Get a spine.

[Haven]

Read a book!

Okay, it''s a short story, and you can read it online here instead of picking up an actual book. So, I suppose I should say "Get a virtual spine!" but it doesn''t sound as good.

For anyone who plans on seeing the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button when it comes out on Christmas day, I highly recommend reading the Fitzgerald''s short story first. The site I linked to has it separated into chapters, so remember to click on "Forward" at the bottom of the page when you finish reading Chapter 1. It''s a great story, and I hear very good things about the movie, too.

So, as I said earlier, get a spine!

Enjoy.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Haven - do you find its difficult to read something like this on a computer screen? I''ve not tried, but I''m a tried-and-true book reading fanatic (my DH gives me a hard time because I go through them in stacks and then they clutter up the apartment), and I just don''t know if reading on a computer screen would give the same sense of enjoyment and relaxation?

 

[Haven]

AG--I definitely prefer real books to computer screens, no question. I''m like you, I get a lot of enjoyment out of curling up with a good book. I also write all over everything I read, which becomes rather expensive if it''s on a computer screen.

Some universities are trying out e-books, so students purchase electronic texts to read on their own computers instead of paper texts. I would have failed miserably in those conditions. I need to dogear, annotate, bend, crease, and wear down the pages of everything I read--that''s all part of the fun! (I also like to browse my friends'' libraries and find their favorite books by locating the shabbiest, scrappiest paperbacks. Then I always ask to borrow them.

)

 

[kittybean]

Thanks for the link, Haven! I just read the story--it will be interesting to see how it is interpreted in the movie. Although I''ve never read Tales of the Jazz Age, I''ve always been a Fitzgerald fan. I think I might be up for a while tonight reading more!

 

[v!v!]

Thank you for the link, Haven! I read the book yesterday and I too am interested in how it will be interpreted in the movie.

 

[jcrow]

thanks haven! i''m reading it now!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 12/23/2008 10:27:21 PM
Author: Haven
AG--I definitely prefer real books to computer screens, no question. I''m like you, I get a lot of enjoyment out of curling up with a good book. I also write all over everything I read, which becomes rather expensive if it''s on a computer screen.

Some universities are trying out e-books, so students purchase electronic texts to read on their own computers instead of paper texts. I would have failed miserably in those conditions. I need to dogear, annotate, bend, crease, and wear down the pages of everything I read--that''s all part of the fun! (I also like to browse my friends'' libraries and find their favorite books by locating the shabbiest, scrappiest paperbacks. Then I always ask to borrow them.

)

Haven - I don''t write in my books (when reading for pleasure - for academics I was definitely a note-scribbler), but I''m a hopeless dog-earer (despite the multitudinous bookmarks I''ve received as gifts/hints over the years) and I shamelessly borrow books from all of my friends to try to keep my book budget down as much as possible (I try to return the favor, of course, and freely loan mine).

My favorite recent find was a completed works of Jane Austen on the sale table at Borders - only $7!!

So I''ve been having lots of fun curling up with that every night for a little while - I''ve read Persuasion and am just finishing Emma, then its on to Sense & Sensibility and finally, saved for last because its my favorite, Pride & Prejudice. I haven''t read them in years and almost forgot how much I enjoy them

 

[Haven]

AG--We could be reading twins! I never broke my habit of writing in books. Even if I''m reading for pleasure I jot down questions and connections to other books. It makes rereading a lot of fun because I see how my perspective and ideas evolve over time.

We recently moved and there''s a Half Price Books store right near our house, and it''s heaven! Their clearance section is filled with $1 and $2 books, and every other book is half the retail price. I adore it! I highly recommend the store.

SO, everyone--I saw the movie yesterday and really enjoyed it. However, it has very little to do with Fitzgerald''s story. In fact, I''d say the only things it has in common are the title, and the basic premise of Benjamin Button''s curious case. Nevertheless, it was still very good. I was feeling a bit maudlin yesterday after the movie, but I think that is to be expected.