Like many of my generation, I have seen The Princess Bride maybe a hundred times. I can quote large passages of it ad nauseum. But until recently, I had never even though about reading the book. I'm glad I did because it gave me a prime example of a situation where the movie is better than the book.
I don't mean to imply that the book is bad. It's a great book, it really is. But the movie is so much better.
Things I liked about the book:
- Cinematic imagery
- Fezzik rhyming (he even thinks in rhyme)
- Inigo's backstory
Things I could have done without:
- Anything written by Goldman in his own voice (unfortunately there is a lot of this)
- The long lost Buttercup's Baby sequel (don't even read it--it's not worth your time)
Overall, it's a really funny book that inspired a truly great movie. Well worth the effort.
P.S. If you're the type to check the reviews on Amazon before reading a book, be sure to read the reviews by people who don't realize that there is no S. Morgenstern and the book isn't really an abridgment at all. I can't tell whether they're meant to be serious or ironic--and that's what make them art.
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