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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button And Two Other Stories
This collection contains 3 stories: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Bernice Bobs Her Hair, and A Diamond As Big As The Ritz.
Born an old man, Benjamin Button lived a very curious life, backwards. When Benjamin Button's father arrives at hospital he is surprised and ashamed to find his new baby boy is a weathered, aged man, to all appearances no younger than seventy years old. As time goes by, young Benjamin comes to no longer require a cane, his hair ceases to be grey, his limbs become less frail, his wrinkles less deep, but still the world around him fails to come to terms with his oddness, as he ages towards infancy and beyond...
Born an old man, Benjamin Button lived a very curious life, backwards. When Benjamin Button's father arrives at hospital he is surprised and ashamed to find his new baby boy is a weathered, aged man, to all appearances no younger than seventy years old. As time goes by, young Benjamin comes to no longer require a cane, his hair ceases to be grey, his limbs become less frail, his wrinkles less deep, but still the world around him fails to come to terms with his oddness, as he ages towards infancy and beyond...
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
24 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
F. Scott Fitzgerald
1,956 books25.3k followersFrancis Scott Key Fitzgerald, widely known simply as Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age, a term he popularized in his short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age. During his lifetime, he published four novels, four story collections, and 164 short stories. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s, Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.
Born into a middle-class family in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald was raised primarily in New York state. He attended Princeton University where he befriended future literary critic Edmund Wilson. Owing to a failed romantic relationship with Chicago socialite Ginevra King, he dropped out in 1917 to join the United States Army during World War I. While stationed in Alabama, he met Zelda Sayre, a Southern debutante who belonged to Montgomery's exclusive country-club set. Although she initially rejected Fitzgerald's marriage proposal due to his lack of financial prospects, Zelda agreed to marry him after he published the commercially successful This Side of Paradise (1920). The novel became a cultural sensation and cemented his reputation as one of the eminent writers of the decade.
His second novel, The Beautiful and Damned (1922), propelled him further into the cultural elite. To maintain his affluent lifestyle, he wrote numerous stories for popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's Weekly, and Esquire. During this period, Fitzgerald frequented Europe, where he befriended modernist writers and artists of the "Lost Generation" expatriate community, including Ernest Hemingway. His third novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), received generally favorable reviews but was a commercial failure, selling fewer than 23,000 copies in its first year. Despite its lackluster debut, The Great Gatsby is now hailed by some literary critics as the "Great American Novel". Following the deterioration of his wife's mental health and her placement in a mental institute for schizophrenia, Fitzgerald completed his final novel, Tender Is the Night (1934).
Struggling financially because of the declining popularity of his works during the Great Depression, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood, where he embarked upon an unsuccessful career as a screenwriter. While living in Hollywood, he cohabited with columnist Sheilah Graham, his final companion before his death. After a long struggle with alcoholism, he attained sobriety only to die of a heart attack in 1940, at 44. His friend Edmund Wilson edited and published an unfinished fifth novel, The Last Tycoon (1941), after Fitzgerald's death. In 1993, a new edition was published as The Love of the Last Tycoon, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli.
Born into a middle-class family in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald was raised primarily in New York state. He attended Princeton University where he befriended future literary critic Edmund Wilson. Owing to a failed romantic relationship with Chicago socialite Ginevra King, he dropped out in 1917 to join the United States Army during World War I. While stationed in Alabama, he met Zelda Sayre, a Southern debutante who belonged to Montgomery's exclusive country-club set. Although she initially rejected Fitzgerald's marriage proposal due to his lack of financial prospects, Zelda agreed to marry him after he published the commercially successful This Side of Paradise (1920). The novel became a cultural sensation and cemented his reputation as one of the eminent writers of the decade.
His second novel, The Beautiful and Damned (1922), propelled him further into the cultural elite. To maintain his affluent lifestyle, he wrote numerous stories for popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's Weekly, and Esquire. During this period, Fitzgerald frequented Europe, where he befriended modernist writers and artists of the "Lost Generation" expatriate community, including Ernest Hemingway. His third novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), received generally favorable reviews but was a commercial failure, selling fewer than 23,000 copies in its first year. Despite its lackluster debut, The Great Gatsby is now hailed by some literary critics as the "Great American Novel". Following the deterioration of his wife's mental health and her placement in a mental institute for schizophrenia, Fitzgerald completed his final novel, Tender Is the Night (1934).
Struggling financially because of the declining popularity of his works during the Great Depression, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood, where he embarked upon an unsuccessful career as a screenwriter. While living in Hollywood, he cohabited with columnist Sheilah Graham, his final companion before his death. After a long struggle with alcoholism, he attained sobriety only to die of a heart attack in 1940, at 44. His friend Edmund Wilson edited and published an unfinished fifth novel, The Last Tycoon (1941), after Fitzgerald's death. In 1993, a new edition was published as The Love of the Last Tycoon, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 8, 2016
A rather dry collection of short stories
20 February 2012
When I first saw this book in Dymocks I thought 'oh, the movie is based on a book by F. Scott Fitzgerald!' and I bought it (not that I have seen the film). However, I discovered that this book was actually a collection of short stories by the same author, and while I enjoyed the first two stories, I pretty quickly became lost after that and found most of them quite boring and dry. However, as I always try to do, I read through to the end of the book, and now I can move onto something that is (I hope) a little more interesting.
Most of the stories in this book are about life in American cities in the early 1920s. The war was over and America had emerged on top and prosperity was trickling down to the masses. The people in these stories aren't generally the wealthy elite, but they aren't poor either: they are just average middle-class people telling average-middle class stories (with the exception of Benjamin Button, of course).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the exception in this book, which I find odd, because some have described this as a fairy tale, though a rather depressing one at that. I consider it to be allegory and my impression was that it was about discrimination. The story is about a man who is born at age 70 and grows ever younger until he reaches the time of his birth. He begins with the intelligence and wisdom of a 70 year old, and then gradually loses it until he is an unthinking baby. What strikes me most about this story though is the discrimination that Button experiences in his life. He is denied entry into Yale because he appears too old (and nobody believes him that he is actually much younger than he appears), his children ridicule him, believing that he is playing some sort of game, and when he attempts to take up the position of an officer in the army in World War I, he is once again disbelieved.
The discrimination that Button faces is not of his own doing, in fact it is completely out of his control. While the book was written too early to relate to mental illness (which is something that began to appear and be taken notice of in the 90s) there are lots of forms of discrimination against people based on unseen things. Working in the field of personal injury we see it all the time, and in many cases, it is us who are being discriminating. Somebody who suffers a demonstrable injury (such as a broken arm) is much more likely to be believed than somebody who does not (such as low back pain, or altered gait). People do not believe that Button is actually disadvantaged because of his backwards aging, so he pretty much goes through life being almost excluded. He does not age as other people age, and as such is unable to form long term relationships. People just end up getting weirded out.
The second story is called Head and Shoulders and it about role reversal. The two main characters, a male and a female, are complete opposites, and they end up marrying. The male is a child prodigy who is invited into Ivy League Universities and has the dream of becoming a great philosopher. The female is pretty much a stripper (or a chorus girl) who brings the male into her web. As their life progresses, the roles being to reverse. They start of with poor jobs and one tries to work his way up while the other tries to get out. However one day she suggests that he go to the gym, and he suggests that she read a book.
He goes to the gym and performs acrobatics, and is immediately seen by a circus scout who invites him to perform on the big stage, which he reluctantly accepts. She reads Pepy's Diaries and becomes so enthralled that she writes her own version and gets it published. Suddenly the roles are reversed. He earns good money from his circus act, but he is no longer on his way to become a famous philosopher. She gets her book published and it is an instant success. The book ends with his idol, another famous philosopher, arriving at their house to meet her, and thus, we discover that the roles have now completely reversed. She is an uneducated, but very popular, author and him, a highly educated acrobat.
20 February 2012
When I first saw this book in Dymocks I thought 'oh, the movie is based on a book by F. Scott Fitzgerald!' and I bought it (not that I have seen the film). However, I discovered that this book was actually a collection of short stories by the same author, and while I enjoyed the first two stories, I pretty quickly became lost after that and found most of them quite boring and dry. However, as I always try to do, I read through to the end of the book, and now I can move onto something that is (I hope) a little more interesting.
Most of the stories in this book are about life in American cities in the early 1920s. The war was over and America had emerged on top and prosperity was trickling down to the masses. The people in these stories aren't generally the wealthy elite, but they aren't poor either: they are just average middle-class people telling average-middle class stories (with the exception of Benjamin Button, of course).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the exception in this book, which I find odd, because some have described this as a fairy tale, though a rather depressing one at that. I consider it to be allegory and my impression was that it was about discrimination. The story is about a man who is born at age 70 and grows ever younger until he reaches the time of his birth. He begins with the intelligence and wisdom of a 70 year old, and then gradually loses it until he is an unthinking baby. What strikes me most about this story though is the discrimination that Button experiences in his life. He is denied entry into Yale because he appears too old (and nobody believes him that he is actually much younger than he appears), his children ridicule him, believing that he is playing some sort of game, and when he attempts to take up the position of an officer in the army in World War I, he is once again disbelieved.
The discrimination that Button faces is not of his own doing, in fact it is completely out of his control. While the book was written too early to relate to mental illness (which is something that began to appear and be taken notice of in the 90s) there are lots of forms of discrimination against people based on unseen things. Working in the field of personal injury we see it all the time, and in many cases, it is us who are being discriminating. Somebody who suffers a demonstrable injury (such as a broken arm) is much more likely to be believed than somebody who does not (such as low back pain, or altered gait). People do not believe that Button is actually disadvantaged because of his backwards aging, so he pretty much goes through life being almost excluded. He does not age as other people age, and as such is unable to form long term relationships. People just end up getting weirded out.
The second story is called Head and Shoulders and it about role reversal. The two main characters, a male and a female, are complete opposites, and they end up marrying. The male is a child prodigy who is invited into Ivy League Universities and has the dream of becoming a great philosopher. The female is pretty much a stripper (or a chorus girl) who brings the male into her web. As their life progresses, the roles being to reverse. They start of with poor jobs and one tries to work his way up while the other tries to get out. However one day she suggests that he go to the gym, and he suggests that she read a book.
He goes to the gym and performs acrobatics, and is immediately seen by a circus scout who invites him to perform on the big stage, which he reluctantly accepts. She reads Pepy's Diaries and becomes so enthralled that she writes her own version and gets it published. Suddenly the roles are reversed. He earns good money from his circus act, but he is no longer on his way to become a famous philosopher. She gets her book published and it is an instant success. The book ends with his idol, another famous philosopher, arriving at their house to meet her, and thus, we discover that the roles have now completely reversed. She is an uneducated, but very popular, author and him, a highly educated acrobat.
June 9, 2020
91st book of 2020.
Like many, I've known the story of Benjamin Button for a long time, but it's only now that I've read it, that I've really thought how terrifying it is as a concept. To be born old and slowly 'grow' younger. To marry a woman, only one day, to be years and years younger than her. To one day be the same age as your child son. To lose all the jobs, the relationships, the things you had built in your life. I'd say that growing old, our way, is rather beautiful, on reflection. We grow and we learn, we strive, and like everything around us in the world, we evolve. In a way, Button's way is similar to ours, we grow old and our mind slips away from us, as Button's inevitably will, but instead, young, and his mind devolves to no understanding. In the end, the novel makes us realise, whether we age forwards or backwards, the years of our prime should be spent in great happiness, before they are gone forever.
Like many, I've known the story of Benjamin Button for a long time, but it's only now that I've read it, that I've really thought how terrifying it is as a concept. To be born old and slowly 'grow' younger. To marry a woman, only one day, to be years and years younger than her. To one day be the same age as your child son. To lose all the jobs, the relationships, the things you had built in your life. I'd say that growing old, our way, is rather beautiful, on reflection. We grow and we learn, we strive, and like everything around us in the world, we evolve. In a way, Button's way is similar to ours, we grow old and our mind slips away from us, as Button's inevitably will, but instead, young, and his mind devolves to no understanding. In the end, the novel makes us realise, whether we age forwards or backwards, the years of our prime should be spent in great happiness, before they are gone forever.
September 2, 2020
A brilliantly written short story, but that's just to be expected with Fitzgerald! His writing is just exquisite. This story makes you realise how precious life is and how we really do take growing older for granted! Benjamin Button is a fantastic character, as is his story.
February 16, 2022
“it was almost impossible not to be affected by the sheer beauty of the sky—almost.”
February 26, 2016
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
by F. Scott Fitzgerald is #3 on my
Classics I Need to Re-read in 2016 list
.
Here are my ratings for each story:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 5 stars
Head and Shoulders - 3.5 stars
The Cut-Glass Bowl - 4 stars
The Four Fists - 3.5
May Day - I didn't actually finish this one. I still had 24 pages left of this story but I had no idea what was going on and I needed to mark this book as read before the month was over. Whoops. Oh well.
'O, Russet Witch!' - 3 stars
Crazy Sunday - 2 stars
That totals to an average of exactly 3 stars.
If you liked this book, you might also like:
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
Here are my ratings for each story:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 5 stars
Head and Shoulders - 3.5 stars
The Cut-Glass Bowl - 4 stars
The Four Fists - 3.5
May Day - I didn't actually finish this one. I still had 24 pages left of this story but I had no idea what was going on and I needed to mark this book as read before the month was over. Whoops. Oh well.
'O, Russet Witch!' - 3 stars
Crazy Sunday - 2 stars
That totals to an average of exactly 3 stars.
If you liked this book, you might also like:
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
November 1, 2021
I did think 2/3 stories were okay but I just can't get over all the negative stereotypes against different cultures, religions, and races in Fitzgerald's writing.
I do not recommend.
I do not recommend.
February 24, 2009
Just picked this up to read Benjamin Button, as a tie-in with the movie for the Winter Challenge. The book and film could not be more different !
While the film was shallow but heartwarming, this book was just depressing. Benjamin starts off as a full-sized old man and ages to finally become a normal baby. In between, he is shunned and mocked by just about everyone, and his only release is that as a baby he finally forgets everything. Pass the Prozac, please !
While the film was shallow but heartwarming, this book was just depressing. Benjamin starts off as a full-sized old man and ages to finally become a normal baby. In between, he is shunned and mocked by just about everyone, and his only release is that as a baby he finally forgets everything. Pass the Prozac, please !
February 17, 2015
The characters were unrealistic - nobody was curious, only fearful of Benjamin and most if not all completely ignored his 'condition' - and the dialogue, was often stilted. The story was simply Jaques's seven ages of man monologue played in reverse. There were a few moments of beauty but overall I was pretty disappointed.
May 1, 2020
Strange, interesting, original. But a woman could definitely never give birth to a 70 year old 😆 Also, tooo short!
January 25, 2025
This book is a collection of three short stories: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, A Diamond as Big as the Ritz, and Bernice Bobs Her Hair.
1. Many reviews I’ve read suggest that the main theme of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” revolves around the passage of time, emphasizing how, regardless of whether we live life “growing old” or “getting young”, death is the finish line. While I fully agree with this interpretation, I believe the story can also be viewed in two other ways.
Firstly, it can be seen as a metaphor for how atypical children are perceived by the world. Some of these children are seen as mature, intelligent, or “old souls” in their early years, but as they grow, their behavior may appear more childlike or unacceptable to those around, as their way of functioning doesn’t always align with societal expectations of how adults are supposed to act and react. Secondly, the story could also represent the experiences of children born to emotionally immature, basically childish, parents. These kids are often forced to take on responsibilities too soon to survive, therefore becoming the parents of their parents, but as they grow older and have children of their own, they may unfortunately experience a regression, becoming so the children of their own children.
2. “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” is a satirical story that explores wealth, greed and privilege. I really enjoyed the story, particularly the absurdity and naivety of the characters. However, there’s one observation I’d like to write down so I don’t forget: the character who truly stood out as someone who would survive and thrive, despite everything, was Jasmine, a side character with very little focus in this story.
Though she was briefly mentioned throughout the story, those moments were enough to reveal her resilience and adaptability. While living under her parents’ control in a world of immense privilege, Jasmine conformed perfectly to their rules, unapologetically enjoying her wealth. She even invited friends over to enjoy herself, knowing full well their fate would be grim. And even after losing everything, her wealth, privilege and home, Jasmine remained calm and collected. She showed a willingness to fight for survival and adapt to the real world, proving that she had a strength and determination that the other characters lacked. Jasmine, though overlooked, seemed to be the story’s most grounded and capable character.
3. No comments, but I enjoyed it (not as much as the other two though), especially that finale.
1. Many reviews I’ve read suggest that the main theme of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” revolves around the passage of time, emphasizing how, regardless of whether we live life “growing old” or “getting young”, death is the finish line. While I fully agree with this interpretation, I believe the story can also be viewed in two other ways.
Firstly, it can be seen as a metaphor for how atypical children are perceived by the world. Some of these children are seen as mature, intelligent, or “old souls” in their early years, but as they grow, their behavior may appear more childlike or unacceptable to those around, as their way of functioning doesn’t always align with societal expectations of how adults are supposed to act and react. Secondly, the story could also represent the experiences of children born to emotionally immature, basically childish, parents. These kids are often forced to take on responsibilities too soon to survive, therefore becoming the parents of their parents, but as they grow older and have children of their own, they may unfortunately experience a regression, becoming so the children of their own children.
2. “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” is a satirical story that explores wealth, greed and privilege. I really enjoyed the story, particularly the absurdity and naivety of the characters. However, there’s one observation I’d like to write down so I don’t forget: the character who truly stood out as someone who would survive and thrive, despite everything, was Jasmine, a side character with very little focus in this story.
Though she was briefly mentioned throughout the story, those moments were enough to reveal her resilience and adaptability. While living under her parents’ control in a world of immense privilege, Jasmine conformed perfectly to their rules, unapologetically enjoying her wealth. She even invited friends over to enjoy herself, knowing full well their fate would be grim. And even after losing everything, her wealth, privilege and home, Jasmine remained calm and collected. She showed a willingness to fight for survival and adapt to the real world, proving that she had a strength and determination that the other characters lacked. Jasmine, though overlooked, seemed to be the story’s most grounded and capable character.
3. No comments, but I enjoyed it (not as much as the other two though), especially that finale.
October 10, 2017
For an old classic, this fiction comprising of three short, but engaging tales enables its readers to embark on a journey of several minor hiccups while painting a perfect picture of the plot outlined in the narratives. The three short stories - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bernice Bobs Her Hair, and The Diamond As Big As The Ritz are compiled to form a well organized book containing three chapters. The book begins with an offbeat account on the life of Benjamin Button, the fictional protagonist of the first story - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Born in a prestigious family, to well educated parents, his mother and the hospital staff panic at the sight of an old man (as a putative septuagenarian) on the bed after the unusual birthing by the young mother. The reputation of the acclaimed hospital staff especially the case in-charge doctor and the hospital is at stake, following the peculiar birthing case registered therein. The father of the newly born septuagenarian, Roger Button is put to shame by the medical staff, persuading him to shift base of the new born outside the hospital. Benjamin's father is cursed by the in-charge medico raising unwelcome and irrefutable dubiety over the future prospects of his advancing career as a physician, with the occurrence of this baffling event. With every passing year, Benjamin's parents make peace with the unusual, but disturbing fact that they are the progenitors of a malformed youth. They develop a mindset to facilitate a sense of forgetfulness to deal with the unpleasant circumstances. Years after his marriage, Benjamin watches his body postures getting softer, and the wrinkles on his forehead disappear, as he develops a sense of new found youthfulness and prolific bountiful energy to match his coruscating exuberance. Things go on smoothly for him until the time, he runs into his son, who has graduated from a renowned University and ready to take on the world and his father, for the sheer decline noticed in the postures of his younger father. To make things worse for Benjamin, he ignores his aging wife and dodges several attempts of her, to inch in closer to him in order to gain his wavering attention. She fails miserably at her endeavors while doing so and in a moment of heated argument with her husband arrives at a decision to stay away from him and leave him all to himself. The consequences of these proceedings begin to take a toll on Benjamin, as his son tortures him into submission and in a vague moment of anguish thrusts upon his father an imposed rule; that of asking Benjamin to call him uncle. Following the unruly behavior of his son, Benjamin is forced to move into isolation with the unpleasant reality of him dying as a baby, dawning on his pale and frail figure. The short story ends with his end.
The second story - Bernice Bobs Her Hair presents a gist on the turn of events in the boring life of Bernice, the lady protagonist, in this women-centric narrative. The leading lady has an uncanny knack of getting into trouble with her feminist room mate, Marjorie, whom she finds difficult to accommodate in her room. Her frequent and regular dissension with the room mate forms the basic core around which the occurrences in this well plotted short tale revolves. Bernice's desire to be famous, poses a major challenge to her prospects of becoming popular given her introvert, mild nature. Nevertheless, she crawls her way out to achieve considerable level of success, while getting rid of negative human emotions such as jealousy and betrayal. The women-centric tale is kept short by the author, successfully managing to avoid excess baggage in the process, herein. The story reaches its climax with Bernice severing her braid to sport a bob.
The third story - The Diamond As Big As The Ritz is a well narrated short story depicting the lives of mutual friends, with two among them turning into affectionate and lovable aficionados. The story in the beginning is seemingly prolonged, but with subsequent turn of the pages, it settles down to form a narrative with elements of fun and frolic attached to it. The protagonists, in particular, Percy Washington is a delightful bloke who has his origins attributed to and firmly rooted in the Washington family hierarchy. This indeed is the simplest off the three short stories presented herein. It has a few conventions and elements associated with it that form a common feature of many well narrated and scripted stories. The concluding pages of the book successfully arouse a sense of curiosity among the readers, but fails to deliver the knock out punch or the kick, put in an informal manner.
To summarize, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has a striking resemblance with, and has the making of, a well brewed Sci-Fi novel marred by chunks of well defined uncertainties. Bernice Bobs Her Hair, is nothing short of a persuasive piece of narration, not mindful of lending us an ear for our grievances. The Diamond As Big As The Ritz is a modest story with the protagonist going hammer and tongs over his fluctuating emotional feelings and unsolicited guile towards his uncompromising companions.
The overall reading experience is satisfactory. In my humble opinion, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button walks away with all the accolades, the novel has earned over the years. A four on five for this short read. A good read for a leisure. Have a gala time reading this, if you're an ardent book lover.
The second story - Bernice Bobs Her Hair presents a gist on the turn of events in the boring life of Bernice, the lady protagonist, in this women-centric narrative. The leading lady has an uncanny knack of getting into trouble with her feminist room mate, Marjorie, whom she finds difficult to accommodate in her room. Her frequent and regular dissension with the room mate forms the basic core around which the occurrences in this well plotted short tale revolves. Bernice's desire to be famous, poses a major challenge to her prospects of becoming popular given her introvert, mild nature. Nevertheless, she crawls her way out to achieve considerable level of success, while getting rid of negative human emotions such as jealousy and betrayal. The women-centric tale is kept short by the author, successfully managing to avoid excess baggage in the process, herein. The story reaches its climax with Bernice severing her braid to sport a bob.
The third story - The Diamond As Big As The Ritz is a well narrated short story depicting the lives of mutual friends, with two among them turning into affectionate and lovable aficionados. The story in the beginning is seemingly prolonged, but with subsequent turn of the pages, it settles down to form a narrative with elements of fun and frolic attached to it. The protagonists, in particular, Percy Washington is a delightful bloke who has his origins attributed to and firmly rooted in the Washington family hierarchy. This indeed is the simplest off the three short stories presented herein. It has a few conventions and elements associated with it that form a common feature of many well narrated and scripted stories. The concluding pages of the book successfully arouse a sense of curiosity among the readers, but fails to deliver the knock out punch or the kick, put in an informal manner.
To summarize, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has a striking resemblance with, and has the making of, a well brewed Sci-Fi novel marred by chunks of well defined uncertainties. Bernice Bobs Her Hair, is nothing short of a persuasive piece of narration, not mindful of lending us an ear for our grievances. The Diamond As Big As The Ritz is a modest story with the protagonist going hammer and tongs over his fluctuating emotional feelings and unsolicited guile towards his uncompromising companions.
The overall reading experience is satisfactory. In my humble opinion, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button walks away with all the accolades, the novel has earned over the years. A four on five for this short read. A good read for a leisure. Have a gala time reading this, if you're an ardent book lover.
May 24, 2023
20/25 LitLife Reading Challenge - a short story turned into a favorite film
I love the Curious Case of Benjamin Button movie with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett but was a bit disappointed with the short story, and so this is the first instance for me in which I thought the movie was better than the book.
I really liked the third short story - The Diamond As Big As the Ritz.
I love the Curious Case of Benjamin Button movie with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett but was a bit disappointed with the short story, and so this is the first instance for me in which I thought the movie was better than the book.
I really liked the third short story - The Diamond As Big As the Ritz.
June 19, 2012
I originally bought this book because I recalled that there had been a movie made of the title story and I was interested to see how a short story could be made into an entire film. I’m still not really sure on that account, because I haven’t seen the movie of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button! (Although I would like to see Brad Pitt getting younger). The title story is probably the best in this collection of short stories, as it takes an unusual event (a baby being born old and getting younger as he ages) and explores the various problems (social murmurs, sons being embarrassed of their fathers etc.).
The other stories in this book I didn’t find quite as memorable, although they all have the common Fitzgerald element of sadness running through them. Fitzgerald is still as sharp as ever, cutting to the quick the problems of society, such as appearance (much is made of what people will think about Benjamin Button and indeed, he is hidden or explained as another relative to many people). Benjamin’s son is horrified that his father wants to go to college (being rejected as an old man when he is the ‘correct’ age) and the baby Benjamin is often hidden out of sight.
There has been suggestion that the story looks at the before and after effects of returned servicemen from World War I – looking young, but being internally old due to what they went through. I’m not really into analysis, but it’s an interesting idea.
The other short stories…well, it was interesting to read them but they didn’t have the original idea of Benjamin Button. There are callous relationships, partying and deep sadness, much like The Beautiful and Damned. Good to read if you like Fitzgerald and want to read everything he ever wrote, but not a necessity. It was a good way to pass time on public transport though!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The other stories in this book I didn’t find quite as memorable, although they all have the common Fitzgerald element of sadness running through them. Fitzgerald is still as sharp as ever, cutting to the quick the problems of society, such as appearance (much is made of what people will think about Benjamin Button and indeed, he is hidden or explained as another relative to many people). Benjamin’s son is horrified that his father wants to go to college (being rejected as an old man when he is the ‘correct’ age) and the baby Benjamin is often hidden out of sight.
There has been suggestion that the story looks at the before and after effects of returned servicemen from World War I – looking young, but being internally old due to what they went through. I’m not really into analysis, but it’s an interesting idea.
The other short stories…well, it was interesting to read them but they didn’t have the original idea of Benjamin Button. There are callous relationships, partying and deep sadness, much like The Beautiful and Damned. Good to read if you like Fitzgerald and want to read everything he ever wrote, but not a necessity. It was a good way to pass time on public transport though!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
July 23, 2020
The eponymous short story is an interesting read, mostly as comparison to the film as they are two very different entities. The other two short stories in this collection are dull as dishwater. All have the problematic elements typical of something written in the 1920's and set even before that, two big offenders are: racism and misogyny. So, yes, it is "of an age" but that doesn't mean we can't criticise it for being problematic.
Benjamin in this story is a lot less likeable, I found, than in the 2008 film because he's a bit of a philandering arse once he gets going. He ditches his wife and goes off to war because she's too old for him (at 45!), which given his predicament is a bit rich. She married him when he looked 50 yet somehow it's OK for him to bugger off and leave her when the tables are reversed.
As I say, the story is only worth reading if you want to see how different the film was to the original. The film is a lot more romantic and Benjamin a lot more likeable in it. It's a quick read so it depends how curious you are as to whether I'd recommend you bother.
Benjamin in this story is a lot less likeable, I found, than in the 2008 film because he's a bit of a philandering arse once he gets going. He ditches his wife and goes off to war because she's too old for him (at 45!), which given his predicament is a bit rich. She married him when he looked 50 yet somehow it's OK for him to bugger off and leave her when the tables are reversed.
As I say, the story is only worth reading if you want to see how different the film was to the original. The film is a lot more romantic and Benjamin a lot more likeable in it. It's a quick read so it depends how curious you are as to whether I'd recommend you bother.
January 15, 2020
*DNF*
Yeah, this wasn’t for me. I’ve always struggled with classics/older styled books & this wasn’t an exception.
The curious case of Benjamin button - ⭐️ DNF I started this on my lunch break and couldn’t get into this. Once I put the book down at the end of my break, I had no desire to pick it back up again.
Bernice bobs her hair - ⭐️ DNF I read the first page about three times and was still confused. By page 3 I was bored. The sentences were so long and complex I just couldn’t become engaged. I gave up because I just didn’t care about the story.
I didn’t even attempt the last story in this collection ‘The diamond as big as the ritz’ I just didn’t have an interest anymore.
Yeah, this wasn’t for me. I’ve always struggled with classics/older styled books & this wasn’t an exception.
The curious case of Benjamin button - ⭐️ DNF I started this on my lunch break and couldn’t get into this. Once I put the book down at the end of my break, I had no desire to pick it back up again.
Bernice bobs her hair - ⭐️ DNF I read the first page about three times and was still confused. By page 3 I was bored. The sentences were so long and complex I just couldn’t become engaged. I gave up because I just didn’t care about the story.
I didn’t even attempt the last story in this collection ‘The diamond as big as the ritz’ I just didn’t have an interest anymore.
February 15, 2020
Quite different from the movie, however in a way it is an interesting tale which is set in a different time than the movie. This short story begins in the period of the American Civil War and finishes when the film begins during World War I. The most interesting part of the story is that no one is a least bit 'curious' about Benjamin's condition; they are simply annoyed by the things they don't understand. The premise and the beauty of this story are equally impressive. It's a classic; what's not to love.
August 25, 2015
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is an amazing short story which is inspired by the thought that everything what is the best in life happens at the beginning, conversely everything what is the worst is life happens at the very end. This book is enjoyable read, because it is full of witty jokes about human behaviour in unusual situations. It also forces readers to think about their life (especially its purpose).
May 12, 2016
Well that was weird, brilliant and all F. Scott Fitzgerald. I think I need to read The Curious Case of Benjamin Button again to fully grasp it. As it's a short story, everything develops quickly.
The concept of someone ageing backwards? Where did he get that from? And how did they turn this into a movie?
The concept of someone ageing backwards? Where did he get that from? And how did they turn this into a movie?
January 21, 2020
3 out of 5 stars
This is a book of three short stories which is why the rating is so low. The first one the curious case of Benjamin button was so good and reminded me of the film but unfortunately the other two were average in fact the last one I didn’t like. I don’t think I will read any more of the authors work as twice I’ve found this average.
This is a book of three short stories which is why the rating is so low. The first one the curious case of Benjamin button was so good and reminded me of the film but unfortunately the other two were average in fact the last one I didn’t like. I don’t think I will read any more of the authors work as twice I’ve found this average.
April 10, 2009
Fitzgerald has a timeless style of writing that transcends generations. You'd never guess that these stories are over 80 years old. Benjamin Button is an almost modern sci-fi story of a man who ages backwards while the other two tales relate to femininity and wealth.
December 17, 2015
*4.75/5 stars*
July 24, 2018
Beautifully written and I did like it but the movie is so much more than this book. And I partly believe its because I liked seeing this story come to life than imagining it but only with this book.
December 15, 2016
What in the world happened to Benjamin Button's mother? There were some fun moments in this story but overall I think there were too many loose threads.
February 27, 2019
Oddly heartwrenching.
October 24, 2019
The inability to give half stars really bothers me.
2.5*
2.5*
January 23, 2017
A volume examining time, and how it affects every person.
Overall, I found the further you got into the collection, the more mature and thought provoking the stories became. I did not enjoy the first two, but gradually became more engrossed by the next four and found myself considering life differently with each new story. That is what short stories should do. I thought that, aside from “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Head and Shoulders”, Fitzgerald’s characterisation and conflict was very realistic and believable; one can learn more about themselves by considering how they would react in the character’s place. The way Fitzgerald plays with perspective in the last four stories also assists with this.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - The first word that springs to mind is 'overrated'; I did not enjoy the short story as much as I was led to believe. It was simple, and an interesting idea, but written skin-deep and superficially. My view on the world was neither challenged nor altered, and I was severely underwhelmed. It would have done better as a novel, where numerous issues about societal prejudices could have been explored. Although I dislike persons who compare novels to films, I must say that the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button explored these and more than the 28-page story.
"Head and Shoulders" - Slightly better than the first story, I somewhat enjoyed "Head and Shoulders". I thought the characters were underdeveloped and could easily have been explored further. I also think that its conclusion was quite problematic. It portrayed women as only as good as their husbands, and that they were more suited to 'show bizz' than to intellectual activity. Certainly, this was written in the 1920s, and was satirical in the critical way it portrayed Marcia and Horace, but there seemed to be an underlying bitterness in its last page. Surely Fitzgerald, who was surrounded by many inspiring and powerful women (including his wife!) could overlook the accepted ideas about women during the antagonistic time? At the same time, I could be taking it too seriously and the 'bitterness' I'm reading into could be intended comedic effect, considering many of Fitzgerald’s heroines are stronger. It also had a stronger story than the collection's debut.
"The Cut Glass Bowl" - I really enjoyed this story. Evylyn was very well developed, and her husband also. Although it was short, and most of its tension took place in the space of one evening, it was a very interesting examination of common place turn of events from an unexpected perspective. Fitzgerald's portrayal of Evylyn's inner dialogue was also very realistic and believable, and caused great empathy to the reader through all her frustration and worry. I liked the way the cut glass bowl was used as a symbol for pivotal points in her life, and the well-rounded (although sad) conclusion. I thought this was a very interesting short story indeed.
"Four Fists" - Even though the symbolic use of something to represent pivotal points in life is repeated - an action in the case of Samuel and the bowl for Evylyn - it’s still a useful device in this story as it captures the metaphoric feeling of ‘being punched in the face by life’, and being forced to realise something. I think Samuel's character journey was very interesting and open-minded; I like the way Fitzgerald showed how easy it is to swallow one's pride and change your ways in the face of (perceived) rightful adversity. The difficult situations were indicative of realistic dilemmas experienced by most humankind, regardless of period. An interesting exploration of a man's moral maturation.
"May Day" - This was a much more serious story than the others, and the first almost outright criticism of anything Fitzgerald has written. He was clearly suggesting war corrupts the minds of others, and one doesn't have to be directly involved in it to be polluted. I really liked the way the story flowed between the different characters and their interactions. No one appeared to have a happy ending, but it was in a believable way - the sort of misfortune that could be experienced by anyone during that time. Another one of my favourites from this collection.
"'O Russet Witch!'" - A very unfortunate but truthful story about how ignorance can be bliss, and the sad fate of many who lose track of the more fun aspects of life in search of security. Once again, the characterisation was incredibly realistic and believable, maybe not so much of Alicia Dare who seemed to flamboyant to survive in the 1920s but this also assists to develop her magical characterisation. It is clever how Merlin ought to have been so too with such a name, but their contrast merely seeks to further exploit his plain and uninteresting life. I think everyone can see a bit of themselves in Merlin, and I like that this story inspires one to actively search for excitement and knowledge within the media in a comedic and reflective way.
"Crazy Sunday" - Another time Fitzgerald uses the interesting plot device of revolving time around an object, concept, or in this case, day. It is hard for me to speculate on how realistic Joel’s Hollywood lifestyle is, but the relationship between Miles and Stella is truly fascinating, particularly as we examine them through an outsider’s eyes. Here, Fitzgerald's examination of morals is interesting. Generally, he opts for the image of God/religion judging 1920s debauchery and upheaval in a malicious way, but in this story free will is much more prevalent as Joel trusts his own instincts. He still considers his immediate, selfish desires first, and tends to make his own judgement based on a combination of these and an objective view of what is ‘the right thing to do’. It makes for a much deeper, well-rounded character. The way in which Stella and Miles react to his actions further develop them as characters also. I think this story was the perfect length for what it was, and also love the way it reads almost like a film script without the conventions – much like the protagonist’s life.
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July 17, 2022A very short story indeed of 34 pages, the Benjamin Button story is a much sadder one than that of (as memory recalls) the movie that starred Brad Pitt. Almost as honest and more plausible as how a man that ages backwards may act, the pace moves as fast as the protaganist ages. A brash and almost unpitiable man, Benjamin treats his wife with little love once he moves past the age, and is treated similarly by his son when he ages rapidly younger.
December 19, 2024
Witty and humorous short stories requiring not much energy. Read after [the Great Gatsby] and those stories share lots of characteristics like impressiveness, dramatic unfolding, and clear ending. I guess the stories would be good to filmize, and the Benjamin story already became famous for its movie version.
March 11, 2021
6/10✨ French Review : C’était bien. Ce n’est pas mon style de lecture habituel, c’est original, TROP original, trop farfelu pour moi 😅 mais c’est très bien écrit malgré que ce n’est pas tout récent, et ça c’est top.
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