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300 ratings, 3.57 average rating, 91 reviews
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published
August 14th 2007
by Scribner
binding
Paperback, 64 pages
setting
Baltimore, MD
isbn
1416556052
(isbn13: 9781416556053)
description
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 gifte...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 607)
Read in December, 2008
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...more
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The premise of this story drew me in, and it was a bit of a letdown. I think I had false expectations of what could be done in such a short duration. The story moves very quickly throughout time with only brief descriptions of particilar events occurring. The most disappointing aspect was that he always speaks of "the parents" but the mother is remarkably absent beyond that. Quick and interesting, but might have been an idea better reserved for a full length novel.
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Read in November, 2008
This book is really a novella. The story revolves around Benjamin Button, a baby born seventy years-old who ages backward. The author's writing style is simplistic. Basic sentences with the occasional clause flatly state what happens. The story feels more like a sketch. It's even light on descriptive details, except for those revolving around aging and youth. The author provides no obvious moral or meaning, so he leaves readers to their own devices to make of the story what they will. This editi...more
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I read this after someone wrote a review of Andrew Sean Greer's The Confessions of Max Tivoli insinuating that people should really just read this story instead. I feel both are worth reading, but perhaps for different types of readers.
This story, being so short, is really just the sketches of a concept. A man grows younger instead of older, and difficulties ensue. In this story, the man's mind also grows younger instead of older. Like the title says, it's a curious case, and not much is exp...more
This story, being so short, is really just the sketches of a concept. A man grows younger instead of older, and difficulties ensue. In this story, the man's mind also grows younger instead of older. Like the title says, it's a curious case, and not much is exp...more
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this took only an hour to read. i don't really feel that i read a book as much as i read a brief overview of another book. huge gaps in the story, so much unsaid and unvisited. this is, now that i think about it, not a story but an appetizer. inspiration for a movie! there you go. gee maybe we could put brad pitt in it. somebody who'd look good at any age, then we could fill in the blanks and flesh out the story. i hope the movie makers make it less depressing. i wish i had felt that someone had...more
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Read in October, 2008
I decided to read this book because the movie trailer seemed like an interesting premise... and because it was available online and took all of 30 minutes to read.
I don't think I fully grasp the point of this story. Some of the other reviews spoke of the role of age in society. I actually didn't feel that Fitzgerald was commenting on society (such as in The Great Gatsby). Society's role in this book was extremely predictable, and offered very little.
Instead, it seems that Fitzgerald...more
I don't think I fully grasp the point of this story. Some of the other reviews spoke of the role of age in society. I actually didn't feel that Fitzgerald was commenting on society (such as in The Great Gatsby). Society's role in this book was extremely predictable, and offered very little.
Instead, it seems that Fitzgerald...more
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Read in August, 2007
Strange plot but somehow it works! You have to tell yourself often though that this is a fantasy because it's a story that manipulate time: Benjamin ages in reverse.
It's such a clever way to reflect how we build social norms around "age".
I can see that a lot of things have changes in a better way (e.g. we now see a 70 yr old lady attending university) but still Fitgerald's story about Benjamin Button is a classic that illustrate the way we relate to each other using age and physi...more
It's such a clever way to reflect how we build social norms around "age".
I can see that a lot of things have changes in a better way (e.g. we now see a 70 yr old lady attending university) but still Fitgerald's story about Benjamin Button is a classic that illustrate the way we relate to each other using age and physi...more
Read in August, 2008
I wasn't overly impressed by this short story. It was written in 1922, so maybe it's just 80 years out of date for my taste. It's about a man who is born 70 years old (it doesn't go into any details about how his mom managed that). He's full grown and has all the smarts and knowledge of a 70-year-old. He's balding, needs glasses and a cane and whatnot. As time goes by he gets younger and younger until, after 70 years, he's just a newborn baby. It was an interesting idea, but I was bothered...more
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Read in October, 2008
The great things about short stories, are they are just that - short. It takes no time to get through them. The unfortunate peice to that is when you come across a great idea that would be really nice to see flushed out, but it's in short story format; that is how I feel about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The story is about a man who when he is born it is into an old mans body. He goes through life growing younger instead of older. It is such a neat concept and we get a very tru...more
The story is about a man who when he is born it is into an old mans body. He goes through life growing younger instead of older. It is such a neat concept and we get a very tru...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
I guess anyone with a free 1/2 hour or so to read :)
Based on a comment that Mark Twain once made about the best part of our lives coming at the beginning and the worst at the end, Fitzgerald tells the story of benjamin Button, a man who is born old and grows younger while everyone he knows and loves is born..well, the normal way. It's a short story, and I am usually not one for short stories, but I found the premise hard to resist. The first half had a lot of humor in it, but as he started getting younger it became a little sad. It's not action p...more
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Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett were on Oprah the other day speaking about this new movie coming out called The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I had no idea this was an F. Scott Fitzgerald book! The movie looks absolutely fabulous and I cannot wait to see it!! It comes out Christmas Day this year (2008).
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Read in November, 2008
As it's basically a short story, a very quick read. As I plan to see the film, I decided to read the original first. Just from the trailer, the film will be quite different. Both deal with a man born who ages backwards, and this version deals with it a mixture of humor and sadness. For example, in the story, Benjamin is born fully grown, already knowing English, not quite innocent, and desiring a cigar. He has the habits of an old man. As time goes on, he grows younger both in body and in mind. ...more
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Read in November, 2008
recommends it for:
Visual Learners
I wanted to investigate Graphic Novels for collection development. This book would be a good addition to any collection.
On a personal note I found the ending quite sad because Benjamin lost contact with his wife and then his son due to his condition.
On a personal note I found the ending quite sad because Benjamin lost contact with his wife and then his son due to his condition.
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This can be read in 30 minutes or less and was a gripping read. It is so short, I couldn't believe it, but it is a great little story. Highly recommended if you need something to read, but don't have the time or patience to commit to a whole book.
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Read in October, 2008
When I walked by the book at the library, it shouted, "I am a knock-off". It looked a little bit like Lemony Snicket and his unfortunate tales, so I picked it up anyway. That it was a graphic novel based on F. Scott Fitzgerald fantasy only added to my willingness to pick it up.
It was okay. The illustrations are well done, but have no wow factor to them. The history of the fantasy is competent. It's a good thing I didn't buy the book and can return it to the library.
An...more
It was okay. The illustrations are well done, but have no wow factor to them. The history of the fantasy is competent. It's a good thing I didn't buy the book and can return it to the library.
An...more
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Read in November, 2008
I liked but didn't love the drawings. This one loses lots of points for crap-o typography (why the text could not have been drawn I do not know, it would have looked heaps better). I hadn't read the story in its original form, but it felt much too abridged/compressed; for all I know, that's Fitzgerald's fault. But I think the drawings are too illustrative, too much telling not showing or something. It's maybe a fundamental problem with literary adaptations in the graphic form? Reading this one m...more
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Read in November, 2008
Very quick read...a mere 60 pages. Nicely written, but would have been better if it had been expanded into a novel. The little snippets of passing years didn't quite cut it.
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Michelle by:
Saw a preview and thought, why notrecommends it for: anyone interested in reading it...
A really short but thought provoking read.
Benjamin Button was born as a 70 year old man, and lived his life by getting younger. Interesting thought.... Mark Twain once said that the best part of life comes at the beginning and the worst part at the end. Thus the Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
There is definately a lack of respect at both young and old in the story but also in the world now. I really liked the book, again like I said it is a really short read. I read the whole t...more
Benjamin Button was born as a 70 year old man, and lived his life by getting younger. Interesting thought.... Mark Twain once said that the best part of life comes at the beginning and the worst part at the end. Thus the Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
There is definately a lack of respect at both young and old in the story but also in the world now. I really liked the book, again like I said it is a really short read. I read the whole t...more
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Read in November, 2008
The medium-change for Fitzgerald's short story was well-done, but honestly, this story didn't gain anything by being illustrated.
The story itself is a classic, but I wonder why. If it's simply a classic because of its thoughtful subjects (aging, desire, time). Fitzgerald had a hard time selling this story in the first place, and I can see why. Although it's not nearly as much wool-gathering as Proust, the story's not engaging and nothing tries to hook the reader at all. This story leaves an ...more
The story itself is a classic, but I wonder why. If it's simply a classic because of its thoughtful subjects (aging, desire, time). Fitzgerald had a hard time selling this story in the first place, and I can see why. Although it's not nearly as much wool-gathering as Proust, the story's not engaging and nothing tries to hook the reader at all. This story leaves an ...more
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A funny idea for sure, with much space for 'social commentary' - yet it didn't really get much if any of a provactive air. I still am planning to see the movie when it comes out.
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