Praise be to the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I have finally read The Princess Bride! And what did I think of William Goldman's, a.k.a. S. Morgenstern's, "classic tale of true love and high adventure"? Well, to be honest ... it made me want to watch the film again (which I promptly did). There were things I loved in the book that weren't in the movie (The Zoo of Death scene with Inigo and Fezzik) and things that I was hoping to read that just weren't there (the word "putrescence" ... you know where it is!). I couldn't help but see all of the book characters in my mind cast as the film characters. The only one that ended up not working for me was Humperdinck -- I had to recast him based on the book description. But the meta format of the book was fun -- even more so than Peter Falk and Fred Savage in an 80's kid bedroom.
So thank you to Heather and her list of books she couldn't live without. This was number one and I can see how, if you picked this book up at the right time, you could easily fall completely in love with it. I wish I had seen fit to pick it up about 20 years ago. Instead, I'll always have fond memories of sitting with my friends at a GT (a "get-together", for anyone not familiar with that term) shouting "anybody want a peanut" or rolling down a large grassy hill at the park screaming "AS YOU WISH" at the top of our lungs. This story will always be a favorite no matter the format.
Happily ever after,
K
I am not ashamed to admit I just squealed a little bit. Inside my mind, since everyone is still asleep. It was very hard.
ReplyDeleteBut yay! I'm sure you know how nerve-wracking it can be to recommend your most favorite book. You want EVERYONE to love it as much as you do! So I am blissfully happy that you loved it too! The book and movie are completely tied up like that for me too. I see the same actors (except Humperdinck, as you say) and I hear their voices in my head. Inconceivable!
Thank you for making my day! Oooo I'm so happy! :D
I am glad you loved this! I really need to reread it!
ReplyDeleteOh, great post! I've actually never read this book, either, and I admit (though I'm a little worried to do so) that I don't love the movie as much as most people, either. But that seems to be more an error of my own judgment ;-)
ReplyDeleteI recently read this - I was a bit worried doing so because I've seen, and loved, the film so many times. But this book does not disappoint. It's absolutly brilliant! I can't recommend it enough to anybody whose attention I can grab! It's inconceivable that I didn't read it earlier.
ReplyDeleteLynn :D
I started this book once, for one of Carl's OUAT challenge, but I never finished it. I can see I was quite remiss! Thanks for the reminder to complete it.
ReplyDeleteHeather - It was honestly your list that finally got me to grab this one. Thank YOU!
ReplyDeleteKailana - I am sure this will be one I reread over the years. :)
Aarti - The book is a bit less silly than the movie so you might actually like it better. I noticed the movie throws in more one liners that make Westley more smarmy than he is in the book.
Lynn - I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to be worried that the movie would be better!
Bellezza - I hope that you pick it back up at some point. It's an exciting story!
I love this book AND I love this movie! I just rewatched the movie, and really should read the book again. I think I read it in a day, it was so good. The meta aspects are truly wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT believe I have NEVER read this book. But part of me is a little scared to since the movie is my absolute absolute favorite. I'm afraid of what reading the book will do to my perception of both.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous - I think this is one of those rare stories where both the book and the movie are beloved. :)
ReplyDeleteTrish - I couldn't believe I hadn't read it either. I was scared but there are parts that have almost the exact same dialogue as the movie (the author wrote the screenplay) so you find yourself smiling at the familiar things and enjoying the new ones. I really liked Inigo's back story in the book.
It's been ages since I re-viewed the film, so I should probably take this opportunity to read the book. And that way, even though way-back-when I did watch the film first, I can still seem to be following my Book First, Film Second rule, many years after the fact! Glad to hear that the book was so satisfying for you. It really does seem the quintessential choice for a OUaT reading!
ReplyDeleteI should check out the book -- it has been so long since I saw the movie that I might be able to approach it almost "fresh."
ReplyDeleteBuried - That's kind of how it was for me. I watched the film a million times as a teen but then hadn't seen it in years.
ReplyDeleteJenners - I think you would. And I think you would really like the book!