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As You Wish and Audiobooks for the Family – Christmas #Giveaway

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

In this Christmas Giveaway, 5 Minutes for Books contributor shares a look into As You Wish, Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride.

2014 Christmas Giveaway

While surrounded by the the cast of “The Princess Bride” at the movie’s 25th celebration, Cary Elwes was inspired to write a book about his experience filming one of the most beloved movies of all time. Along with Joe Layden, he wrote As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. To show just how popular the movie still is, As You Wish beat out Neal Patrick Harris’s memoir during both books’ first week of sales — an amazing feat consider NPH’s much more current popularity.

as you wish audiobook

Book-ended by a foreword by Rob Reiner and epilogue by Norman Lear, As You Wish is a tell-all that will please any fan. Elwes describes meeting Rob Reiner and auditioning for the part of Westley, his first day of fencing training where it’s clear Mandy Patinkin (Inigo) has already been training, being smitten with Robin Wright (Buttercup), along with the rest of the cast, and much more. He goes into detail about filming the scenes in the fire swamp, eating and drinking with the legendary Andre the Giant (Fezzik), and breaking his big toe thanks to a peer pressure-driven ride on an ATV.

Interspersed throughout the book are blurbs from the actors, director, and even the book’s author and movie’s screenwriter, William Goldman, adding their impressions of the cast and crew and their own stories, such as Wallace Shawn’s (Vizzini) feelings of inferiority and immense fear of haeights, and Billy Crystal’s request that his character, Miracle Max, look like a cross between Casey Stengel and his grandmother.

Simon & Schuster provided me with an audio copy of the book, where all but a few parts are read by the actors and crew involved in the film’s production. It’s always a treat hearing a celebrity read their own memoir, but when you throw in Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, Carol Kane (Val), and Wallace Shawn, to name a few, it really increases the enjoyment.

I have only one caveat for this book — if you’ve never seen The Princess Bride movie, then this memoir is probably not for you. To that I would say go watch the movie, then come back and read it. You won’t be disappointed. If your tweens or teens have enjoyed the movie with you, it’s probably safe for family listening as well.

To read an excerpt from the book, hear Rob Reiner read from his foreword, and watch a video of Cary Elwes talking about the inspiration for the book, visit the Simon & Schuster Audio website.

Win a family pack of FIVE audiobooks

Audiobook Collage

We have a family pack of audiobooks to give away to one of you (U.S. only), including several middle grade titles (elementary and middle school age), and a new adult, in addition to As You Wish. These will make perfect gifts for family members or a gift to yourself. Click through to find out more about each title and hear an excerpt:

Follow the instructions in the widget below to earn one or more entries.

 

 

Merry Christmas!!!

Enter all of our Christmas Giveaways

  1. As You Wish and Audiobooks for the Family – (US only)
  2. $50 Walmart Gift Card and Clean Ones Prize Pack – (US only)
  3. magicJackGo Device – (US and Canada)
  4. A Safe Kid-Friendly Email + $10 Amazon Gift Card – (US only)
  5. Books for Little Women, Tweens & Young Teens – (US and Canada)
  6. Keurig 2.0 from SignUpGenius – (US and Canada)
  7. Rudolph Turns 50! Prize Pack – (US only)
  8. Set of FOUR Pound Puppies – (US only)
  9. Extra Large Digital Alarm Safe from SentrySafe – (US only)
  10. David Baldacci Books for Everyone in the Family – (US only)
  11. American Girl of the Year – Isabelle – (US and Canada)
  12. Penguins of Madagascar Movie & Game Prize Pack – (US only)
  13. FROZEN Build-A-Bear – Win a Set of All 3 Frozen Bears – Elsa, Anna and Olaf – (US and Canada)
  14. Win a $100 Gift Certificate to Triple Flip – (US and Canada)
  15. Bluebee Pals Interactive Bluetooth Plush Toy – (US and Canada)
  16. Maximum Games Farming Simulator 15 – (US only)
  17. Disney’s FROZEN Sing-A-Long Edition – (US only)

Holiday Gift Guides

Find more fabulous gift ideas in our Holiday Gift Guides and Link Up Your Own Gift Guide Here…

  1. Holiday Gift Guide – For Women
  2. Holiday Gift Guide – For Men
  3. Holiday Gift Guide – For Kids
  4. Holiday Gift Guide – For Tweens & Teens
  5. Holiday Gift Guide – For Grandparents
  6. Holiday Gift Guide – For Teachers
  7. Holiday Gift Guide – For Pets
  8. Holiday Gift Guide – Stocking Stuffers

2014 Holiday Gift Guides and Linky

Reader Interactions


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87 Comments

  1. When my son was younger, we loved audiobooks on our road trips. Always a great way to pass the time 🙂

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  8. audiobooks are fun – and a lifesaver during long car trips…..short ones too. A quick chapter here and there – before you know it you have “read” a whole book.

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  18. The kids and I listen to audiobooks almost daily – and they are good sports about listening to each other’s selections.

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  43. I have only listened to one audio book in the past, but they would be great for when I am on the road going to visit my grandson-

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  46. I love audio books. I listen to them in the car and when I’m cleaning house. Whenever I take the Grandchildren on a long trip, I try to get something they enjoy.I took my 13 year old Grandaughter on a 4 hour trip to ky. and we listen to My Sister’s Keeper.

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  57. We do love listening to audio books as a family. The kids and I listen often through the day when they finish their schoolwork and we all listen on quiet Saturdays or on road trips!

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  58. I have never listened to audio books as a family. I listen to them in my vehicle and my granddaughter listens to them at night before bed

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  63. Our family LOVES audiobooks. We wouldn’t consider going on a trip without them. Our library has a great selection of audiobooks that we can borrow from their digital Overdrive website.

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  69. The boys do, however I do not. I have an issue with comprehending what is read when I can’t see the written words.

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  72. Audio books are perfect for car rides! Right now we mostly listen for my DH & I while my two year old sleeps on long tips. We want to start getting some for her though so this would be perfect:)

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  74. Growing up I loved audio books. My kids are six and two, so we haven’t listened yet with them. But, I want to change that. I think my daughter would love an audio book.

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  82. Audiobooks get the most play during long car rides over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. Everyone gets into the story, and there’s more chance to interact and discuss what we’re hearing than if each passenger listened to his or her own tunes or games or whatever via headphones.

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  85. I loved this movie! My husband and I danced to the love theme from Princess Bride at our wedding (yes, we’re geeks). Such a classic 🙂

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    • And my husband and i listen to audio books constantly during our separate commutes – and together on road trips. The kids are just starting to discover them, but we’ve checked out a few at the library that they liked 🙂

      Reply

  86. I loved that movie – this would be such an entertaining book. We do not listen to audiobooks as a family, but I listen to one every day.

    Reply