The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Synopsis:

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 gifted story writers. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," a witty and fantastical satire about aging, is one of his most memorable stories.

In 1860 Benjamin Button is born an old man and mysteriously begins aging backward. At the beginning of his life he is withered and worn, but as he continues to grow younger he embraces life -- he goes to war, runs a business, falls in love, has children, goes to college and prep school, and, as his mind begins to devolve, he attends kindergarten and eventually returns to the care of his nurse.

This strange and haunting story embodies the sharp social insight that has made Fitzgerald one of the great voices in the history of American literature.

Review:

So I actually listened to the audio book version of this book which lasts for literally just over 1 hour. It's read by the wonderful Mike Vendetti. I watched the film along time ago so all I could envision was Brad Pitt in his roll of Benjamin Button. It is defiantly a curious case and I really love how it all works.

So it all begins in 1860 with the birth of Benjamin to Roger Button and Mrs Button who have a high worth in the community so when his father turns up to the hospital and the doctor demands he never sees any of the Button relatives again Roger is left confused. Once experiencing 2 very blown away nurses, Roger and Benjamin finally meet. Its clear from the outset that Benjamin is not the normal child, he can talk and looks 70 yet alone a few hours old.

His father doesn't seem to treat him badly, just treating him how its best for him to blend in and have a somewhat normal life. When Benjamin reaches 12 it becomes apparent that he is actually ageing backawards and by the age of 18 he is kicked our from College after being thought to be a 50 year old man posing as a 18 year old.

In 1880, Benjamin is 20 years old and his father gives him control of Roger Button & Co. Wholesale Hardware. He meets the young Hildegarde Moncrief, a daughter of General Moncrief, and falls in love with her. Hildegarde mistakes Benjamin for a 50-year-old brother of Roger Button; she prefers older men and marries him six months later, but remains ignorant of his condition.

Years later, Benjamin's business has been successful, but he is tired of Hildegarde because her beauty has faded and she nags him. Bored at home, he enlists in the Spanish–American War in 1898 and achieves great triumph in the military, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He retires from the army to focus on his company, and even receives a medal.

In 1910 Benjamin is now looking like a 20-year-old and turns over control of his company to his son, Roscoe and enrols at Harvard University. His first year there is a great success: he dominates in football and takes revenge against Yale for rejecting him years before. However during his junior and senior years he is only 16 years old, too weak to play football and barely able to cope with the school work.

After graduation, Benjamin returns home to learn that his wife has moved away to Italy. He lives with his son Roscoe, who forces Benjamin to call him "uncle." As the years progress, Benjamin grows from a moody teenager into a child. Eventually, Roscoe has a child of his own who later attends kindergarten with Benjamin. After kindergarten, Benjamin slowly begins to lose memory of his earlier life. His memory fades away to the point where he cannot remember anything except his nurse. Everything fades to darkness shortly after.

It's such a great concept of the version of time, experiencing life backwards but properly at the same time. as Mike read it I was so absorbed by the story, it was like I was in ever chapter watching it unfold in the corner. Mike's voice was also very soothing and fitted the tale perfectly.

It was a great short story read well by a grest man. it's a 5.out of 5 for both elements and I hope that someone else out there has enjoyed the story not only film and book but also audio book.