Reviews

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Jazz Age Tales by F. Scott Fitzgerald

melissarochelle's review against another edition

4.0

I never loved The Great Gatsby in high school...I seem to recall thinking Gatsby was a buttface and Daisy was an idiot. Maybe I should read it again, because I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Yes, there were some I didn't like, but my favorites more than make up for those that I didn't like.

"Bernice Bobs Her Hair"... warrants a second reading, Marjorie deserved what she got in the end! Justice for the unfavored girl!
"Head & Shoulders" ...beautifully bitter ending...great take on O.Henry's "The gift".
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"...very interesting that they turned this into a movie...cute story...sad though.
"The Diamond as Big as the Ritz"...reminded me of Bernie Madoff and how he tried to protect his own "diamond"...I just read an article in April '09s Vanity Fair that made me think of this story. Oh, the things we will do to protect ourselves and our fortunes!
"Benediction"...love that the brother and sister connected...but I want more!
"The Offshore Pirate"...silly story...if someone lied to me like that, I certainly wouldn't love them in the end!
"Dalyrimple Goes Wrong"...I don't know that any politician today could have a past like Dalyrimple, but if Dalyrimple is the only one that knows his dirty past then it's possible that he could get away with it...makes you wonder how much people get away with everyday!

j_rowley's review against another edition

3.0

F. Scott was a little depressing. I didn't read these all at once or I would have really just been too depressed, but even reading a story a night was a little much. I had to break it up. He did not have a lot of faith in humanity. He seemed to think the majority of people sold themselves short or else had unpleasant motives. He seemed to think they played it too safe and, thus, were unworthy of consideration. Maybe that's why he drank so much. It was well written.

949_peewee's review against another edition

2.0

Not as interesting as I had thought it would be. Other short stories in collection are very much of their era.

flipittopwise's review against another edition

2.0

Meh

meadowbat's review against another edition

3.0

The stories in this collection are more fantastical than the novels of Fitzgerald's I've read, and I missed his subtle, glimmering descriptions of the upper classes. The title story is ripe with all kinds of opportunity for comparing nature to experience in determining a person's true age, but it doesn't do much with the idea. The last story, "O Russet Witch!" is probably the most Fitzgeraldian and my favorite. In between, there's some crazy stuff about mountain-sized diamonds, kidnapped pilots and a murky chase through some place in England.

birdbeaks26's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

missmadamemoon's review against another edition

3.0

This is a rare case where I like the film more than the book, though the two are quite different. Fitzgerald has a unique premise here about a baby born as an old man and aging backwards. It's a good short story but did feel a bit fast paced, especially after I watched the 3 hour film version last night. I feel the screenwriters did great work taking Fitzgerald's concept and molding it into a richer and deeper story where you really get to know Benjamin Button.

modalmle's review against another edition

funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

hayzeeshades's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

laramarz's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0