The Princess Bride - January 2011

2. The Princess Bride - William Goldman

336 Pages, bought in Charity Shop

Let me start off by saying I loved The Princess Bride film.

I loved it in the cinema, I loved in on VHS and I still love it on DVD.

That love did not extend to the book.

For me, this is one of those rare cases where the film is better than the book.

"INCONCEIVABLE!" I hear you shout!

I picked up the Anniversary edition which has an introduction by the author, where he explains he didn't write the book, his father merely abridged an older book by a Florentine writer named S. Morgenstern.

All this messing and the authors comments really spoiled my enjoyment of the book. I can't explain why but it really irritated me. And Westley is kind of an asshat on a few occasions in the book too. I won't tell you how but they really did the scenes better in the film.

There's a chapter from the unwritten sequel "Buttercups Baby" which kind of dumps all over the original too.

I forced myself to finish this book but it was hard work.

I then watched the film and my love was rekindled.

I give this 2 "Dread Pirate Roberts" out of 5...only because my love for the film prevents me from giving a 1.