Perhaps you have seen the movie The Princess Bride? I had, and I heard stories about The Book, but it took me way too long to get my hands on it (and when I did, it was in .pdf format, so if it's not in your library... *wink*). With the words of the author, it has everything a good book has:
Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.
This is a parody of fairy tales, yet at the same time, it's quite frankly the best fairy tale I have ever read, because it has it all. It makes fun of other books of its genre as well as itself, at the same time it manages to be full of truths of life such as
“Sonny, don’t you tell me what’s worth while—true love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. Everybody knows that.”
It has two adorable friends who start as villains but become good guys, who make up rhymes when they are in a tight spot. It has a dashing hero and her beautiful girl. It has pirates. It has the evil Prince who is insane but, because we get his point of view as well, whose actions make sense.
This was more than a pleasurable reading experience. I'm going to order it from Amazon as soon as I decide if I want it hardcover or paperback. What I most loved was the humour and the romance. I jumped up and down at my favourite parts, force-showed them to my sister, laughed - no, roared with laughter. And the romance... well, here, see The Most Wonderful Love Confession Of All Time:
“I love you,” Buttercup said. “I know this must come as something of a surprise, since all I’ve ever done is scorn you and degrade you and taunt you, but I have loved you for several hours now, and every second, more. I thought an hour ago that I loved you more than any woman has ever loved a man, but a half hour after that I knew that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then. But ten minutes after that, I understood that my previous love was a puddle compared to the high seas before a storm. Your eyes are like that, did you know? Well they are. How many minutes ago was I? Twenty? Had I brought my feelings up to then? It doesn’t matter.” Buttercup still could not look at him. The sun was rising behind her now; she could feel the heat on her back, and it gave her courage. “I love you so much more now than twenty minutes ago that there cannot be comparison. I love you so much more now than when you opened your hovel door, there cannot be comparison. There is no room in my body for anything but you. My arms love you, my ears adore you, my knees shake with blind affection. My mind begs you to ask it something so it can obey. Do you want me to follow you for the rest of your days? I will do that. Do you want me to crawl? I will crawl. I will be quiet for you or sing for you, or if you are hungry, let me bring you food, or if you have thirst and nothing will quench it but Arabian wine, I will go to Araby, even though it is across the world, and bring a bottle back for your lunch. Anything there is that I can do for you, I will do for you; anything there is that I cannot do, I will learn to do. I know I cannot compete with the Countess in skills or wisdom or appeal, and I saw the way she looked at you. And I saw the way you looked at her. But remember, please, that she is old and has other interests, while I am seventeen and for me there is only you. Dearest Westley—I’ve never called you that before, have I?—Westley, Westley, Westley, Westley, Westley—darling Westley, adored Westley, sweet perfect Westley, whisper that I have a chance to win your love.”
But let me tell you, it's not lacking in action, either.