Review: The Princess Bride

Title:  The Princess Bride
Series:  None
Author:  William Goldman
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publication Date:  October 8, 2007 by Harcourt Inc (first published 1973)
Source:  Borrowed.  Thanks, Brandi!

A tale of true love and high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts - The Princess Bride is a modern storytelling classic.
As Florin and Guilder teeter on the verge of war, the reluctant Princess Buttercup is devastated by the loss of her true love, kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchmen, rescued by a pirate, forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, and rescued once again by the very crew who absconded with her in the first place. In the course of this dazzling adventure, she'll meet Vizzini - the criminal philosopher who'll do anything for a bag of gold; Fezzik - the gentle giant; Inigo - the Spaniard whose steel thirsts for revenge; and Count Rugen - the evil mastermind behind it all. Foiling all their plans and jumping into their stories is Westley, Princess Buttercup's one true love and a very good friend of a very dangerous pirate.

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My Review:  I've always been a huge fan of this movie.  It was a lot of fun watching it as a kid; full of adventure, romance, humor, and tons of exciting action.  The book was much the same.  While it wasn't exactly what I had imagined, the unique narration style and the fun comments from the author thrown in at certain points made this book all the more enjoyable.  Just as the author's father supposedly read this story with and to him as a child, I felt like I was reading it with someone, too.  It was an all around entertaining experience!

First of all, I have to mention how absolutely hilarious this story was.  From the very start, I was just cracking up.  The author has a very subtle and dry sense of humor that came across really well on the page.  More than once, I was reading this in class and had to concentrate not to burst into hysterics.  I would, of course, go back ad reread those awesome, laughing-fit inducing passages so I could really get the full effect.

This was really just such a wonderful cast of characters.  Even the ones I hated, I loved.  Each one was so unique and interesting to read about, with their own back stories and histories.  I could feel their desperation to achieve their goals and see exactly where they were coming from and why.  I can't say I have a favorite character right now but Inigo is high up there.  Along with Westley, of course.  Like I said, they are all so three dimensional and interesting in their own ways that it's hard to choose just one as my favorite.  

I was never bored while reading this book.  Every moment was either filled with swoon-worthy romance, heart-racing action, or belly-aching humor.  Or all three, which happened quite often.  This was a purely entertaining book.  Even thinking about it now, I want to pick it up again and beginning rereading all of my favorite parts.  

The Princess Bride is a novel that possesses all of the qualities of a great novel: action, romance, humor, adventure, and a unique and fun writing style.  This is a book that I've glad I didn't miss and will be going back to often throughout the years.  It's easy to see how this has turned into the classic that it is.

“You seem a decent fellow," Inigo said. "I hate to kill you."

You seem a decent fellow," answered the man in black. "I hate to die.” 

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