So. The first review in MRFH about... a book. You do remember what books are, those solid-looking things that have internet text files on actual paper? Okay, so I'm being too condescending, I'm sorry. The reason I'm doing this particular review is that, in one special case, the book is actually better than an already terrific movie.

The Princess Bride, written in 1973 by William Goldman, is a very peculiar and odd little fantasy. If you've seen the movie, well, you know — mostly — what happens in the book. A farm boy named Westley falls for the ever-so-beautiful Buttercup, who then have their love tested by death, kidnapping, pirates, princes, more death, and some ROUS's (Rodents of Unusual Size). However, it's not just presented in your ordinary chapter-by-chapter format. First you got to go through about 30-odd pages of introductions by the books "abridger". You see, Mr. Goldman strictly denies he wrote the book; instead, he claims that this is an adaption of a 17th century writer named S. Morgenstern, who wrote The Princess Bride as a political satire. Folks, this is all a heap of lies, but very enjoyable lies at that. It allows Goldman to create a fictious story about his childhood and how his father used to read a "good parts" version of Princess Bride. Sound a bit familiar to those who saw the movie? Supposed to be.

When you finally get to the actual story, Goldman keeps breaking in from time to time to comment on the "abridgement", his childhood, and warnings not unlike were presented in the movie (it seems Goldman was not a particular fan of kissing either). I, frankly, liked this approach to storytelling. Reading this book, I felt as if someone was reading it to me, out loud. And if that doesn't harken back childhood memories, I don't know what does.

The story itself is well-written and often funny to the point of laughing out loud. It goes hand-in-hand with the film, although both the film and the book each has their own style and their own approach to the story. The book, for instance, goes into quite a bit more background into characters such as Inigo and Fezzik (Andre, we miss ye), and there's a lot of jokes that you probably didn't notice on the big screen. Some differences, yes, like sharks instead of screaming eels, or the Zoo of Death instead of the Pit of Despair; but all in all, it's the same story. Just different!

Charming and provocative are the characters, the real driving point behind The Princess Bride. Westley and Buttercup are fleshed out more, and you get to see a lot more bickering and sappy stuff that makes these more believable characters (for those of you who yell at Buttercup's stupidity, be comforted to know that Westley notices this as well). Humperdink is evil, pure and through, but a cunning adversary. Inigo and Fezzik are just as likable as in the movie, although Fezzik does seem a bit smarter here. And if you only see the movie to catch the Miracle Max scene, then chapter seven is pure gold.

We all love good storytelling, even those of us who claim to be above childhood fantasies. For me, those were always the best, the ones that I cared about the more, the book that brought my imagination up to full steam. The Princess Bride is going into my canon of books that I will read to my children some day, and occasionally pull out to read while I'm curled up in bed. Look down at "If you liked this book..." for my other favorite child fantasy books.

The 25th anniversary edition of The Princess Bride includes the first chapter of the sequel, Buttercup's Baby. Now, the sequel hasn't been published yet (and might never will), but let me tell you that the first chapter has me craving for more. It immediately follows the events of Princess Bride, with the group fleeing from Humperdink's forces. And Buttercup has a baby, Waverly! All dedicated Princess Bride fans must pick up a copy of this for that chapter, if nothing else.