What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that, with its elaborate storyline and
sophisticated humor, this sharp-edged fairy tale is geared to
tweens and teens (and adults). The book is more descriptive
than the film version, of course, so the cliff-hangers are more
intense and some of the scary scenes are scarier. You'll find
truly evil villains, murder, swordfights, knives, blood,
poisoning, kidnapping, torture inflicted on humans and animals,
giant carnivorous rats and eels, and similar scary stuff. In
the most intense scenes, the author focuses on building up
suspense -- the few graphic descriptions are kept short and
to-the-point. (For instance, a mere two sentences are used to
depict a main character getting stabbed, pulling the knife from
his leg, and using his fist to stop the bleeding.) The same
character goes on drinking binge that reveals alcohol's
destructive nature. Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and sexes
in this good vs. evil story as friends and strangers band
together to defeat the bad guys and keep true love alive.
Families can discuss their favorite scenes and characters, and how the book differs from the movie. Buttercup and Westley were heroic, but sometimes their pride got in the way -- can you think of some scenes when this happened? Did the background stories about Fezzik's and Inigo's childhoods help explain their thoughts and actions as adults, and if so, how? How did humor add to this book? Would it be a completely different book if the humor was left out, and do you think you'd like it as much?
Common Sense Media Review
It's impossible to review THE PRINCESS BRIDE without
comparing it to the popular
film
version of the edgy fairy tale about Buttercup and her true
love, Westley. Author William Goldman wrote both the book and
the screenplay, and while some scenes are the same on-screen as
they are on page, the book goes into much more detail in some
parts, and includes darker, scarier situations that are either
not in the film or were toned down for cinema. The book also
goes deeper into the minds of the main characters, and side
characters are more fully developed, adding the kind of depth
you can never achieve in a two-hour movie.
Like any good fairy tale, The Princess Bride reads as if it's being told by a storyteller, with the effect of drawing readers out of daily life and into a fantasy world. Goldman's wild ride evokes virtually every emotion possible -- love, hate, revenge, fear, suspense, pain, laughter, tears, etc. -- and the plot moves so quickly in most parts that readers may need to remind themselves to breathe.
The two stand-out differences in the book are descriptions of Prince Humperdinck's Zoo of Death (where the brutish royal fights a variety of dangerous caged animals to the death and always wins), and further character development of Fezzik and Inigo Montoya through poignant childhood flashbacks. The description of Humperdinck's "hobby" adds a touch of pure evil that's missing in the film version, and the childhood flashbacks of Fezzik and Inigo add so much to the story that you'll wish Miracle Max could magically add them to the next edition of the DVD.
Note: The 25th and 30th editions of The Princess Bride are abridged with author William Goldman's introduction, and his commentary that appears in italics interspersed throughout the story. This review does not cover Goldman's introduction or commentary. These editions also include a new chapter entitled Buttercup's Baby.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
