Believing the Inconceivable

"Then let's look on the bright side: we're having an adventure, Fezzik, and most people live and die without being as lucky as we are."

Inigo Montoya 

It was so great to visit the world of The Princess Bride again. I have read this book several times and am never disappointed. I mean, it has everything you can possibly want: action, adventure, humor, romance, miracles and a six fingered man. What's not to love?!

Not only that, I like that it is a frame story: stories within stories. There is The Princess Bride, Goldman's memory of being read this when he was sick and S. Morgenstern's story of "writing" the novel that Goldman tells as he "abridges." Of course, I am biased and a major sucker for frame stories being that my favorite novel is Frankenstein and I have a fascination with how Moulin Rouge was filmed.

All that aside, the way Goldman presents the story is genius, considering he is fake abridging his own original work. And for some reasons the words of a self proclaimed, Sicilian genius come to mind: "Inconceivable!" Okay, now that that is out of the way, I have to admit I am not Buttercup's biggest fan. In fact, for the most part I don't like her at all. She is selfish, naive and I don't ever think she ever grasps how much Westley loves her. I mean, the man left to find his fortune, endured pirates, bested a Spaniard, a Sicilian, a giant, braved the Fire Swamp, and, oh yeah, he freaking died. Now that is love. Buttercup, on the other hand, becomes a princess. And gets kidnapped.

But honestly, the characters that make the book for me are Fezzik and Inigo. I just find them to be two of the most well rounded, brave, quirky characters that have ever been thought up. Even though there stories are laced with humor, they both had a rough childhood and overcame great odds and managed to form a wonderful friendship along the way. Sometimes I enjoy true friendship stories better than love stories. Fezzik and Inigo accept each other 110% for who they are, faults and all. Besides, who doesn't want a friend that will rhyme with you.