Customer Reviews

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Jazz Age Stories (Penguin Classics)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Longer than a short story, shorter than a novella, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was destined to be lost to everyone except the most ardent F. Scott Fitzgerald fans until Hollywood rescued it and turned it into a film. Intrigued by the trailer, I looked for the story to read before seeing the film. (Not to cost amazon any money, but the full text does exist online).

From what I have seen of the trailer, the film and story differ greatly. Even though Benjamin marries in the story, I don't think his wife (a minor character) occupies the same niche as the Cate Blanchett character in the film.

Fitzgerald speaks of Benjamin in almost fairy tale tones. Scenes aren't described and years are condensed to paragraphs or even sentences. Rather thaw showing scenes from Benjamin's military activities or success on the football field (when he was over 50 years old), Fitzgerald simply states them as fact. Had he so desired, this could have been a 200+ page novel.

It's full of the same quirks that have caused the movie to be one of the most anticipated this year. Like when he is 20 (and looks 50), Fitzgerald tells us he is often mistaken for his father, and when he is 50 (and looks 20), he is often mistaken for his son. Nearly every aspect of his life is told with such mirror bookends, like how his May-December marriage (his wife was 20 and attracted to a man who looked 50) ended up becoming a December-May romance that caused the townsfolk to wonder what a young man was doing with such an old lady.

The story is tricky, poignant and sad, It was impossible to not see Brad Pitt in the role and impossible to not think about how they are going to show him as 80 years old or (sorry Brad) as a teenager. I don't think reading this spoiled anything about the movie for me. If anything, it only makes me want to see it even more.

Fitzgerald produces a fantastic tall-tale that should have been as well known as Paul Bunyon. The novel is not only a fascinating journey through life in reverse, it is a showcase for the sheer breathtaking beauty that is Fitzgerald's writing [one example: "It was a gorgeous evening. A full moondrenched the road to the lustreless colour of platinum, and late-blooming harvest flowers breathed into the motionless air aromas that were like low, half-heard laughter." (Chapter 5)]

However, do not expect this story to be anything like its movie adaptation. For one, this story takes less time to read then watching the movie. Again, the message that each story presents is completely different.

In the original story, Benjamin is born a fully grown, mentally developed 70-year-old and dies an infant, both physically and mentally.

This is the fundamental split between the two versions of the story. The movie depicts an infant with the features and physical ailments of an old man who has the mind of an infant. The Benjamin of the silver screen grows young physically, but old mentally.

But, I am not here to review the movie, so back to the original story. Aside from being a journey through life backwards, the short story tells of how bonds that are meant to be sacred and holy (such as family, parenthood, and marriage) are shattered when abnormalities are thrown in. From his birth, Benjamin is resented for his condition, and the ridicule never lets up. His wife believes him selfish and unwilling to change a condition he cannot control. His own son will not let him address him as such, but rather wants Benjamin to be the son to improve his standing socially.

It is an interesting exploration into the inner workings of human relationships and the beauty of F Scott Fitzgerald's style keeps evan the most critical and unimaginative reader inticed. Do not go through life without reading this story.

Longer than a short story, shorter than a novella, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was destined to be lost to everyone except the most ardent F. Scott Fitzgerald fans until Hollywood rescued it and turned it into a film. Intrigued by the trailer, I looked for the story to read before seeing the film. (Not to cost amazon any money, but the full text does exist online).

From what I have seen of the trailer, the film and story differ greatly. Even though Benjamin marries in the story, I don't think his wife (a minor character) occupies the same niche as the Cate Blanchett character in the film.

Fitzgerald speaks of Benjamin in almost fairy tale tones. Scenes aren't described and years are condensed to paragraphs or even sentences. Rather thaw showing scenes from Benjamin's military activities or success on the football field (when he was over 50 years old), Fitzgerald simply states them as fact. Had he so desired, this could have been a 200+ page novel.

It's full of the same quirks that have caused the movie to be one of the most anticipated this year. Like when he is 20 (and looks 50), Fitzgerald tells us he is often mistaken for his father, and when he is 50 (and looks 20), he is often mistaken for his son. Nearly every aspect of his life is told with such mirror bookends, like how his May-December marriage (his wife was 20 and attracted to a man who looked 50) ended up becoming a December-May romance that caused the townsfolk to wonder what a young man was doing with such an old lady.

The story is tricky, poignant and sad, It was impossible to not see Brad Pitt in the role and impossible to not think about how they are going to show him as 80 years old or (sorry Brad) as a teenager. I don't think reading this spoiled anything about the movie for me. If anything, it only makes me want to see it even more.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) is best known as the premier chronicler of the Jazz Age in such novels as "The Far Side of Paradise"; "The Beautiful and Damned". "The Great Gatsby" and "Tender is the Night." However he was also a short story author churning out stories for popular periodicals of the day such as The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers and The Scribner House magazine.
Penguin has taken two of his short story collections "Flappers and Philosophers" and Tales of the Jazz Age" combining them in a fat Penguin Classics edition. The stories are those the Princeton man wrote at college and in his early career.
The Peguin edition includes
The Penguin edition has "Benjamin Button" on the cover in order to cash in on the popularity of the film starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button occurs in Baltimore where a child is born who is an old man. The fantasy follows his career as he becomes progressively younger. If you can accept the absurdity of the premise you can relax and enjoy a story well written and witty.
The stories are uneven in quality and interest. Among the best ones in this collection are:
The Diamond Big as the Ritz-A wild fantasy set in the American West in which the hero visits a school chum who owns a mountain made of solid diamonds who is cruel and keeps prisoners of those unwary to explore into his vast territory.
Bernice Bobs Her Hair is a short O Henry type tale in which Bernice has her hair cut and gets back at a relative who has criticized her appearance.
The Ice Palace is the story of a southern belle with a northern boyfriend. She experiences hatred for the northern way of life symoblized by her being momentarily lost in a huge ice palace built for a winter festival. She bears a resemblance to Scott's Alabama born wife Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.
The other stories are also worth reading. One does wince when Fitzgerald uses racially insenstive words regarding African-Americans and Jewish persons. In all there are nineteen stories by one of America's greatest authors.

This short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is absolutely recommended reading for anyone. Taking a look at the idea that life would be better backwards, Fitzgerald thoroughly dismisses this idea by the end the story, in which Button has lived a long, and very lonely, life. Really points out that life is best lived with others there to take the ride with us. If Fincher's film is anywhere near as good as the story, it will be an amazing one to see.

Vastly entertaining. You can pretend not to notice the obvious (and rather tacky) attempt to cash on the success of the Pitt movie, suspend your disbeliefs, throw yourself back in time, and simply enjoy the way the stories deliver.

Certainly F Scott. Fitzgerald enjoyed writing this one. Based on a written line he read about life, Fitzgerald certainly demonstrates his talents. I rate this ony three stars because I felt the piece tired out as it progressed, certainly with intention, but also with over-simplification. I do recommend this be read, but as part of a short story compilation.

Most critics have often thought of Fitzgerald's short stories as what he did for money between writing novels and haven't had a high opinion of their worth. Many are, indeed, a poor man's version of O'Henry stories with "twist" endings. About a quarter of the stories here, though, are pure genius with such tales as "the Ice Palace" and "Benjamin Button." If you are a fan of the recent movie, or of Fitzgerald, it is a worthwhile purchase.

I read this story before seeing the movie starring Brad Pitt. The story is great and worth reading. It is only 20+ pages, but really interesting. I saw the movie yesterday, and highly recommend the movie. The movie has taken some liberties from the book, but still excellent. Movies are always a little different from the book. I recommend you read this story before seeing the movie.

I gave the book to my 19 year old son to read, and he enjoyed it too. We went to the movie together, and both enjoyed the movie. It was a nice mother/son date. I am an avid reader, but my son normally only reads for school or Harry Potter books, so it was nice that he enjoyed this story too, and wanted to see the movie with his mother. Pick up the book and share it with your family, you might be surprised how much they enjoy reading it too.

Interesting short story. Almost felt like an outline for a never written longer book. It is quite different than the movie.