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.
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.
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
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
- As You Wish and Audiobooks for the Family -Â (US only)
- $50 Walmart Gift Card and Clean Ones Prize Pack -Â (US only)
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- Books for Little Women, Tweens & Young Teens -Â (US and Canada)
- Keurig 2.0 from SignUpGenius – (US and Canada)
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- Bluebee Pals Interactive Bluetooth Plush Toy – (US and Canada)
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- Disney’s FROZEN Sing-A-Long Edition - (US only)
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When my son was younger, we loved audiobooks on our road trips. Always a great way to pass the time 🙂
We love them, especially for road trips
Yes we like audiobooks.
Audiobooks are great for long road trips
I love them!
Grandma, my kids and I all love audiobooks.
On long car rides.
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.
I can only imagine the funny action BEHIND the camera of “The Princess Bride”….would love to win!
We do like audiobooks. But after listening to them, we like to share with others.
yes they are perfect for long trips
No, we never tried audiobooks for the family.
yes in the car
Never had an audiobook but would love to get and share
Yes, especially those read-along versions.
We do enjoy audiobooks.
yes we love them
The kids and I listen to audiobooks almost daily – and they are good sports about listening to each other’s selections.
I’ve never actually tried audiobooks before.
Yes, audio books are great for long drives!
We like to listen in the car on a long trip.
My husband enjoys audio books, my kids prefer the real book with pictures on it!
We use adiobooks all of the time, on long drives or just for my older ones to listen to at night.
never used one before
I listen to audiobooks during my commute to and from work. Love them.
It’s just my son, his wife and me. We don’t listen as a family. I listen alone.
No kids and I don’t like audio books. I’d rather read.
Thanks for the contest.
we love them for car rides
We just started listening to stories on spotify. Sometimes it really holds the kids attention!
Roadtrips
We haven’t tried any yet.
Yes, we love them.
HAVENT TRIED IT YET
Not yet!
We LOVE them for car trips and I was just looking at this book the other day. Best Movie Ever!
We love them, especially for road trips!
Only on roadtrips
Yes my family and I love audio books and books of all kinds
Yes, my family and I love audio books and books of all kinds
Yes, my family and I love audio books and books of all kinds! 1
I don’t my kids still like pictures but my sisters kids do
YES, we love to listen to audiobooks and stories!
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-
we haven’t tried it as a family
Yes. We listen to them in the car when we travel
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.
Yes we do, but only in the car.
I have used them when the kids were learning how to read so yes they are very nice and useful.
We haven’t gotten into audio books.
Currently, no. BUt we may consider it on the next long car ride.
Yes! We listen to them in the car!
I love listening to audio books! I think it’s a good time to get our daughter started 🙂
I loved the Princess Bride and can’t wait to read this book.
I love to listen to audio books. We really enjoy them when we are on a road trip.
We listen to audio books daily and we love them.
We like` to listen` to `them on car rides.
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!
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
My kids like them
Yes we really enjoy audio books as a family and use them often.
We do listen to audiobooks
We don’t listen to audiobooks all that much, we it is fun when we do!
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.
We never listen to audiobooks.
Some of the family does enjoy audio books
we love having them in the car.
we listen to them on long trips
We love audio books.
The boys do, however I do not. I have an issue with comprehending what is read when I can’t see the written words.
Yes we enjoy them!
We have never had an audio book before
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:)
we listen to them in the car on long road trips
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.
We do listen to audiobooks.
my husband and i love audiobooks, but my daughter hasn’t gotten a chance to experience them yet.
This would be nice!
Never tried it. . . .yet!
My youngest and I enjoy audiobooks and have checked out most from the local library.
We love audio books.
I listen in the house and car. Others if they do on their own.
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.
We don’t usually share our audiobooks.
No. I tend to listen to them at work.
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 🙂
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 🙂
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.