Author: William Goldman
Published: 1973
Year I read it: 2005
One sentence summary: In parts fairy-tale, action, comedy, adventure, and romance, this is the all around epic story of Wesley's undying love for Buttercup, told as a faux-abridgement.
Three reasons to read it:
- "Faux-abridgement" means Goldman totally made up both the tale and S. Morgenstern's longer tale - his commentary about Morgenstern's commentary is fiction! A wonderful play on meta ;)
- You thought the film was funny? You ain't seen nothing yet!
- Goldman's style is a delight! The book is charming.
- If you think the film just can't be topped (and don't want to be proven wrong), then don't read the book. Much of the plot and characters are the same, but there are different details.
"Has it got any sports in it?"
"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."
“There have been five great kisses since 1642 B.C. when Saul and Delilah Korn's inadvertent discovery swept across Western civilization. (Before then couples hooked thumbs.) And the precise rating of kisses is a terribly difficult thing, often leading to great controversy, because although everyone agrees with the formula of affection times purity times intensity times duration, no one has ever been completely satisfied with how much weight each element should receive. But on any system, there are five that everyone agrees deserve full marks. Well, this one left them all behind.”
"Fool!" cried the hunchback. "You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia,' but only slightly less well known is this: 'Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.'"
He was quite cheery until the iocane powder took effect.
"I mean, I really do think that love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops."
The Princess Bride
S. Morgenstern's
Classic Tale of True Love
and High Adventure
You had to admire a guy who called his own new book a classic before it was published and anyone had a chance to read it.”
ugh, need to read this! :) LOVE the movie, and I am sure the book is better...it always is ;)
ReplyDeleteDid they really hook thumbs back then? I remember this quote from the book, so I'm glad it made it on here!
ReplyDeleteMimi, no, I don't think that was a thing. Just a funny thought of people hooking thumbs rather than kissing.
ReplyDelete