Read this: The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman
Watch this: The Princess Bride, a major motion picture from 1987
Background Knowledge
Claire: I saw the movie a few times growing up, but haven’t watched it in at least 20 years. Never knew it was based on a book until we were researching books and their adaptations.
Julie: Well, less than I thought. Obviously, everyone has heard of The Princess Bride and I thought I saw it before but I think I was conflating it in my head with The Never Ending Story and The Labyrinth. I definitely never saw the movie before but I did know about the Fred Savage in the bed of it all and now I’m not sure if it’s just from memes.
Overall Opinion of the Book
Claire: I had high hopes for this book. It was hard to keep my attention because of how it was written. Like all the random thoughts, which was weird because I’m just full of random thoughts. I also wanted to find the audiobook because I overcommitted my eyeball reading this month, but I was too stubborn to listen to the abridged version. And I also looked everywhere and everywhere for a non-abridged version and also obviously failed.
Julie: I listened to the abridged version which was quick and full of action which it promised but if I understand correctly, William Goldman cut out all of the background and context and I’m really big on all of that so I think I’d have preferred if I could have found the original, unabridged S. Morgenstern version (but I couldn’t and I tried.)
Overall Opinion of the Movie
Julie: It took me a while to realize that the movie is an adaptation of the Goldman abridged version of the book – including Goldman’s illness and his grandfather reading the book to him – not an adaptation of S. Morgenterns epic.
Claire: I actually forgot that the movie was the grandpa reading to the grandson until I started watching it again. And I really liked the characters in the book, so it was neat to see them come to life.
Before you say which you liked better, did you read the book or listen to the audiobook… because it matters.
Claire: Read it on my Kindle. Couldn’t find an audiobook that wasn’t abridged. BTW as of this recording, it is currently in Kindle Unlimited if you’re a KU subscriber.
Julie: I initially downloaded it on my Kindle but I was so confused about what I was listening to. I ended up getting it on Audible and I think I understand now what was going on with who wrote the book/movie.
Which was better?
Julie: The movie
Claire: The movie
Ranking…
- Was the outcome the same in both the show and the book? Yes
- Was the main character/primary narrator the same in the show and the book? Yes
- Was the primary conflict the same in the show and the book? Yes
- Would you read the book again or recommend it to a friend? Maybe
- Would you watch the show/movie again or recommend it to a friend? Yes
Overall rating: 4/5
