an inconceivably great read

This is definitely going to be a shorter review because I feel like this book speaks for itself. For one thing, everyone not living under a rock has seen the movie and most likely enjoyed it. It's a timeless story that manages to balance dry humor and wit with even drier, wittier characters and, of course, high adventure and quests for love. To put it simply: it's a classic. If you haven't read it already, what are you waiting for? 
This particular version from 2017 is complete with intricate illustrations from an earlier, 2013 edition. These illustrations reminded me of my deep-seated love of picture books while offering imaginings of the characters apart from the attributable Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, etc. Reading the book also gives you Inigo and Fezzik's backstories, two things that the film version does not provide. Goldman's commentary asides throughout are undeniably a part of the story itself and add a certain level of intimacy, too. Overall, I feel like this is a story you just can't go wrong with. I mean, at its core, it's about the very concept we all adore: true love. As Miracle Max once said, "True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops."


Some of my favorite quotes from "The Princess Bride:"

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my father; prepare to die." (it would be a grave crime to not include this one)

"Just because you're beautiful and perfect, it's made you conceited."

"Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches."

"We'll never survive!"
"Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has."

"Love is many things, none of them logical."

"Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high."

"'You seem a decent fellow,' Inigo said. 'I hate to kill you.'"
"'You seem a decent fellow,' answered the man in black. 'I hate to die.'"

"Everybody always talks about how beautiful I am. I've got a mind, Westley. Talk about that."

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