JAWS BY PETER BENCHLEY

I wanted to read Jaws as summer was winding down because let's face it, it's a summer novel! While I liked the book, it wasn't a favorite. I actually enjoyed the movie more. 

Rating: ★★★
​Release Date: May 6, 1973
Genre: Horror
Series: Standalone. 
Pages: 340 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased. 

When Peter Benchley wrote Jaws in the early 1970s, he meticulously researched all available data about shark behavior. Over the ensuing decades, Benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers on expeditions around the world as they expanded their knowledge of sharks. Also during this time, there was an unprecedented upswing in the number of sharks killed to make shark-fin soup, and Benchley worked with governments and nonprofits to sound the alarm for shark conservation. He encouraged each new generation of Jaws fans to enjoy his riveting tale and to channel their excitement into support and protection of these magnificent, prehistoric apex predators.
 
This edition of Jaws contains bonus content from Peter Benchley’s archives, including the original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a letter from Benchley to producer David Brown with honest feedback on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from Benchley’s book Shark Trouble highlighting his firsthand account 

of writing Jaws, selling it to Universal Studios, and working with Steven Spielberg.

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READ MY BOOK REVIEW

Release Date: May 31, 2005 (first published May 6th 1973)
Genre: Horror (Thriller, Suspense)

Summer is winding down so I thought now would be the perfect time to FINALLY read Jaws by Peter Benchley. All in all, I'm glad I did. I was very hesitant to dive into it at first because I wasn't sure how it would measure up to the movie (which is fantastic). And in some ways, I did like the movie better. I know, most readers say books are always better but in this case, I have to disagree! While the book was cool to read, it was SO SLOW. It's about 230 pages and it took me a week to read it. This is not normal reading behavior for me. I can typically read 3-5 books a week. When it came to this one though, I just never found the energy (or want) to continuously pick it up until I finished it. The writings not bad, but the story was kind of all over the place. I was hoping for a little more action within the story about the great white but this was mostly saved until the last 2 chapters. In between it we learned of some sneaky dealings with the town, affairs, and nostalgia of the past. This all should have added to the story but unfortunately it dulled it for me.

Another thing that turned me off was the ending. It was extremely abrupt. I had to flip the pages back and forth because it felt unfinished. I thought I got a bad copy! Unfortunately I didn't, that's just how the story ends. The best way for me to describe it is by saying you get a lot of action and tension, buildup, a fight to the death, and then it ends. Right there, just like that. Sigh, it really bothered me.

Now, just because the book had some problems for my tastes doesn't mean it was a bad read. I enjoyed seeing the 3 men get together and fight the great white. The action was INTENSE and Peter Benchley didn't sugarcoat anything. I also enjoyed the beginning of the story when people started to get eaten (that's bad, right? It was just jaw dropping and exciting the way it started out like that). I just didn't find the story to be as cohesive as I would have liked. Don't take my word for it though because MANY readers loved this book. Take my review with a grain of salt and give it a try despite my personal thoughts. It does bring back my memories of the movie though and I feel like I need to go watch it again (for the millionth time).

★★★​