Consider This Classic: Judith Recommends
Consider This Classic is a monthly feature where bloggers highlight and recommend their favorite classic. They'll tell you when they first read it, why they love it and where to go from there. If you'd like to participate in Consider This Classic, click here to sign up.
I was so excited when I saw that Judith from Paper Riot was going to recommend a classic for this feature. Judith is so insanely talented. Y'all, I'm constantly in awe of her design skills. Even more important, she's sweet, thoughtful and such a delight to know. She's a rockstar whose personality shines through in everything she posts - whether it's on Twitter or her blog - and I'm so excited to highlight her classic pick today!
Publication Date: 1973
Originally Published In: United States
Amazon | Goodreads
Summary (from Goodreads)
A tale of true love and high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts - The Princess Bride is a modern storytelling classic.
As Florin and Guilder teeter on the verge of war, the reluctant Princess Buttercup is devastated by the loss of her true love, kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchmen, rescued by a pirate, forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, and rescued once again by the very crew who absconded with her in the first place. In the course of this dazzling adventure, she'll meet Vizzini - the criminal philosopher who'll do anything for a bag of gold; Fezzik - the gentle giant; Inigo - the Spaniard whose steel thirsts for revenge; and Count Rugen - the evil mastermind behind it all. Foiling all their plans and jumping into their stories is Westley, Princess Buttercup's one true love and a very good friend of a very dangerous pirate.
This is the only story I remember seeing before reading. The Princess Bride is a movie my dad made me watch first when I was sick as a kid, just like the little boy in the story first hears the story when he is sick. The story is crazy over the top, and if you're not open for it, I don't think you will love it. But I fell in love with it at the first "as you wish" and my love didn't end with the "best kiss ever". It's still one of my favorite stories, and I could never get enough of Westley and Buttercup (and my favorite: Inigo Montoya). Admittedly, I like the movie better than the book, which never happens for me. Maybe because I read the book later in life, but probably because the movie is just the most perfect adaptation. But I love both.
"Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True Love, miracles", The Princess Bride has it all. It's all very dramatic and over the top, but this story just has a special place in my heart and I can't remember not loving it. I think The Princess Bride is the ultimate fairy tale, with princes and princesses, kidnapping, monsters, etc. For me, it's also something I share with my dad, which adds a personal aspect to this story. And of course, it's also just so amazingly quotable:
"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die."
"He didn’t fall?! Inconceivable!"
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
"Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something."
"We’ll never survive!"
"Nonsense. You’re only saying that because no one ever has."
"I've been saying it so long to you, you just wouldn't listen. Every time you said "Farm Boy do this", you thought I was answering "As you wish" but that's only because you were hearing wrong. "I love you" was what it was, but you never heard."
This is actually difficult, because I think The Princess Bride is such a unique story. There really is nothing like it. One story it reminds me of is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, which also deals with true love, monsters and epic journeys. I can't say for sure, though, because I've only ever seen the movie. (I'm planning on fixing this, I promise!) I have heard it also compares to the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce and Stardust by Neil Gaiman, but I don't know for sure.
Judith may kill me when she finds out, but I have not yet read The Princess Bride! I've meant to for ages, but simply never had it happen yet. I do want to own the version with this cover though because it's gorgeous! As for why I want to read it? Well, the very description of the novel - complete with epic journey and fairytale elements - is reason enough.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to read this. I love the movie.
ReplyDeleteI keep promising myself that I will read this book, because I LOOOVE the movie and that edition is gorgeous. I feel it's one of those books I have to read at least once in my life.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely say The Princess Bride compares quite well to Stardust. Or at least the movie version of Stardust since I haven't read the book. That's actually why I loved Stardust so much, because it reminded me so much of The Princess Bride.
ReplyDeleteAs for the books, I have read and enjoyed The Princess Bride as a book, but I still would list the movie as the better version.