Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Princess Bride

So, I read a lot... 

Not only do I read, but I "read" books on tape... Well, audiofiles on my iPod.

It's Mom's fault. She's the one that got me addicted to them. Her and my Aunt Barbara are the ones that are actually addicted. They probably read like 10 books a week.

I made it a goal to basically read one book a week for the entire year. Well, longer than that, but that's another story. So far I have read 10 books since the 21st of December. So, I am right on track. I also just added my shelfari to this blog so that you can see what i'm reading.

Last night i found The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman and downloaded it. I was so excited.

I started listening to it last night. I finished it early this afternoon.

I LOVE this book. 

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.

Is The Princess Bride a critique of classics like Ivanhoe and The Three Musketeers, that smother a ripping yarn under elaborate prose? A wry look at the differences between fairy tales and real life? Simply a funny, frenetic adventure? No matter how you read it, you'll put it on your "keeper" shelf.

A must read for EVERYONE!

1 comment:

  1. i only read 4 1/2 this past week (said the voice in your head) but they were long... totaling 69 hours or so..

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