silliness7 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Has anyone read The Princess Bride? Is it as innocent as the movie? I'm wanting to suggest it to my young teens as a fun book but I'm not ready to expose them to much that is in typical adult fiction. I don't want to pre-read. Who has read this with mommy glasses on? Please share. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 You know, I read it a long time ago, but I can't remember. I don't remember anything being particularly offensive, but I didn't have kids then, so I don't know that I read it with that in mind. Helpful aren't i? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liza Lee Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's WONDERFUL! I read it aloud to my children when they were young. It's just as sweet and innocent as the movie, but adds more detail and back story for the characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's been a while, but I don't remember anything objectionable from it. I do remember it being hysterical - even funnier than the movie, which I would not have thought possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Our high school English class was assigned to read it. I remember enjoying it, but I was an older teen, so I wouldn't have noticed much objectionable. I do remember it wasn't downright dirty, because I don't read that stuff, but I don't remember if it had some language or innuendo. It was a fun book, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tamara in Tieton Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I thought the book was very disappointing. It was innocent enough, but oh, so wordy. It just went on and on and on. Tamara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's WONDERFUL! I read it aloud to my children when they were young. It's just as sweet and innocent as the movie, but adds more detail and back story for the characters. :iagree: I just purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my DH, because he loves the movie so much. I couldn't help but read it and it's just lovely. I never knew it was a real book until someone on these boards mentioned it. I knew immediately that I had to get it for DH. He was not a big reader as a child but, having a wife and kids who are huge readers, he is coming around to our ways. :D I think we'll do this as our first family read-aloud of the new year and follow up by watching the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Yes, with the exception of the intro. I edited a part of the married narrator's flirtation with a starlet as I read out loud to my boys. I read it as a young teen and did not remember that part at all, so it's not a huge deal, and I'd let teens read it as is, but it might be worth pre-reading the first few pages to see if it's something you'd object to. The rest of the book is innocent and charming. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funschooler5 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's my favorite book! I actually read it at age 13 before I saw the movie (it was just coming out in the theaters). My grandpa had just passed away, and I found it when we were going through some of his books, so it has another special meaning to me. There is a lot of humor in the book that isn't in the movie. I do like the movie (except for Billy Crystal as Miracle Max....so annoying) but the book is a lot better imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's great and fun. Another one in that vein, if he likes it, is Once on a Time by A.A. Milne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS!!! It is wonderful! And I can't remember anything grossly inappropriate in it. They actually did a wonderful job at staying true to the story when they made the movie. The book, like a PP said, gives more background detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindyD Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I thought the book was very disappointing. It was innocent enough, but oh, so wordy. It just went on and on and on. Tamara :iagree: I also didn't care for the ending. It wasn't a completely happy ending like the movie if I remember correctly. I was disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's really good. I read it years ago, after I saw the movie. The movie is a lot like the book (pretty much word for word, if I remember right). I love at the end the book....the mawwiage scene is fun to read. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 . . . A word of warning: It is quite different from the film. The whole "framing device" is different. (Grandpa and little Fred Savage aren't in the book.) The book is significantly more detailed than the movie. And, most importantly, from my point of view, the tone of the novel is very different. It's not all sweetness and light, but actually rather cynical. Buttercup is kind of a shallow character. The whole thing is more or less a parody of epic romantic novels. My husband read it aloud to our daughter when she was mayber five, and she enjoyed it. But it really is a book for adults. There's nothing "objectionable," but I suspect younger readers won't get a lot of it. It's not like the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 The Princess Bride is EK's very favorite movie of all time, and she has also read the book. She seems to prefer the movie because she LOVES Westley as portrayed by Cary Elwes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I thought the book was very disappointing. It was innocent enough, but oh, so wordy. It just went on and on and on. Tamara :iagree: It was funny, to be sure, but.... just very long-winded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I love the book! It's a wonderful read and v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I love the book! It's a wonderful read and very like the movie. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I would probably edit the intro, but the book is fabulous & wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 It's innocent and harmless, but unfortunately rather poorly written. This is one of those very rare cases when the movie is actually much better than the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 :iagree: I also didn't care for the ending. It wasn't a completely happy ending like the movie if I remember correctly. I was disappointed. Yes. Dd and I both HATED the ending in the book. I also agree with the other posters who commented that the book is both cynical and long-winded. Really, it's just poorly written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 (edited) Oh no. I just bought the book but haven't read it yet. SIGH Mine (a used copy) has this inscription -- Happy birthday (name)! here's a copy of my fav book everyone should have a copy if you already do pass it on and share the love. Edited September 11, 2011 by stripe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britomart Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I liked the movie better than the book too . . . but the same guy wrote both the book and the screenplay, and I think he was brilliant, because he knew that what worked in the book wouldn't work in a movie, and vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I love the book; I think it's better than the movie. I think they are quite different, and I'm surprised some people think they are very close to the same. It is quite cynical and wordy, but I like those things in books. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Isn't there a scary torture scene? I remember that there was in the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXBeth Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I think the book is great, much better than the movie (which I love). It is long-winded, but that's half the fun of it. I love all the hilarious little asides. I think a young teen would be perfectly fine to read it. There are 3 or 4 bad words sprinkled throughout, which I remember because I scratched them out in my copy as a teenager. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Isn't there a scary torture scene? I remember that there was in the movie. Yes, Prince Humperdink's "zoo" (where the Albino lives) is quiet a bit larger in the book than in the movie, and the torture device is different as well, and you, of course, get to "hear" Weastly's thoughts as he's being hooked up, and how it effects him. I read it for the first time when I was 19 and it didn't bother me too much. I don't know how much differently I'd have reacted to it if I'd read it when I was even younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Thank you ladies for the great feedback. We are going to give it a shot and see how it goes. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfamilygal Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 It is one of my top ten all-time favorite books. It lives on the back of my loo, so I can read it when I forget to bring my Nook and end up on the pot for a while. I've probably read it over 100 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Interesting perspectives. The Princess Bride is on my list of a handful of exceptions to the rule that the book is always better than the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I love the book; I think it's better than the movie. I think they are quite different, and I'm surprised some people think they are very close to the same. It is quite cynical and wordy, but I like those things in books. ;) :iagree: I was very different and very good. Also, Please, don't read any reviews of the book or you will spoil something about it. I was warned not to by a great book-friend and very glad I listened to his advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funschooler5 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I love the book; I think it's better than the movie. I think they are quite different, and I'm surprised some people think they are very close to the same. It is quite cynical and wordy, but I like those things in books. ;) :iagree::iagree: Yes, the "wordiness" of it is part of the humor. You get to hear the back stories of Inigo and Fezzik, and everything that happened to Westley on the pirate ship...and how conceited Buttercup is. It's also funny that William Goldman pretends that he's abridging a favorite book from his childhood and taking out all of the boring parts. (When I read it as a kid, I believed that and actually went to the library to try to find the "original" S. Morgenstern version. :lol:) As for the ending...well, it's ambiguous and meant to be cynical and humorous. Just like the rest of the story. I love it! Like I said, I also love the movie (minus the Billy Crystal part, where I feel he just goes into some sort of weird stand-up comedy routine) but the book has so many funny details the movie does not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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