The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

After having seen the three hour epic film starring Brad Pitt and directed by the methodical David Fincher based on (or rather suggested by) this tale, it seems a little strange that the story would only encompass thirty or so pages.

The premise; What if youth wasn't wasted on the young? Benjamin, who is born an old man and grows young is the personification of this idea. The problem for Benjamin is that no one else in the stories universe ages this way. He is an outcast, an embarrassment and a nuisense. He finds that he can't do things he should be doing when he is 18 until he is forty (or until he looks 18).

In the end, as a young boy, his best years are behind him. Ignored, useless to his beloved Army despite his rank and unable to get the respect his achievements deserve. So F. Scott Fitzgerald leaves us feeling as if youth isn't wasted on the young but rather that we are equally wasted in our youth as in our old age and have only our prime (equal for both) to look forward to or back on.

As a short story, it is an easy, quick and enjoyable read if a little sad in parts despite Benjamin's youthful and positive outlook on his somewhat different life. If you are a fan or F. Scott Fitzgerald or enjoyed the movie I recommend spending the twenty minutes required to read it.