Today, Fable and the Fable share our September book club episode - where we dive into The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

In addition to being fans of the movie since we were in our teens, we both had previously read and enjoyed this mad meta-adventure novel that inspired the film. So, this conversation is a revisit to a beloved story that neither of us had read for many years.

In this episode, we talk about some of the bold choices that the author made. The narrator is highly dislikable, there are parenthetical asides and italic notes from the character who is supposed to be abridging the original novel, and several scenes feature a significant amount of head hoping and slides through time. But, somehow, all of these choices make for a story that is self-aware, satirical, and rather brilliant.

He also has a fantastic grip on the elements that make for a great adventure. Creating suspense by revealing surprising information, but then holding back in other key areas. His characters are over the top and have significant flaws, but their stories pull you in and their unique quirks compel you to root for them to succeed.

This book felt to us like a risk, but a calculated one where the author knew what he wanted to create and did it without fear. And it absolutely paid off!

We hope you enjoy this episode! Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore