The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure

by William Goldman | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0345348036 Global Overview for this book
Registered by needmorezoloft of Detroit, Texas USA on 6/30/2004
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by needmorezoloft from Detroit, Texas USA on Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Book is actually TBR, but I have a feeling I'll never let this one go.

Journal Entry 2 by needmorezoloft from Detroit, Texas USA on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I'm turning this one into a bookobsessed ONLY ring.

Please note this is ONLY open to those in North America... Because its a DVD & the book, the DVD will only work in DVD players in North America (Thanks Pepper!!!!)

Ring:
CheriePie
cheesygiraffe
darkpunkangel
Breeze
ctgmom
boogal

Journal Entry 3 by needmorezoloft from Detroit, Texas USA on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The Barnes & Noble Review
Originally published in 1972, William Goldman's delightful, so-called "abridgement" of S. Morgenstern's classic swashbuckling tale of true love and epic adventure, The Princess Bride, has reached an enormous audience, thanks greatly to Rob Reiner's wonderful film version featuring Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Andre the Giant, and William Goldman's sharp and vivacious screenplay. If you enjoyed the movie -- and I've never met a person who didn't -- you're certain to treasure this 25th-anniversary editon for many years to come. If you haven't yet delved into its enchanting pages, you'll find it utterly delightful, romantic, and entertaining read.
Because I saw "The Princess Bride" (many times now) well before I picked up Goldman's abridgement, I took it on with some reservation: How can anything possibly live up to that sharp and engaging movie? I was bucking for a serious letdown. Well, wasn't I surprised to discover that the film masterfully recreated the novel's brilliance? The sidesplitting humor, the appealing mood, and the romantic atmosphere are not unique to the film; these traits were lifted straight from Goldman's pages. Not only do I now have a deeper respect for Goldman's screenplay, but I have a fuller understanding of the fabulous characters that grace Reiner's film.

Remember Inigo Montoya -- the Spanish master swordsman whose life ambition is to find the evil six-fingered man who killed his father? Who can forget his famous line: "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed father, prepare to die"? And Fezzik, the tenderhearted giant who -- although weak-minded -- is powerful in physical strength and loyalty. And of course, Westley and Buttercup who, as symbols of true love and unblemished perfection, must suffer greatly before they can be truly joined. While the movie does an excellent job familiarizing us with their individual stories, Goldman's novel grasps who these characters really are and how each ended up in common struggle. The novel adds a significant dimension to the story that -- believe it or not -- makes each character even more unforgettable.

Goldman's story is without a doubt a timeless classic. The sharp wit, snappy dialogue, and wonderful characters that engrossed us in the film spring to remarkable life in the novel. Experience the high adventure and the true love of The Princess Bride all over again.

--Andrew LeCount


Annotation
With over one million copies in print, S. Morgenstern's classic fantasy, in the abridged "good parts" version by William Goldman, is a readers' favorite.

From the Publisher
Once upon a time came a story so full of high adventure and true love that it became an instant classic and won the hearts of millions. Now in hardcover in America for the first time since 1973 (in its native Florin, it has been on the Florinese Times bestseller list continuously since the week it was published), this special edition of The Princess Bride is a true keepsake for devoted fans as well as those lucky enough to discover it for the first time. S. Morgenstern's timeless tale -- discovered and wonderfully abridged by William Goldman -- pits country against country, good against evil, love against hate. From the Cliffs of Insanity through the Fire Swamp and down into the Zoo of Death, this incredible journey and brilliant tale is peppered with strange beasties both monstrous and gentle, and memorable surprises both terrible and sublime.

Synopsis
Originally published in 1972, William Goldman's delightful abridgement of S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and epic adventure, The Princess Bride, has reached an enormous audience, thanks greatly to Rob Reiner's wonderful film version featuring Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, and William Goldman's sharp and vivacious screenplay. If you enjoyed the movie, you're certain to treasure the newly published 25th-anniversary edition for many years to come. It's a delightful, romantic, and entertaining read.

From The Critics
Los Angeles Times
One of the funniest, most original and deeply moving novels I have read in a long time.


RELEASE NOTES:

Sending on.

Enjoy!! Smooches!!!

Journal Entry 5 by CheriePie from Campbell, California USA on Saturday, June 30, 2007
Received this in a box of books and stuff from Lei, but it arrived the day before I was leaving the Cape.

BTW, though I'm still pissed at the Mad Libs book cuz the pages don't stay open on their own all that well. But we just did some funny ones that my sister couldn't even read through without cracking up laughing! (I have a Vampire Mad Libs out in the RV so we used that one with the girls over the last few days as well.) :P

Thanks for starting this Lei. As I mentioned previously, I only saw the movie, but not read the book. But it'll be a little while before I can start reading it as I've got other rings and rays and owed books that need to be ahead of it. :)

Journal Entry 6 by CheriePie from Campbell, California USA on Friday, October 24, 2008
What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince in the world—and he turns out to be a perfect son of a bitch? Well, you get a tale of high adventure, full of (in the words of the author) "fencing, fighting, torture, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, hunters, bad men, good men, beautifulest ladies, snakes, spiders, beasts of all natures and descriptions, pain, death, brave men, coward men, strongest men, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion, and miracles". ;)

This book is a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by any age child or adult. Though I'd already seen the movie a few times, my friend Leilani insisted that I read the book and then watch the movie again, after which I'd appreciate it a lot more. Several others agreed and you know what? They were right! So thanks Leilani and other BookObsessors for introducing me to his fact. :)

As is the norm with most book to movie translations, the book goes into much more detail on the characters than the movie, so you get to know the characters a lot better than you would had you simply seen the movie alone. I particularly enjoyed the characters of kidnappers Inigo and Fezzik, played by Mandy Patinkin and André the Giant respectively, as the book really added a lot to their characters by fleshing out their background story. So they were actually very likable characters. Whereas their leader, Vizzini the Sicilian, was kind of a jerk, and the book reinforced that notion as well.

Overall, a very enjoyable read, and the humor in Goldman claiming to keep only the "good parts" in his version of the tale added to the overall fantastical and humorous tone of the book. :)


This is now reserved for Cheesy who's next in line and will be mailed out to her shortly.


UPDATE 12/2/08: Sorry for the delay in getting this mailed out. It's now in the mail to Cheesy and was mailed on 02-Dec-2008 via Media Mail. :)

Journal Entry 7 by cheesygiraffe from Florence, Alabama USA on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Received today. Should I read the book first or watch the movie? I'm embarrassed to admit I've never the seen the movie. Well I've seen bits and pieces of it.

Journal Entry 8 by cheesygiraffe from Florence, Alabama USA on Sunday, January 4, 2009
Excellent! I loved all the satire in this book. I'm glad I never fully watched the movie, so it didn't spoil the book too much. I think Inigo and Fezzik are my favorite characters. I can see why people believed Morgenstern was a real person. Goldman makes it seem so real. I think a lot people searched to see if he was, myself included. I love a good twist on a fairy tale even if it's a made up one.

Journal Entry 9 by cheesygiraffe from Florence, Alabama USA on Sunday, January 4, 2009
The movie was awesome too! It's funny to see Mandy Patinkin so skinny and all of them so young. Well except Billy Crystal.

I'll try to PM DPA again. I PMed her through BookCrossing. I may try emailing her through BO next.

Journal Entry 10 by cheesygiraffe at bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 23, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (1/23/2009 UTC) at bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to DPA today! :)

Journal Entry 11 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Thursday, January 29, 2009
Arrived safe and sound today, thanks Cheesy for passing this on. I'll start reading the book tomorrow and will watch the movie after that.

Journal Entry 12 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Saturday, February 7, 2009
I love both the book and the movie. I had a hard time putting the book down, and thus neglected my school reading even though I haven't been feeling well the past week.

I will PM Breeze next and will pass it on to her shortly.

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