Book Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I just read the story, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' by F.Scott Fitzgerald. After reading the entire 'case' in about 10 minutes, I was sure that I was reading an abridged version of some best-selling novel. However, after Google-ing to find out more about the story, I realised that the meagre 35-pages that I had just set my eyes upon were all there was to be in this supposed inspiration to a current major motion picture. Also, I've found a few interesting facts about this curious narrative of the life of Benjamin Button and it's author.

• This short story was written in 1921
• The author, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American writer of novels and short stories, and he was widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's greatest writers.
• Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost Generation" of the twenties. He finished four novels, including The Great Gatsby, with another titled The Last Tycoon which wasn't finished due to his sudden death at age 44.
• He wrote dozens of short stories that treat themes of youth and promise along with despair and age.
• Fitzgerald's leading influence in his awe-inspiring writing mainly comes from his traumatic marriage and his wife, Zelda Sayre, tendency to breakdown.
• He created an era called the 'Jazz Age' (He's not a musician by the way). More info on the Jazz Age at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_Age

Anyway, the movie version is much more different as compared to the story. For example, the original version of Benjamin lived from 1860 to 1930, living up to 70 years. In the movie, Benjamin lives from the year 1918 to 2003, living up to 85 years, a huge difference of age. Besides the difference of facts, there is also the difference of focus in the plots of the movie and story. In the story, it focuses on how Benjamin Button lives a very discriminated life as he cannot fit in to the society well with his 'aging-backwards' symptom, something which I will cover in the next post. However, in the movie, just like the usual Hollywood manner, focuses mainly on the love life of Benjamin Button and a character named Daisy(who didn't appear in the story).

Well, personally, I like the story better as it really sympathises with 'special' people in today's society. It's kind of late now, so I will do a post on my feelings tommorow.

Good Night.