Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for his novels, but in his lifetime, his fame stemmed from his prolific achievement as one of America's most g...
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Aug 05, 2011
Paquita Maria
rated it: 
First of all, how is there an entire movie here? Yeah, yeah, it would probably be best to come back to that.
My overall vote is "meh?" From a clunky start, this short story waxes and wanes in a similar fashion to its title character. All that I could think while reading the first two sections was how Fitzgerald's dialogue and descriptions of character behavior were the literary equivalent of cutting paper dolls out of vellum and proclaiming them to be sentient creatures. A More...
My overall vote is "meh?" From a clunky start, this short story waxes and wanes in a similar fashion to its title character. All that I could think while reading the first two sections was how Fitzgerald's dialogue and descriptions of character behavior were the literary equivalent of cutting paper dolls out of vellum and proclaiming them to be sentient creatures. A More...
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Dec 17, 2008
Shannon
rated it: 
Originally published as a short-story in Collier's magazine's "Tales of the Jazz Age" in 1922, Fitzgerald's quirky, fairy-tale-like story of a man born at age seventy who gets younger has been widely available as a novella for many years. This collector's edition has been released to coincide with the movie: it's a lovely little black hardcover with glossy pages and wonderful colour illustrations by Calef Brown.
Benjamin Button was born in 1860 at age 70: bald, shrunken, wit More...
Benjamin Button was born in 1860 at age 70: bald, shrunken, wit More...
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(7 people liked it)
Jan 01, 2009
Lavinia
rated it:
An interesting and pretty original idea. Since it's a story, it moves quite rapidly through Benjamin's life, but you get the point. It reminded me of Eliade's novella, Youth without youth, except in that one the old man gets younger right away, struck by lightening.
Too bad the movie sucks. I successfully wasted almost 3 hours of my life to see a brilliant idea transformed into a cheap love story that has (almost) nothing to do with Fitzgerald's original story.
Too bad the movie sucks. I successfully wasted almost 3 hours of my life to see a brilliant idea transformed into a cheap love story that has (almost) nothing to do with Fitzgerald's original story.
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(4 people liked it)
Dec 13, 2008
Beth F.
rated it:
I don’t read a lot of short stories because I like having the opportunity to spend longer periods of time getting to know the characters. But I was curious to read this story because the premise sounded interesting and also because Brad Pitt made me do it.
Last night was my company’s holiday party and since I didn’t get home until sometime between 2:30 and 3:00 in the morning, suffice it to say that I was feeling a tad under the weather today. Reading a short story was right up my More...
Last night was my company’s holiday party and since I didn’t get home until sometime between 2:30 and 3:00 in the morning, suffice it to say that I was feeling a tad under the weather today. Reading a short story was right up my More...
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Dec 30, 2008
Corinne
rated it: 
This short story begins as Mr. Roger Button is bustling about Baltimore, waiting for the birth of his first born child. The reception he receives as he arrives at the hospital gives him hints that all is NOT right with his child. And it is a MOST curious case: young Button was born old - as in, beard, watery eyes, wrinkles. OLD. Benjamin, as he's named, prefers cigars over rattles and is more comfortable with his grandfather than other tots.
What's even more interesting is that Benjam More...
What's even more interesting is that Benjam More...
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(4 people liked it)
Jul 01, 2011
Jillian
rated it: 
This is my first F. Scott Fitzgerald story. I have to say, I preferred this to the movie, for its understated simplicity. Fitzgerald never tells you Benjamin is sad, as the movie seems to. He leaves interpretation up to you. For all we know, Benjamin enjoyed his life.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" depicts well the way we (at least in American society) view the different ages. I think seeing Benjamin as a young man (twenties) and then watching him enter adolescence, w More...
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" depicts well the way we (at least in American society) view the different ages. I think seeing Benjamin as a young man (twenties) and then watching him enter adolescence, w More...
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(5 people liked it)
Feb 01, 2010
داستان عجیب بنجامین باتن، براي اولين بار در 27 مه 1922 ( مطابق با 5 خرداد 1301) در مجلهي
Collier
به چاپ رسید
این داستان دوّمین داستان(اسكات فیتزجرالد) است. این داستان بعدها در کتاب (قصههای عصر جاز)نيز به چاپ رسید
اسكات فیتزجرالد در مورد خلق این اثر مینویسد: الهامبخش این داستان گفتهای از (مارک تواین) است به این مضمون: افسوس که بهترین قسمت زندگی در آغاز آن است و بدترین قسمت آن، در پایانش
این هم چند خطی از ابتدای داستان عجيب بنجامين باتن
مدت More...
Collier
به چاپ رسید
این داستان دوّمین داستان(اسكات فیتزجرالد) است. این داستان بعدها در کتاب (قصههای عصر جاز)نيز به چاپ رسید
اسكات فیتزجرالد در مورد خلق این اثر مینویسد: الهامبخش این داستان گفتهای از (مارک تواین) است به این مضمون: افسوس که بهترین قسمت زندگی در آغاز آن است و بدترین قسمت آن، در پایانش
این هم چند خطی از ابتدای داستان عجيب بنجامين باتن
مدت More...
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(3 people liked it)
Apr 13, 2010
Emily
rated it:
I wished this book had been longer! It was a cute novella, but I really think that F. Scott could have made this into a novel without it coming across as boring or pretentious in any regard. Not very descriptive, but it IS interesting to see how Fitzgerald blends fantasy/reality to create this unique 50-page work. His use of language fits well with the piece, and although the premise of the story is somewhat ridiculous and outlandish, he actually makes the plot (a man turning younger every ye
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(4 people liked it)
Sep 19, 2011
Anca
rated it:
I remember Ana Blandiana expressing this idea*, but from a different perspective than the one that inspired Fitzgerald to write the story (Mark Twain saying it's somewhat ironic how you get the best when you can't apreciate it, the worst when you know what you lost; I think this is the quote: "The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity." ). She thinks the wisdom elders have would guide us to the
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 23, 2009
Wendy
rated it:
I saw Benjamin Button on Sunday, and downloaded a copy to my Kindle the same night (love my Kindle, love the convenience - love the price - the copyright is expired,and it is easily found online for free!) But for the title, I wouldn't even know the two things - the movie and the story - were related.
Now that I’ve read Benjamin Button and seen the movie – I have to wonder what it really means to be an “adapted” screenplay a la the Oscars. Doubt and Frost/Nixon were both Tony award More...
Now that I’ve read Benjamin Button and seen the movie – I have to wonder what it really means to be an “adapted” screenplay a la the Oscars. Doubt and Frost/Nixon were both Tony award More...
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Jan 08, 2009
KC
rated it:
In preparation for the newly released Brad Pitt film, I thought I'd read the short story it is based on. F. Scott Fitzgerald claims the story is inspired by a comment of Mark Twain, who noted that it's a pity that the best part of life occurs at the beginning, and worst at the end. Benjamin Button is case study of the opposite.
The story's intrigue lies in the use of juxtaposition and irony: some situations are normal, but seem abnormal, and others are the other way around. The old More...
The story's intrigue lies in the use of juxtaposition and irony: some situations are normal, but seem abnormal, and others are the other way around. The old More...
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Nov 30, 2008
Wendy
rated it:
Actually, i first learnt of this story from press releases on an upcoming Davis Fincher movie starring Brad Pitt. When i read that the movie was based on a Scott Fitzerald short story, i decided to grab the book and read it ! I find the whole reverse aging phenomenon intrigueing ! Here we have, Benjamin Button, being born an old man and "aging" to a baby on his death "bed/crib". It sounds almost sci-fi / fantasy and creepy ! But really, it is quite (darkly) humorous. It provi
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(1 person liked it)
Mar 19, 2009
Connie
rated it:
While this book was read with The Great Gatsby in mind, it certainly can't compare. For one, TCCoBB is a short story. Fitzgerald is successful at creating the domestic social setting of the late 19th century, (and later, the early 20th century), but I was disappointed. I felt that Fitzgerald was lacking. His characters carried a lot of potential, and the overall value of the story is as expected. Lessons regarding life and the precious time that underlies aging could've easily made the story mor
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 17, 2009
dyana
rated it:
** WARNING - SPOILER ALERT**
An interesting story, however with all the fanfare the movie received, the short story was just that, short. I was disappointed that the protagonist did not retain his wisdom as the years passed, but rather his mind seemed to deteriorate as his body grew younger. How fantastic to be born with all that knowledge, building on that as the years passed, using it to form your decisions and subsequently, the shape of your life. Here however, Benjamin was born w More...
An interesting story, however with all the fanfare the movie received, the short story was just that, short. I was disappointed that the protagonist did not retain his wisdom as the years passed, but rather his mind seemed to deteriorate as his body grew younger. How fantastic to be born with all that knowledge, building on that as the years passed, using it to form your decisions and subsequently, the shape of your life. Here however, Benjamin was born w More...
Dec 23, 2011
Jerry A. December 23, 2011
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Every novel has a plot. The plot and the author’s creativity in developing the plot is what makes a book good and enjoyable for me to read. For me, I get particularly interested in a book when there is suspense about something that is going to happen in the near future of th More...
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Every novel has a plot. The plot and the author’s creativity in developing the plot is what makes a book good and enjoyable for me to read. For me, I get particularly interested in a book when there is suspense about something that is going to happen in the near future of th More...
Feb 25, 2009
Linda
rated it:
I didn’t know F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Did you? I finished this story in about 2 hours tops. I saw the movie a couple of weekends ago with Katambra. We loved it. The movie was ADORABLE, all the way through, adorable. I love the old man C-list character that got struck by lightening 7 times. So I was excited to start reading the book. After reading, I found myself preferring the movie over the book which I rarely ever do.
The book wasn’t very descript More...
The book wasn’t very descript More...
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 12, 2009
Cameron
rated it:
One just has to appreciate the ghastly commercialization inherent in slapping an admittedly nice cover on a fifty page short story and selling it for more than a mass market paperback, when, for a few dollars more, you can get a broad smattering of Fitzgerald's stories in one volume. Just think how many more copies of this edition they could have sold had they plastered Mr. Pitt's beauteous facade across the front, perhaps even in a Warholesque four squares showing him at different ages (it wor
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Jan 22, 2012
Dieleserin
rated it:
Man schreibt das Jahr 1860: Mr. Roger Button, Präsident der Firma Roger Button & Co., stürmt in das örtliche Krankenhaus – soeben ist sein Sohn zur Welt gekommen. Doch schon an der Reaktion der Krankenschwestern merkt Mr. Button, dass irgendetwas nicht stimmt. Endlich im Zimmer angekommen, entdeckt er sein Neugeborenes. Der schockt sitzt tief – das was er da sieht ist kein Baby. In der Liege befindet sich ein Greis von etwa 70 Jahren. Der Vater hält es für eine Verwechslung – unmöglich kann dies
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Jan 20, 2012
Jonathan
rated it:
I must confess that I rather enjoy the prose of one certain F.Scott Fitzgerald. Though many critics dislike the shallow nature of The Great Gatsby's characters there is such a poignant lyricism in the words of that novel. The very short novel The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is likewise extremely well written and very clever. Many people will have seen the film I'm sure though I myself was not interested.
What intrigued me so much about Fitzgerald's work here was the fact that he was More...
What intrigued me so much about Fitzgerald's work here was the fact that he was More...
Jan 18, 2012
B-zee
rated it:
Salah satu fiksi yang mengagumkan. Jauh sebelum membaca buku ini, saya sudah melihat filmnya. Tetapi tanpa peringatan apapun, ternyata versi film dan bukunya terdapat beberapa perbedaan. Sejujurnya saya lebih menyukai versi filmnya, karena perlakuan dari dan terhadap Benjamin terkesan lebih 'manusiawi'.
Terlepas dari kesan itu, yang membuat saya tidak nyaman membaca buku ini adalah terjemahannya. Kalau saya sedikit tega, saya akan menyebutnya 'berantakan'. Seperti pada halaman 13:
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Terlepas dari kesan itu, yang membuat saya tidak nyaman membaca buku ini adalah terjemahannya. Kalau saya sedikit tega, saya akan menyebutnya 'berantakan'. Seperti pada halaman 13:
More...
Sep 08, 2011
Salem
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 03, 2011
Willem
rated it:
The parabel of Benjamin Button is that of a man aging backwards. Born a white bearded man of seventy, Benjamin “grows” younger every year, aging from a ripe adult to a young man, a teenager and, finally, a playful young boy.
F. Scott Fitzgerald turns this excellent idea into a wonderful short novel, discussing the idea how confronting a life can be when age, knowledge and appearance fool those around Benjamin. Yet the biggest struggle – and the most powerful to behold – is that of the More...
F. Scott Fitzgerald turns this excellent idea into a wonderful short novel, discussing the idea how confronting a life can be when age, knowledge and appearance fool those around Benjamin. Yet the biggest struggle – and the most powerful to behold – is that of the More...
Jul 31, 2011
Toni
rated it:
In general I like short stories and novellas. The only drawback I've found is that sometimes you just want more. "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" was inspired by a statement made by Mark Twain, that the best things in life happen at the beginning and the worst at the end. Indeed, sometimes I have these thoughts passing through my head. When you read Benjamin, however, you'd find that the benefits are as much as the disadvantages. Even a slight excess of the latter.
I've found More...
I've found More...
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Jun 22, 2011
Julie
rated it:
I listened to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in an audio format during a recent car trip. Perhaps because I was listening instead of reading, I was so distracted by his overuse of adverbs, I almost missed the point of the story. Mr. Fitzgerald, at least in this book, was the king of adverbs: the doctor drove away severely; the doctor answered cuttingly; the doctor spoke sharply; several nurses gave looks severely; one nurse looked up pleasantly (later this same poor, over-dra
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May 26, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Benjamin Button was born in the usual way just before the outbreak of the Civil War. And yet he was not at all the usual baby. Instead of the frantic cries and cherub cheeks you would expect to find in the hospital nursery, there sat an old man, white whiskers, rheumy eyes and all. As the years passed something even more remarkable began to happen, instead of aging in the usual manner he seemed to live his life in reverse. Each year he grew younger, stronger, smarter. Incredibly he eventual
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Mar 21, 2011
Claudia
rated it:
Haven't seen the film -- don't want to, but this was entirely delightful. Now, I haven't read a LOT of Fitzgerald, but I don't remember an affectionate, ironic tone like this in his other works. Benjamin, born to a 'good' Baltimore family, was a disappointing surprise for his father: he was born 70 years old, and demanded clothes that were NOT infant clothes, AND a cane when he walked out of the hospital. There are moments of gentle, sardonic humor; there are moments of ironic insights...and thr
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Mar 21, 2011
Ben
rated it:
In Tales of the Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald said that "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was inspired by Mark Twain who said that it was a pity that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst at the end. However, if life is cyclical, as is asserted by so many modern jokes and cliches, then how can this be? For Benjamin, the extremities of age were terribly incongruous to social life in Baltimore and family life at home. His own son, Roscoe, treated him like the chil
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Jan 20, 2011
Christine
rated it:
I was interested in this first when the movie came out last two Decembers due to unique trailer. It was intriguing that the trailer didn't reveal a direct problem, as many other trailers have shown. After watching the three hour movie, I loved how detailed each scene was, and how the director chose scenes that showed how the character changed through each event.
Couple months ago, I thought it would have been interesting to read this short selection. However, after I finished, it d More...
Couple months ago, I thought it would have been interesting to read this short selection. However, after I finished, it d More...
Nov 06, 2010
Bibliophile
rated it:
Bineinteles ca am vazut filmul intai, nici macar pana la capat, nu de alta, dar imi vine foarte greu sa-mi inving aversiunea innascuta vizavi de Brad Pitt.
Ce pot spune e ca romanul nu are nici in clin, nici in maneca cu asa-zisa actiune din film! Singura coincidenta e numele familiei, adica Button. In rest... nu exista nici o abandonare a pruncului nascut batran, nici o dragoste furtunoasa si eterna fata de o balerina.. No way. Totul e mult prea romantat in film.
Fitzgerald prezint More...
Ce pot spune e ca romanul nu are nici in clin, nici in maneca cu asa-zisa actiune din film! Singura coincidenta e numele familiei, adica Button. In rest... nu exista nici o abandonare a pruncului nascut batran, nici o dragoste furtunoasa si eterna fata de o balerina.. No way. Totul e mult prea romantat in film.
Fitzgerald prezint More...
Jun 07, 2010
Manda
rated it:
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