September 2019 Recommended Reading/Viewing

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Well, everyone, I doubt we've been as dead as we are now. Seriously, practically a whole month without any real activity. Still, for tradition's sake (and, hopefully, someone's pleasure), it's once again time for the recommendations of the month. My reading has still been pretty dried up as of late, but in the spirit of turning 32 this month, and harkening back to a movie that came out a mere six days after I was born, I'm going to keep it simple and put forward something that I believe everyone should be quite familiar with.


Reading: The Princess Bride (1973) by William Goldman

Yes, it's high time we recommended William Goldman's legendary abridgement of S. Morgenstern's classic Florenian satire of high adventure and true love.....at least that's what you'll be thinking once you get into the book's clever meta-narrative. There are some minor differences to be encountered, for sure, but I'm sure that you're all familiar with the plot by now - to the point that I really don't need to do a synopsis. But Goldman is as good a novelist as he is a screenwriter, and I think you'll be pleased with the outcome, so if you want to reexperience the timeless tale of Princess Buttercup's kidnapping by three "circus performers", her "rescue" by the Dread Pirate Roberts (who never takes prisoners), and her wedding to barrel-chested Prince Humperdinck, I suggest you do so as soon as possible.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-Morgensterns-Classic-Adventure/dp/0156035154/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567568688&sr=8-2
Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-Morgensterns-Classic-Adventure/dp/0156035219/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567568688&sr=8-2
Hardcover (Illustrated): https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-Illustrated-Morgensterns-Adventure/dp/0544173767/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567568688&sr=8-5
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-Morgensterns-Classic-Adventure-ebook/dp/B003IEJZRY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567568688&sr=8-2



Viewing: The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987)

I've only matched the movie with the book once before, but I'm doing it again not just because I'm slightly at a loss for fantasy movies, but because it's fitting and.......well, what can you say about it that probably hasn't already been said? Most of you could probably recite the screenplay blindfolded, it's so ingrained in the popular consciousness. It was memetic before that even was a thing. The cast is legendary, the comedy is golden - it's everything a good movie should be. It's probably one of the very few "perfect" movies (though I will allow some disagreement). If you haven't seen it before, see it now. If you have, well, see it again! The links will be for the rather recent entry into the prestigious Criterion Collection, for those who want a special release with plenty of critical special features.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-Sarandon-Savage-Wright/dp/B07FMQXZBD/ref=tmm_dvd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567568688&sr=8-6
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Blu-ray-Sarandon-Savage-Wright/dp/B07FMHCMT2/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1567568688&sr=8-6
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-Cary-Elwes/dp/B00945XF8Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+princess+bride&qid=1567568849&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Well, that was easy. Hopefully we'll be more active this month. See you next time!