Jaws by Peter Benchley - Book Review

[@jb8331]

BOOK SPOILER . . . I do love when the shark kills Hooper, Brody just watches and smiles. lol

[@alexp974]

Before I watch the video, this is my memory of the book: first third about a shark, second third about main character’s wife wanting to have an affair, last third back to being about the shark.

[@SnarkReader]

Close enough!

[@krl97a]

The iconic USS Indianapolis scene was mostly written by Spielberg's friend, the great John Milius, as a favor.

[@kenlau457]

For me, three things stood out: the Mrs. Kintner confrontation in the book was written like a black comedy and for me, was more enjoyable to read and listen (to the audiobook) than watching its onscreen adaptation. And second, the affair between Hooper and Ellen lead to a later funny confrontation between Brody and Hooper and Hooper lied about being with Daisy Wicker, not knowing she was a Lesbian ("what were you doing, knitting????"). 😄😄😄 The icing of the cake was listening to this scene in the audiobook and the narrator did a very good job doing Scheider, Dreyfuss and Shaw's voices. Third, which sadly did not make it in the movie, was Hendricks running into the police station after witnessing a shark attack in nothing but a speedo.🙃🙃 The Hendricks in the novel was a lot different than Jeffrey Kramer's nerdy bumbling portrayal.

[@chuckb.1328]

In addition to everything you said-and I agree with every word-I want to add that Benchley really went out of his way to smear homosexuals in his novel. Before I had even reached the tenth page of the story, a police officer was casually using the slur "f@gg0t" during a phone conversation with an unknown caller to the station. Later, Ellen Brody arranges a dinner party so she can invite Hooper over and get to know him better. An oblivious Martin suggests they invite a *random girl* so that Hooper has someone to talk to. To prevent Martin from getting suspicious, Ellen *does* invite a girl for Hooper, but to keep Hooper from having sex with anyone but *her*, Ellen invites a known lesbian, who hates the police and-it is heavily implied-drugs Martin's food. I'd also like to add that at one point, Martin seriously considers beating his wife. Benchley must've been a truly bigoted and hateful man. I know it was a different time, but that excuse can only be stretched so far.

[@SnarkReader]

There were FAR too many problems with this book to cover them all. It's best to forget all of it and stick with the movie version 🦈

[@samdryden7944]

I'd like to know if the affair was Benchley's idea or if the publishers told him to put it in to spice up the book. It really adds nothing. It just makes what should be a taut novel flabby.

[@SnarkReader]

Honestly, most sex scenes (with some rare exceptions) are just excess flab. It's supposed to help sell the story, but I always skim over them.

[@ElmSt1984]

I LOVE the film but the book is kinda bad to me. All the characters are such a-holes. I do however,adore the shark attacks. Especially with Chrisse in the beginning. Very detailed and gruesome!

[@Pirelli913]

I read the book YEARS ago. I don't remember much other than the opening where the girl who goes skinny dipping reaches down to where the shark bit her only to feel the stump of bone protruding from her now missing leg and the ending where the shark drowned because it got tangled in some lines.

[@SnarkReader]

If you don't remember much of the book, you're one of the lucky ones! 😬

[@mm62330]

Yes you are on point with this, and I'd actually say I've preferred the Jaws 2 book because it made the shark much more relatable lol

[@OroborusFMA]

The book is FAR better than the movie. Yes, there's a whole subplot with the Chief's wife having an affair with Hooper but that makes Hooper's death (and yes, he does die in the book) all the more shocking. And you don't get the absurdity of an exploding shark at the end. The movie's last act truly sucks.

[@Adoozyofaday]

I love Jaws the movie so much. I couldn’t even finish the book. The wife and Hooper were not very likable. It was depressing.

[@rexbitten]

I read the book as a 9 year old in 75 after I'd seen the movie for the first time. I swear I didn't understand half of what was going on. I read it again many years later and thought WOW Ellen sure was a naughty girl. Didn't really feel compelled to ever read it again unlike the movie which I have seen countless times.

[@ludovico6890]

I think it's the case of a lot of best selling books in the 60s/70s that were turned into classic movies: the adaptation tends to be superior. The Godfather and The Exorcist come to my mind.

[@andrewpritchard5080]

Everything I read by Peter Benchley has sucked, his books do get turned into great movies however. The Deep is also a great movie made from a lame Benchley novel.

[@stevedenis8292]

You need to take into account the time when it was written. How much information was available at the time . Completely different dynamics for relationships. The movie feels timeless or more like a period piece. Book feels very dated. I always like to re read books after a few years to see if I have da different take on things usually I do on something others still just as I felt the last time. We tend to change a little as we age unfortunately or fortunately if it is for the better.

[@CBSmith-js9yl]

Snark reader? More like Shark reader! Ba dum tish!

[@SnarkReader]

I'd have to read at least one more shark book before I could make that my thing.

[@CBSmith-js9yl]

@ Depending on if you like goofy pulp. Steve Alten’s Meg is a fun one.

[@rohontsiawaks]

I enjoyed "The Beast" more than Jaws

[@SnarkReader]

I'll have to check that out. Thanks!