The Princess Bride (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by William Goldman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Princess Bride (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Book Review: Timeless Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Everyone knows the book is always better than the film - before I read this I thought I'd find the exception that proves the rule. I was wrong. The intro is fascinating to see the genesis of this abridged version. It's magical in all senses and just reaches out to you. Don't forget to read the 1st chapter of 'Buttercups Baby' which was a surprise to find and a joy to read. I'm amazed at the level of tongue in cheek Morgenstern apparently wrote - I've heard rumours he is a figment of Goldmans imagination. Who cares. Whether you've seen the film or not it beautifully written and unputdownable.Book Review: BEST BOOK IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I had become web orientated, I travelled to the US to track this book down. Noone in the UK had heard of it, and the Morgenstern original was out of print. This has to be the most beautiful book ever written, yep the film is great too, but reading something is so much more rewarding. I am 22 and have lived my life vicariously through Buttercup and Westley for the best part of 12 years and I know that I certainly will be reading it for years to come and to my children - thats only if I find my real Westley and true love with a man who means more than when he simply says "as you wish"!Book Review: A reader from Tokyo
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one "red-hot" fairytale! All the classic elements are present - dashing young hero, beautiful heroine, evil Prince, a giant, a swashbuckling Spaniard, an albino and even Billy Crystal makes an appearance (no, sorry, that was the film)...the book is better than the movie, and it's definitely a must read. Written as an abridgement of a book supposedly written by an S.Morgensten - did he really exist? If not, then this is the most original ideas for a book that I've read in a long, long time. William Golding writes this book as himself, supposedly abridging a satirical book on Florinese culture by the afore-mentioned S. Morgenstern, bringing us the "good parts" version. It's very cleverly done, with footnotes supposedly explaining the reason for the inclusion or the editing of certain paragraphs of the "original", editors' notes, and most of all, little transcripts supposedly from the original book. IS THERE REALLY AN S. MORGENSTERN? (If anyone knows the answer, I'd appreciate a line to help me get some sleep at night). William Golding is funny, very, very funny, the characters are appealing, and the movie was wonderfully cast - the anniversary edition contains a wonderful intro by William Golding telling us a little more about the movie and its casting, and the characters (and who can fail to identify the giant Fezzik with Andre the Giant? It's like listening to the William Tell overture without thinking of the Lone Ranger). Look, it's a fairytale, good conquers evil, love triumphs over all, but boy, does it get a battering along the way. Just remember - life isn't fair, but the good guys generally win if you give them a break or two (or if they're only "Mostly Dead", and you have a Holocaust Cloak and a wheelbarrow and a Miracle Max chocolate-coated pill, and of course, "True Love" worth coming back for...). Go read this book, go read this book, go READ this book!Book Review: A must on everyone's bookshelf
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a dark and stormy night when I was first introduced to a film called The Princess Bride. A work of sheer brilliance by director Rob Reiner, I thought, and immediately searched it out in the local video store. On reading the sleeve notes I found that it was based on a book by one William (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)Goldman. But where was the book? Not available in this country! It required order from the States! So I would like to say a big Thank You to Amazon for making this book available to the British Public! A story of fencing, sports, pirates, giants, miracles, revenge, monsters and of course True Love! This story will appeal to the child within you, the romantic in you and the part of you that enjoys seeing the baddies get what they deserve. I can not reccommend this book highly enough it is The Fairy Tale of fairy tales, everyone should read this book.Book Review: One of the best books ever written
Summary: 5 Stars
A truly beautiful, witty, inventive and wonderful story containing everything a good book should have. This book works wonderfully on so many levels. On one level it is the simple adventure story of good, evil and true love and on the second it is the ultimate work of metafiction (a term used to denote fiction which deconstructs the writing process). Make no mistake S Morgenstern does not exist, he is a creation of Goldman; a useful and clever means of linking all the scenes together and absolving author of any responsibility for the events portrayed. Whatever way you chose to look at it this is one of the great books of all time.