# I'm \*finally\* reading The Princess Bride! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088 "2006-12-06T17:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/1 "2006-12-06T17:46:05Z")
My husband and I (though we weren’t married at the time) saw The Princess Bride in movie theater when it was first released. We don’t usually agree on comedy, but both thought it was brilliant! It remains one of our very favorite movies to this day. We own it on VHS _and_ DVD. Some time ago, in a thread about the movie, a Doper said “If you liked the movie, you _must_ read the book!” and others jumped in to agree. We buy most of our books used (because we both read a _lot_), and didn’t find a used copy of TPB until about a week ago. Hubby found it on sale for an amazing 15 cents at one of his favorite used book venues. It’s randomly highlighted throughout, with writing in the margin. But OMG, is it brilliant! I’m a little more than half way through. I don’t think a book has made me laugh this hard since Dave Barry’s Big Trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/2 "2006-12-06T18:00:09Z")
The book is great, but if you liked the movie, skip the last paragraph of the book. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/3 "2006-12-06T18:17:42Z")
[QUOTE=norinew] My husband and I (though we weren’t married at the time) saw The Princess Bride in movie theater when it was first released. [/QUOTE] The story takes place before movie theaters. > [@](#): > > We don’t usually agree on comedy, but both thought it was brilliant! The story takes place after comedy. > [@](#): > > It remains one of our very favorite movies to this day. We own it on VHS The story takes place before VHS. > [@](#): > > _and_ DVD. The story takes place after DVD. > [@](#): > > It’s randomly highlighted throughout, The story takes place before highlighters. > [@](#): > > with writing in the margin. The story takes place after margins. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/4 "2006-12-06T18:23:39Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > The story takes place before movie theaters. But not before taxes. Taxes came before everything, even stew. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kurilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea5d25/32.png) [@kurilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurilla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/5 "2006-12-06T18:30:39Z")
If you’re interested in the “missing reunion scene”, let me know. I actually sent away for it way back in high school (which was before the Internet but after telephones). I should explain that I read the book in my modern literature class in high school, and the instructor gave us extra credit for ordering the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/6 "2006-12-06T18:31:35Z")
[QUOTE=Jenny Haniver] The book is great, but if you liked the movie, skip the last paragraph of the book. [/QUOTE] I don’t know; I took the last paragraph to read “more of the same”. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/7 "2006-12-06T19:07:00Z")
[QUOTE=kurilla] If you’re interested in the “missing reunion scene”, let me know. I actually sent away for it way back in high school (which was before the Internet but after telephones). I should explain that I read the book in my modern literature class in high school, and the instructor gave us extra credit for ordering the scene. [/QUOTE] In fact, I was planning on logging on to the website to order it. The internet came _before_ VOiP, but _after_ books. ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/8 "2006-12-06T19:18:39Z")
I never heard of the book (being different than the movie), so I’m interested in finding it. Do I have to go search used book stores to find it or will the one on Amazon do? Which one? There’s a “good parts” version, is that more like the movie? Looking for some fun fantasy book. I just re-watched the movie with my nieces who had seen it much earlier in their lives but must’ve totally forgotten it with all the _Suite Life of Him and Him_, and _Something Montana_ they watch. They really enjoyed it the latest time around. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/9 "2006-12-06T19:27:06Z")
The “good parts” version is the only one. There is no S. Morgenstern. The whole book is made up completely by William Goldman. The book isn’t very different, but it has more. Interesting backgrounds for everyone and everything, and more detailed overall. It’s a really good, fun, light fantasy book. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/10 "2006-12-06T19:28:10Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > I never heard of the book (being different than the movie), so I’m interested in finding it. Do I have to go search used book stores to find it or will the one on Amazon do? Which one? There’s a “good parts” version, is that more like the movie? It’s very easy to find it on Amazon or [Half.com](http://Half.com). We just naturally resisted buying it like that, cuz we’re strange. Psssst. That thing about “the good parts” version is part of the joke. One of the big jokes of the book, but not the movie, is that it pretends to be abridged from an earlier work. It’s not. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/11 "2006-12-06T19:29:31Z")
Hah! Beaten to the punch by **morelin**. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/12 "2006-12-06T19:29:53Z")
_blushes hotly_ I am one of the dumbasses Goldman tricked with that “good parts” and “in the original story” stuff. Do you know I spent the better part of 6 months looking for the “full, original copy” in used book stores throught NYC before I caught on to the joke? :smack: OK. I deserve a little break, I was only around 19 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/13 "2006-12-06T19:31:14Z")
[QUOTE=kurilla] If you’re interested in the “missing reunion scene”, let me know. I actually sent away for it way back in high school (which was before the Internet but after telephones). I should explain that I read the book in my modern literature class in high school, and the instructor gave us extra credit for ordering the scene. [/QUOTE] Hey, I just did it for fun! I still have my copy of the letter around here somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/14 "2006-12-06T19:45:49Z")
[QUOTE=Morelin] The book isn’t very different, but it has more. Interesting backgrounds for everyone and everything, and more detailed overall. It’s a really good, fun, light fantasy book. [/QUOTE] Ah! You and I read a very different book. The movie is a fun, light fantasy about how true love conquers all. The book is about life, acceptance, and the understanding that while not everything is sunshine and fairy-dust, it’s worth loving for what it is, because otherwise you’re left with nothing. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/15 "2006-12-06T20:05:08Z")
It’s been a long time since I read the book (before Goldman, after Morgentstern), will someone, via Spoiler Box, refresh my memory on the last paragraph as well as the “missing reunion scene”. ---
**Author:** ![kurilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea5d25/32.png) [@kurilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurilla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/16 "2006-12-06T20:48:16Z")
[QUOTE=bienville] It’s been a long time since I read the book (before Goldman, after Morgentstern), will someone, via Spoiler Box, refresh my memory on the last paragraph as well as the “missing reunion scene”. [/QUOTE] The missing reunion scene – which you did have to send away for; I don’t know if it was in the “good parts” version of the book: Between Buttercup shoving Westley down the hill and them going into the Fire Swamp together, they get into a drag-out argument/fight that started with him saying, now why’d you throw yourself down here? I could’ve climbed out by myself, but I can’t climb out carrying you. It goes downhill from there. It’s all funny, though. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/17 "2006-12-06T20:51:41Z")
I own (and treasure) the “red ink” edition, which was before Random House cheaped out on providing different-colored type to distinguish Goldman from Morgenstern, but after Gutenberg. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/18 "2006-12-06T21:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=bienville] It’s been a long time since I read the book (before Goldman, after Morgentstern), will someone, via Spoiler Box, refresh my memory on the last paragraph as well as the “missing reunion scene”. [/QUOTE] The last paragraph: Loose paraphrase form memory… Wesley dies again, the horses come up lame, I also seem to recall something about cannnibals, etc… Basically more crap to endure. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/19 "2006-12-06T21:13:42Z")
[QUOTE=kurilla] The missing reunion scene – which you did have to send away for; I don’t know if it was in the “good parts” version of the book: Between Buttercup shoving Westley down the hill and them going into the Fire Swamp together, they get into a drag-out argument/fight that started with him saying, now why’d you throw yourself down here? I could’ve climbed out by myself, but I can’t climb out carrying you. It goes downhill from there. It’s all funny, though. [/QUOTE] I never sent away for it, but I’m not convinced there is any “missing scene”. You get or used to get a letter explaining why they couldn’t send you the scene. It’s meta-humor. The scene described above is from the book (there’s only one version of the book) and the missing scene promises to go into the details. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088/20 "2006-12-06T21:26:52Z")
Ahh… TPB. Probably tied for quotability (and love) with Office Space. As for getting snookered with the “good parts” bit. I was kind of hooked (I was even at Columbia University at the time, and considered looking up info on the professor mentioned in the book) up until about a third or so of the way through. A great line, but it ended all my speculation as to whether or not there was an ‘earlier’ version. Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is\*\* never get involved in a land war in Asia\*\*, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha (quote taken from IMDB – the book may differ slightly, but the sentiment is the same) Now, it’s been at least fifteen years or so since I read the book, and though I’ve seen it many times on cable, VHS (and maybe even DVD) I have no recollection of a missing scene or extra paragraph. There are some good explanations above, but could someone have pity on me and start again from the top – what is this about “sending away” for missing paragraphs or scenes? Pitifully, Rhythm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-finally-reading-the-princess-bride/383088.md?page=2)