The Princess Bride
by William Goldman
Synopsis:
The Princess Bride is a timeless tale that pits country against country, good against evil, love against hate. This incredible journey and artfully rendered love story is peppered with strange beasties monstrous and gentle, memorable surprises both terrible and sublime, and such unforgettable character as...
Westley, the handsome farm boy who risks death (and much worse) for the woman he loves; Inigo, the Spanish swordsman who lives only to avenge his father's death; Fezzik, the gentlest giant ever to have uprooted a tree with his bare hands; Vizzini, the evil Sicilian, with a mind so keen he's foiled by his own perfect logic; Prince Humperdinck, the eviler ruler of Guilder, who has an equally insatiable thirst for war and the beauteous Buttercup; Count Rugen, the evilest man of all, who thrives on the excruciating pain of others; Miracle Max, the King's ex-Miracle Man, who can raise the dead (kind of); and of course, Buttercup...the princess bride, the most perfect, beautiful woman in the history of the world!
My thoughts:
ReplyDeleteThe movie is one of my all time favorite movies. I love it. I could quote it for you. The book is pretty much the same as the movie. I was happy to see that almost every word stayed true to form, from the book to the movie. It was a funny and entertaining book, but I think on this one, I have to say I like the movie better. Because I saw the movie first...over and over and over again, I kept picturing every character as the ones in the movie. I kept comparing each little thing from the book to the movie. When I finished the book, I wanted to watch the movie.
But after discussing with you ladies, I decided it wasn't just about the funny, that there really is different meanings behind it. True love can make one happier and have a better outlook on life. It doesn't necessarily have to be true love with a significant other. It can be love from family or friends that makes us a better person and love deeply in return.
Favorite Quotes:
"Sonny, don't you tell me what's worthwhile - true love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. Everybody knows that."
pg. 275
"Liar! Liar!" shrieked suddenly from the now open trap door.
Miracle Max whirled. "Back, Witch -" he commanded.
"I'm not a witch, I'm your wife -" she was advancing on him now, an ancient tiny fury - "and after what you've just done I don't think I want to be that any more -"
pg. 276
So, I was a little anxious to read this book because I love the movie so much. As we all know, movies usually differ drastically from the book. However, although this book had a bit of a slow start and Mr. Goldman got a little wordy at times, I really did enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI liked how closely the movie followed the book. I liked that I was able to picture the characters and even their accents.
There were some parts that were really funny that were not in the movie, such as when Prince Humperdinck was courting Princess Noreena, who was bald. I also enjoyed that the book, unlike the movie, gave the background stories of Inigo, Fezzik & Vizzini. Their stories were also very interesting.
I liked the humor and the life lessons. I like how quirky it was and that you could learn something from it if you allowed yourself to read between the lines. I think it is a book that was about love in all different forms. True Love isn't always about a man and a woman, it can come in many different forms. Such as Inigo's love for his father. And Fezzik's love for his friends. Love can make us all better people and help us to have a better outlook on life....if we allow it.
Favorite quote:
"It doesn't matter whether you sent the ships or not. Westley will come for me. There is a God; I know that. And there is love; I know that too; so Westley will save me."
"You're a silly girl, now go to your room."
"Yes, I am a silly girl and yes again, I will go to my room, and you are a coward with a heart filled with nothing but fear."
The Prince had to laugh. "The greatest hunter in the world and you say I am a coward?"
"I do, I do indeed. I'm getting much smarter as I age. I say you are a coward and you are; I think you hunt only to reassure yourself that you are not what you are: the weakest thing to ever walk the Earth. He will come for me and then we will be gone, and you will be helpless for all your hunting, because Westley and I are joined by the bonds of love and you cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it. not with a thousand swords." pg. 244-245