Do I even need to write a detailed summary of this novel? Those who have read it or seen the film already love it, and even those who haven’t can still quote it (Mawwage! Get back, witch!). So I’ll hit the high points:
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. Miracles.
Basically — and I try so hard not to be super judgey about whether or not people like a certain book — if you don’t like this book I’m pretty sure you have the wit and understanding of a sea sponge.
William Goldman’s The Princess Bride should be required reading — in schools, book clubs, bloggers’ circles, at work, everywhere.
No matter how good a story may be in an author’s head, it won’t turn out right if it’s not written well. Goldman is a master craftsman, balancing saccharine-sweet romance with incredibly brutal bad guys and genuinely laugh-worthy humor.
My only complaint is the occasional sexist overtones that peek through. Buttercup is what I would call dumb, and falls firmly into the “Helpless Maiden” category (the 1987 film weeded some of this out). Both Westley and Inigo are unnecessarily harsh with her several times, ordering her around like she’s a child.
Overall The Princess Bride is a fantastic, fantastical book, and is enjoyed best when read aloud (especially to someone who’s all eye-rolly about it but then gets sucked in). Wonderfully written, a blast to read. Pick up a copy soon!
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Amy, I often enjoy the same books as you, but at the risk of sinking to the ocean abyss as a dead sea sponge, I could not get into the Princess Bride. Maybe I’ll try it again some day, but so far it’s on my could-not-finish pile.
This sounds something like an apology — stop that! 🙂 I’m glad that you’ve given it a shot, and are open to coming back to the novel later. It is a strange little story, I can see how it wouldn’t appeal to everyone.
This is going on my list.
I had two (TWO!) DNFs last week, me the one who never gives up. But geez, some cozy mysteries are just too stupid!
Yea, I’ve OD’d on cozy mysteries before. I always just switch to something else and come back later. 😀