The Princess Bride (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

I've lost track of how many times I've seen the movie, it never gets old. When I finally picked up the book, all I could do was hope it was at LEAST as good as the movie. It wasn't. It was better in many ways! Goldman is a great writer, he delivered a tale in a beautiful way! He wrote the entire book as an abridgment of Morgerntern's work, which doesn't actually exist. I personally loved that. His quirky and random comments interspersed throughout the book only made it better. I found myself laughing not only at the characters and their situations, but both "Morgenstern's" and Goldman's comments. I will recommend this book to anyone who comes and asks me what they should read next.

Good book!
I didn't like the author commentary at all, but the story of Buttercup and Westley itself is wonderful. Sadly, I watched the movie before I read the book, which I don't usually do. The book (of course) gives more details and I found that the movie even keeps up well with the written story.
Overall, it was definitely something that I needed to read and I am glad that I did. :)

"You had to admire a guy who called his own new book a classic before it was published and anyone else had a chance to read it." I saw the movie years ago and fell hard for the dashing Westley. I rooted for the vengeful Inigo, and his unforgettable chant. The adventure, the chivalry, the revenge, and the romance. What more could you ask for? Now, reading the book, I couldn't help but feel a nostalgia for the days when the various adults in my young life used to scoop me up and whisk me away to imaginary worlds as they read to me before bedtime. What a fun time. "I have loved you for several hours now, and every second, more." (But I confess that I enjoyed the movie more.)

It was exactly everything I expected it would be. I have been a huge fan of the movie as long as I can remember and the book was amazingly similar. I didn't know how involved Goldman was in the movie or that he wasn't the original author. I also really enjoyed all the little background tidbits I learned from reading the novel that have only deepened my love for the whole setting.

As a side note, I don't think I expected just how stupid and inept they made Buttercup. After reading the books, I kind of couldn't stand her, but at the same time I was mad at the author for losing a great opportunity to create a strong amazing character.

Weird how, after I started reading this the other day, Peter Falk died. ("Inconceivable!")
Love this story.