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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button F Scott Fitzgerald 9781416556053 Books

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button F Scott Fitzgerald 9781416556053 Books

Before reading Tales of the Jazz Age, I was generally familiar with F. Scott Fitzgerald's major novels such as The Great Gatsby, but knew little of him as a writer of short stories. The stories in this collection were an unexpected pleasure. I was prompted to read this purchase from a number of years ago by the recent Amazon Original Series "Z: the Beginning of Everything," a wonderfully cast biographical series about Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald that I hope will be picked up for a second season. I could hear the voice of Scott Fitzgerald as acted in the series in every word of these stories. Get the book and watch the series and you will have a marvelous introduction to one of the great American novelists of the 20th century.


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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button F Scott Fitzgerald 9781416556053 Books Reviews

I'm not a huge Fitzgerald fan, but I also have not read a lot of his work. So, while these stories were a bit of fun, there was nothing of what you might consider a masterpiece in these tales. Some were better than others, but on the whole, nothing that draws you in.
This paperback Pine Street Press edition of "Tales of the Jazz Age" (the press is an imprint of the University of Pennsylvania Press) is afforable and well-edited. This edition, printed in 2003, contains the same content of eleven short stories as the original Charles Scribner's Sons edition published in 1922.

I was most interested in reading "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" because of the winter 2008 release of the Brad Pitt film. This story is not contained in the other two Fitzgerald short story anthologies which I own. The story is a fascinating little foray into straight-forward fantasy, as a man is "born" fully cognizant (and speaking the King's English), fully-grown (Fitzgerald never explains how Ben's poor mother survived, let alone managed, the birthing ordeal), and obviously very old. Benjamin then proceeds, Merlin-like, to live his life backwards, growing younger and younger. The story is only 32 pages long, and ends rather sadly and abruptly. However, it is so un-Fitzgerald-like that I found it intriguing, and am now anxiously awaiting the movie to see what Hollywood does with it.

Fitzgerald, although an artist and genius of the highest calibar, also had to eat. These stories were written for money, and they are not as well-wrought as the best of his prose stylings in his novels. (Fitzgerald states candidly in his intros to the stories that several of them are re-worked stories which he had first done at Princeton while an undergraduate.) But this is Fitzgerald, after all, and a very young Fitzgerald, at that. So I found this collection highly interesting and devoured it in one sitting.

I will now save my money and purchase the expensive hardback version of this collection for my own library.
One of those rare cases in which the movie was much better than the book. Technically it was well written, but it was just jarring that the father insisted that his son wear baby clothes and play with rattles when he was apparently an old man, and family members insisted that he was aging in reverse on purpose and could stop if he wanted to.
When I read Fitzgerald I can't help but think of him with pen in hand, a drink, a smoke, and Zelda lounging nearby. I especially enjoyed reading his remarks about each short story and how they came about. Such a smooth writer, the words just flow. The most well known story, at least to me, was Benjamin Button. I was surprised to find the story so different from the film adaptation. If you are a fan of FSF then you'll probably like the book.
F. Scott Fitzgerald is someone I have to be in the mood for as he's both critical of the moneyed class yet complacent in a sort of weary existentialism. Overall I enjoy his work but I sometimes find my plebeian soul rising up against his casual disgust with the elite... we should be alert and we should be wary. Given the chance we must riot!

Wait... I'm out of ice cream. I'll be back later.
Review 4.3 stars

This cleverly crafted short story was inspired by a remark of Mark Twain's that, "Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18."

Ageing backwards has its advantages, and Fitzgerald explores various elements of such a life, Benjamin Button’s, showing how the happiness is balanced with frustration and misunderstanding - disadvantages. He weaves humorous moments alongside poignant ones creating a satirical commentary on society’s response to growing up, ageing, appearances and abilities.

The language may feel dated, and the social standing of the Buttons may seem alien to many, yet the attitudes and expectations of people around Benjamin ring true today.

Have our attitudes really progressed? A quick but thought-inspiring read from a master craftsman.

Story – four stars
Setting/World-building – five stars
Authenticity – four stars
Characters – five stars
Structure – four stars
Readability – four stars
Editing – four stars
Avoid the Timeless Classics edition. It is a mess. Far from being "carefully formatted" it is in fact full of typos and odd formatting choices that distract and detract from the enjoyment of Fitzgerald's stories. If you wish to save money just download the free version which is certainly no worse than the awful Timeless Classic edition.

If you want a better file try one of the more expensive editions.

If anyone at the "publisher" (or at ) cares I would appreciate a refund on this ebook or a free download of a better edition.
Before reading Tales of the Jazz Age, I was generally familiar with F. Scott Fitzgerald's major novels such as The Great Gatsby, but knew little of him as a writer of short stories. The stories in this collection were an unexpected pleasure. I was prompted to read this purchase from a number of years ago by the recent Original Series "Z the Beginning of Everything," a wonderfully cast biographical series about Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald that I hope will be picked up for a second season. I could hear the voice of Scott Fitzgerald as acted in the series in every word of these stories. Get the book and watch the series and you will have a marvelous introduction to one of the great American novelists of the 20th century.