2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss the William Goldman book, The Princess Bride.

Pages: 398 pages

Length: 1 month

Participants: Kate and Lindsay

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

Hi Kate! So, I went it get this from the library on Sunday only to discover that they have NO physical copies, and only one ebook on overdrive, which is checked out! I put a hold on it. I'll let you know when I get it.

Oh no! That's ok! I have a copy but I'm finishing up a couple very large books so can definitely hold off starting a little bit!

Ok good, that works then!

I would like to join this buddy read. I was on another goodreads buddy read sight for Oct and Nov; read 2 books and found I was the only one to comment on one of them and on the other I made most of the comments. Some of those "buddys" never made a single comment. So I quit that goodreads site - Procrastinators Club. I hope to have better results here. When I sign up to read a book I will read it. Am finishing up several books and have ordered The Princess Bride on Nook. I have looked at both of your compare books and see we have a lot in common. I will send you friend requests . I limit my reading to 1. the books I have that I have not yet read (about 800); 2. the books on compare books of several of my goodreads friends.; and 3. the books in the compatibility area, of which The Princess Bride is one. I will enjoy getting to know you. Ron

Hi Ron, welcome!

I had that hold request on this book and it just became available last night, so I will start reading tonight!

Welcome Ron!

Sounds good! I will start tonight as well. I finished my incredibly long read over the weekend so I am good to go!

Have this on my to-read list and would love to join you guys if possible.

Feel free Laura!

Kate wrote: "Welcome Ron!

Sounds good! I will start tonight as well. I finished my incredibly long read over the weekend so I am good to go!"

Yay! Always feels great when you finish one of thise really big books.

Kate wrote: "Welcome Ron!

Sounds good! I will start tonight as well. I finished my incredibly long read over the weekend so I am good to go!"

I started by reading the 30 and 25 year anniversary info in the front and the first chapter that took up the first 51 pages of 306. The 1st chapter doesn't get into the story but has the authors life story of how he got involved with writing this book. Strange.

True Love and High Adventure - I believe in that.

I read on of the forwards and started on the 25 year info last night. I have the 'Buttercup's Baby'? edition so there's a few extras to it. a little odd so far but not bad. The forwards are just interesting to say the least.

Ron I have the same version and the introduction I agree were strange. Then I didn't realize when the actual book started and I was just totally thrown off. Then couldn't figure out at first of the italicized "asides" were part of the book or an anniversary edition thing. I'm finally into the first Buttercup "story" section.

Not going to lie - I'm not excited about the format. It's a tough start for me. Maybe it'll get better when the "story" part picks up.

However, I do love the tidbit that (view spoiler)[ The Farm Boy would go out and knock around the village boys when they were mean to her.
<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

I'm up to "The Groom"

I just got to "The Groom" also and so far I'm enjoying it. The format doesn't bother me but maybe it's the copy I have. As with all book to movie adaptations the book is better by far at this point.

Am beginning to love this book. Laughing a lot as I read it. How she, out of jealously, falls instantly in love, and how he comes back to her room to reveal his love for her, which wasn't instant and was backed up by deeds. Just finished the Courtship - quick, wasn't it? The banquet with the princess was hilarious. Am so glad the rest of you are commenting. Makes reading it with buddies so enjoyable.

the man in Black, who follows the kidnappers, I don't know this yet but my bet is that it is the Farm Boy, who had to have escaped from the pirates. Can't write much now, my jet pack isn't working.

I feel like I should have asked this in the beginning - has anyone here not seen the movie?

Lindsay wrote: "I feel like I should have asked this in the beginning - has anyone here not seen the movie?"

I have not seen the movie, but I just ordered it from swapadvd.com

Lindsay wrote: "I feel like I should have asked this in the beginning - has anyone here not seen the movie?"

and I just got a new jet pack from Verizon for no charge so am back online

I just got to the part where he deals with Vinzzini. I think (view spoiler)[ that the background stories for Inigo and Fezzik were too long. I think it was fun to have their background but not that much background. It felt strained. (hide spoiler)]

I am almost done with the chapter "The Announcement". A long and exciting chapter. It contains the Princess's capture by 3 men, the pursuit by the man in black and the defeat of each of the 3 men. But now the Prince is pursuing the man in black who has the Princess. And the man in black is.....

finishing 'Festivities'. The Prince: evil, evil, evil man. How can a man pretend to want to marry a woman only to want to murder her. Burrr...

Just started "The Festivities". It was interesting to read the back stories of the 3 but as Lindsay stated I didn't need that much information. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book.

I'm done. I'll hold commentary until more people are done, other than to say that I didn't like it.

I'm on 'Buttercup's Baby'

I have now finished the book. It is unique, have never read a book like this; with the author's comments all through the book as he explained why he left out what he did. It gave me a new perspective on abridgments. I never considered reading an abridgment as reading a whole book. I think I have changed my mind about that.

I just wrapped it up as well. I did enjoy it, I will say that for now. my further comments will wait until more have finished it.

I'm slow and still working on it... hoping to have it wrapped up this weekend. I will say so far it is entertaining but I'm not super sold on it. But I'll wait to give full thoughts until I finish.

So This is one of my favorite movies and reading your thoughts This makes me want to read the book .

Ron wrote: "I have now finished the book. It is unique, have never read a book like this; with the author's comments all through the book as he explained why he left out what he did. It gave me a new perspecti..."

Ron its fun to hear what people like and what they don't, especially when you have an opposite opinion. To me the worst part was story within a story framing with the "abridgment." I found it disruptive.

At first I liked the authors story on why he did it the way he did but by the end of the book it felt drawn out. Like Lindsay stated it became disruptive. I couldn't wait to finish just to be done with thise parts.

"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."