Reviews

Jaws by Peter Benchley

lurker_stalker's review

3.0

I was seven when the movie version of Jaws came out. My parents, not having any clue as to what was appropriate for a small child, took me along with them to the drive-in. I was terrified to take a bath for years afterward.

I figured the book would be pretty fun and since it's offered for free to Amazon Prime members through Audible Channels, I decided to take the plunge. I mostly wish I'd skipped it.

While I absolutely loved all the parts that had the shark involved in the scene, everything else was pretty bad. Well, maybe it wasn't bad in the early 1970s but yeah, plenty of casual racism and sexism. The biggest thing that made me want to quit mid-way was how much time was devoted to Brody's wife. I didn't care about character development, especially not a character who has nothing to do with the shark. But there you go. It was there and I got through it with some eye rolling and grimacing.

Luckily, there was plenty of shark-related carnage at the end that made it mostly worth the time.

ageekybibliophile's review

3.0

I liked this book, it has been in my list for a while and I finally got the chance to read it randomly when I saw it just sitting on the shelves in the library. I like the fact it's different from the movie and the characters are more relatable in the book so I would recommend it.

dangates's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

thebearnest's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual content

avafritsch's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This.book is more a book about a struggling man than a shark. Between economic, martial, employment, and self realizing concerns the book fishes for a great white to find those answers. I saw parts of the movie, but have never watched the whole movie to compare them. I definitely recommend the book! 

aeggenberger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

sprit's review against another edition

2.75

The prose is a little blunt for my taste and the characters are deeply unlikable but ya know it’s a fun story I guess the end is really anticlimactic 

kchen96's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

i wish there was more shark and less adultery

madzsmiled's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Definitely a product of its time, the novel has far more infidelity, organized crime, and gore than I expected. It's a very tight story, but one that leaves you feeling frustrated. There's no Hollywood ending, and that's just fine. All of the characters are insufferable in their own ways, making Amity a microcosm of society's elites and those who are doomed to serve them. All while dealing with a shark with a vendetta. 

I'm glad I finally checked this off my list!

alice_clawford's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5