Book of Le Moment

I am always bothered when peoples ask for my "favourite book".

Hmm, okay, do you have eight hours or so to spare?

I could go on for hours - and change my mind about a kagillion times as I do - but I have to say, there's this one book that is ALWAYS on the list:

The Princess Bride, S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and Adventure, The "Good Parts" Version, Abridged by William Goldman.

So. Cool.

If you've been living under a rock in Siberia eating moss and drinking snow you melted through sheer willpower and haven't gotten a chance to see the movie, here is the basic story:

There is a girl named Buttercup, who is the most beautiful girl in the world. When her beloved Farm Boy, Westley, was killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts, Buttercup swore to never love again. Ergo, when Prince Humperdinck, ruler of Florin (the country where the book is set), threatens her with death if she doesn't marry him, she's pretty much cool with it.

The characters include Inigo Montoya ("You kill my father....prepare to die!" You knew it was coming), the world's most talented swordsman, on a mission to kill the Six-fingered Man and avenge the death of his father; Fezzik the strongman, looking for somewhere he belongs; and the Sicilian, Vizzini, an evil genius for hire.

I don't think this book could get any better.There are evil giant rodents, and a FIRE SWAMP. I mean, really?
Really?
I don't see how it COULDN'T be a classic.

The story is broken up with (fictitious) pieces from William Goldman's life; his legal woes in trying to revamp "S. Morgenstern's" classic, his cold marriage, his relationship with his son -

it SOUNDS dull, but I like how sarcastic and self-deprecating he is.

The story of The Princess Bride started as a bedtime story for William Goldman's two daughters, and it has that Fairy Tale Feel... sweeping and magical, but grounded with a sense of humour that original (cough cough ANCIENT cough cough) fairy tales don't.

I picked the book up because of the movie. They almost perfectly match, and the movie was impeccably cast - if you have seen the movie, you can picture each actor as their character. Which I consider to be book-to-movie-adaptation gold.
Eenyway. I am very, very sorry for my prolonged absence, and recognize that many of you have left, never to return - but if anyone is still reading, thank you.
Happy New Year,
Radical