The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - A Short Story and A Movie

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Many books when adapted for the motion pictures, has subtle changes, sometimes-vast changes. When short stories are adapted for the motion picture, it is highly likely that there will be vast changes.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald is about 26 pages. Consequently, it is expected to have many aspects in the film that was not present in the book. Although the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt will not be release in theaters until December, around Christmas time, viewing the trailer demonstrates detail contrasts.

The first distinction between the short story and the movie is the physical appearance of Benjamin Button at birth. Granted that books have more leeway than the movies, the book describes Button as an old man with a long grey beard whose legs hang from the hospital’s baby crib. However, in the movie, Button is small as an average baby but appears to be a septuagenarian with aged wrinkled skin. Another distinction that immensely changes the story is Benjamin Button’s cognitive ability. In the book, when born Button’s has the intellectual level of a wise elderly man, but in the movie, Button’s intellectual level is of a normal infant.

The short story has a theme that while Button gets younger so does his intellectual ability correspond with his physical changes; he is finally in harmony physically and intellectually, and eventually is socially accepted. Fitzgerald short story demonstrates that Button had an entire life experience, as would a normal person even though he has had an aberrant beginning. Thus, there is a major theme difference between the short story and the movie. Lastly, in the book, Button’s father never leaves him on a stranger's doorsteps. In my perspective, it is essential for Button to be raised by his relentless father who has a mindset that his child is average, because it illuminates the second half of Button’s life with congruity. Nevertheless, I am going to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in theaters December, because well, I am curious.

Leash, Bone, and Acquired book before release date

I had to do a few errands today. One of them was to buy a new leash and bone for my mother's dog, Tiffany. Tiffany is an American Pit Bull with the sweetest temperament. I insist, she thinks she is a Chihuahua. She shies away from aggressive dogs. Even a teacup Yorkshire terrier can have her shaking like a leaf. Demonstrating Pit Bulls are not innately aggressive, but people make them aggressive. 

Anyway, after going to PetSmart, I stopped next-door to Borders. There I saw a new horror anthology edited by Peter Straub. The anthology Poe's Children, represents horror writers that do not write stereotypical horror gore, but share aspects of the eminent Edgar Allan Poe's dark literature. The book includes 24 short stories with some heavy weight horror authors such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Ramsey Campbell, and David J. Schow. When I went to enter my new book into my digital library, I realized this book is not supposed to be available until October 14. This is the first time; I was able to get a book before the release date. I know it is not extraordinary, but to me, it is very cool.

A Series For The Horror Lover In You

My heart filled with glee after I discovered Wordsworth Editions. It is a UK publishing company, which sells affordable books. I am thrilled that Wordsworth Editions has a series of books for horror enthusiast, like me. The series is entitled Tales of Mystery and The Supernatural. Thus far, there are 52 books in the collection, and today I have received my first book from it, Sweeney Todd or The String of Pearls by Anonymous. 

My intention is to collect the entire series. It may seem to be a simple plan, but some of the books are quite difficult to find, because the publishing company is based in the UK. Most of the books are out of stock on Amazon, so I will have to buy it from an Amazon Seller or on EBay. However, the books that are in stock on Amazon are eligible for special offers, which is the 4-for-3 promotion.

Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

I have read the Harry Potter series and the Twilight Saga. Yet, I must admit children books are not on my foremost list of books to read, but Neil Gaiman’s latest novel is a children’s book called The Graveyard Book, which meant I had to read it.

How is it possible for a baby or child to survive without human tending? There are circumstances that feral animals such as wolves and monkeys have embraced children, nurturing them as their own. Fictional stories, The Jungle Book and Tarzan of the Apes have romanticized this notion, as it has enthralled children and adults. Neil Gaiman an admirer of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book has written his own version of unpredictable nurturers.

After a cold-blooded murder of his family, a baby is thrust into the world without a soul. With the killer on the hunts to eliminate the entire family, the baby soon to be name Nobody Owens (nicknamed Bod) needs protection. Denizens of a graveyard amalgamate to support Bod, and welcome him to his new home, the graveyard. The support of the supernatural provides Bod with supernatural abilities, but he is still vulnerable.

Gaiman weaves a world of not only ghost, but also of an intricate supernatural realm. Each chapter of The Graveyard book is entertaining, revealing subtle information that illuminates about the characters and the main plot. Fantasy, and supernatural enthusiast should definitely read Neil Gaiman's new book.

A. Lee Martinez's Too Many Curses

Too Many Curses
by A. Lee Martinez 

Too Many Curses is A. Lee Martinez's fifth and most recent novel. Like all his novels except The Automatic Detective, which is the only Martinez's book that I have not read, Too Many Curses is what I would call a comical fantasy. Reading an interview, I discovered Martinez does not intentionally try to write comically, and this is seen in his writing style. The humorous aspects flow naturally with his story; it is never trying. 

Similar to Martinez's other comical fantasies, the characters are all unique, and his protagonist is the underdog with many idiosyncrasies that do not always attribute to the classic hero, in this circumstance heroine. Nessy, a kobold with dog like features (can be similar to Germanic mythological kobold, but also differs) is lowly housekeeper for Margle, a diabolical wizard that meets an unfortunate end, which leaves Nessy to protect and maintain the inhabitance of his castle. The inhabitances of the castle are Margle's foes that he has cursed into bizarre forms and monsters he has created and collected. For instance, Margle's brother Yazpib is a gooey substance of teeth and eyes in a glass jar. Almost all Margle's cursed adversaries have their own story to tell, and participates with Nessy to fight the forces contending to destroy the castle and the creatures within it.

Though I enjoyed reading Too Many Curses, and thought that the many characters within the story were interesting, Nessy I believed lacked depth until the end. I did not seem to care about her well-being as much as I cared for other supporting characters like Sir Thedeus, the bat. Nevertheless, it was a good magical story with imaginative characters, but my favorite A. Lee Martinez book is still Gil's All Fright Diner. If you are a fantasy fan that appreciates humor then you should read A. Lee Martinez's books. 

Another humorous writer I recommend is Christopher Moore especially his novel A Dirty Job