Book Review: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden

Reviewed by Annette Dean, Library Director

The books I read (or rather listen to) since I am a dedicated audiobook reader tend to fall into 2 groups. Books I want to read and books I must read. Every now and then the two lists converge, as is the case with As You Wish by Cary Elwes.  My Friday Morning book club just discussed The Princess Bride by William Goldman, to prepare for the discussion I listened to The Princess Bride, watched the movie, and checked out As You Wish as well. As the Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies, I was super excited to have an excuse to read the novel and re-watch the movie. As You Wish wasn’t really on my radar until it came up in my search for supplemental materials for the discussion. As You Wish shares inside stories from the actors, directors, and the writer involved in making the movie adaptation of The Princess Bride. I don’t normally enjoy “making of” books, but I was pleasantly surprised by As You Wish. It could have been my love of the motion picture, but I found it genuinely interesting to listen to the inside stories from the actors themselves. Elwes, who protrays Westley in the Princess Bride, narrates most of the book, but director Rob Reiner, and actors Robin Wright (Buttercup), Mandy Patinkin (Ingo Montoya), Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck), Christopher Guest (Count Rugen), Wallace Shawn (Vizzini), Carol Kane (Valerie), and Billy Crystal (Miracle Max) vocalize their experiences and impressions as well. The stories that Billy Crystal and Wallace Shawn shared had me laughing aloud as I listened. I recommend this book (particularly the audiobook) for anyone who enjoys the movie or book The Princess Bride. The audiobook and eBook is available through  BRIDGES; visit www.charles-city.lib.ia.us to check it out.