Doodaddy

Have you ever been privy to a conversation between kids that they blithely assume you can’t hear? Because, you know, you’re in the front of the car and they’re in the back of the car or something?

This is the good one. OK, fine, he movie’s good, too. But read it. Seriously.

Although I love those overheard bits of childhood and pre-teen angst, I’ve always felt a little bit of guilt about listening (which, of course, I only do if I have no choice). I read a lot of young adult fiction, and for years I felt the same guilt about that — as if reading books intended for kids and teenagers was an invasion of their privacy. Then I came across The Princess Bride – the book first, but the movie, too — and was convinced that great kids’ books have a lot to offer adults, as well.

The Princess Bride is a layered, interesting book for adults, and not in the Disney sense of including a few 80s-reference jokes in animated flicks to keep the parents happy, but in a really engaging, thought-provoking way. (Plus it’s really funny.)

So for my daily dose in my month of gratitude, I thank the author of one of my favorite works of juvenile literature for showing me that it’s not really juvenile.

Thanks, William Goldman!

Truth be told, I love the movie, too, so I can tack on thanks to Rob Reiner, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Chris Sarandon, and all the other brilliant character players that make the movie so fantastic. But if you haven’t read the book yet, you really need to. Here’s a link to it on Amazon, but it’s widely available used and at libraries, too.