The Griffin or the Agate

     I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that this is my first reading of the 'classic tale of true love and high adventure.' I've seen the movie many times and had always intended to read the book it was based on. But as these things often go, I got involved with other things, read other books and well, mostly just forgot about it until the next time I'd see the movie and think, "Hey, I should really read this…" Of course, I'd promptly forget all about it again. So when the opportunity to review the recently reissued 25th anniversary edition came along, I thought it would serve as a great opportunity to finally get the thing read. I must admit, my hopes weren't high. My experience has been that a story is either a great book or a great movie, but rarely both.
     I was pleasantly surprised, then, to find that much as I have enjoyed the movie, the book is actually better. The story has a rhythm and flow that is lacking in the movie -- it's one of those rare novels that can be read at one sitting without ever getting that 'hurry-up-let's-get-to-the-good-stuff' feeling. Of course, that's after you finally get to the story.
     The book is lousy with introductions. This special edition has, of course, a new introduction from the author. Fairly standard, but this introduction, instead of sharing anecdotes about the book, contains mostly stories from the making of the movie. Interesting stuff, but not really related to the book -- more the type of thing that should have been presented on the DVD (read my review of the DVD). After that initial ten-page intro, you're taken into the book as it was originally published, and you're greeted with another thirty-one pages of introduction (though this time it is mostly related to the book at hand). After this one, you're finally plunged into the story proper, and it is worth the wait.
     The story is abridged from S. Morgenstern's classic. I did want to read the original, but can't find a copy for love or money. The Florinese must be hoarding them. That version is apparently filled with boring political details. When Mr. Goldman was a child, his father would read the story aloud to him, leaving in only the 'good parts.' As an adult, Mr. Goldman discovered the deception, and decided to bring his beloved story to the public as it was told to him -- just the 'good parts'.
     Once you've reached the conclusion of *The Princess Bride*, you're invited to read the first chapter of the long-lost sequel, *Buttercup's Baby*. Before you get to the story, however, guess what? You got it -- another intro. Twenty pages this time, for a fifty-page chapter. The information contained in the introduction was actually quite interesting, but it was so long that it completely broke the mood of the story, and the chapter wasn't long enough to get the flow back. The reader would have been better served had the introduction been instead an "Author's Notes" type section at the end of the book. The chapter itself is reasonably interesting, but I don't think even die-hard fans will be holding their breath for the sequel to be published in full.
     Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I recommend it particularly to those who enjoyed the movie, because it does clarify some things -- I had several "Oooooh! That's why they did that in the movie!" moments as I was reading -- and includes lots of interesting tidbits that didn't make it into the film. Just take my advice and save all the intros 'til the end.  §

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