Book 24: The Princess Bride

OK. If you haven't yet read The Princess Bride, immediately visit Amazon.com and buy it. This is not an option. This. Is. The. Best. Book. Ever. Written. Period. (Well, besides the Bible, eh?)

You think I joke. I do not. It is hilarious. Go. Now. You can always come back and read the rest of this blog. Life is too short to have not read The Princess Bride.

Title: The Princess Bride

Author: William Goldman

Genre: Oi.

Rating: 10/10

Synopsis: The Princess Bride is a true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Morgenstern's original was filled with details of Florinese history, court etiquette, and Mrs. Morgenstern's mostly complimentary views of the text. Much admired by academics, the "Classic Tale" nonetheless obscured what Mr. Goldman feels is a story that has everything: "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."

Goldman frames the fairy tale with an "autobiographical" story: his father, who came from Florin, abridged the book as he read it to his son. Now, Goldman is publishing an abridged version, interspersed with comments on the parts he cut out.

I liked: Oh. My. God. This book is the funniest book I have ever read. Ever.

I didn't like: Why did it have to end?! Why hasn't he written more books?!

Great line: That word. You keep saying it. I do not think it means what you think it means.