn't mean that I dislike the movie. The movie is one of my favorite movies of all time. But there are so many layers to the story, so many twists and turns that happened when you least expect it. And they worked.

If you haven't read this book or even watch the movie, reaaad it nooww and watch the movie or you can do any medium first because it doesn't spoil the magic, then read the memoir called 'As You Wish' by Cary Elwes, the actor who played the Dread Pirate Roberts, which is what I'm currently reading right now. ( )

I have had the phrase, "I am Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." running in my head for days now. I envisioned the characters from the movie as I read: Cary Elwes is Westley, Andre the Giant is Fezzik, and so forth. It's been many years since I last saw the movie, but I loved it and looked forward to reading the book someday.

I loved the book too right up to the point where Westley is tortured with The Machine. I hate scenes of torture, and this was book no different when I got to that part. But somehow the humor of the story fell short for me after that. I thought the part with Max the Magician was silly, Princess Buttercup was too naive in thinking the Prince would let her go, and Westley's confrontation with Prince Humperdinck at the end was ridiculous. These scenes worked in the movie but fell flat in the book and I am not sure why.

I have to give the book a disappointing 3 stars for a mediocre first quarter, a thrilling middle half, and an absurd final quarter. Still I am glad I read it and now I need to see the movie again and see if my love for it has stood the test time. ( )

I like this book, and I like the movie, but I'm sure I would like them more if I hadn't heard everyone and their brother tell me how great they are. ( )

Of course this is one of my favourite movies, and it didn't sit well with me that I'd never read the actual book. I was delighted to discover how close the book and movie versions actually are, and how true to the tone of the book the movie stays. If you've encountered this story in one medium but not the other, I think you should broaden your experience and read/see both. ( )

Very entertaining - had me going there! ( )