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A review by wandering_canuck
Jaws by Peter Benchley
dark
tense
medium-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
2.5
Having never see the movie, yet hearing all the hype, I had much higher expectations for this book. As a thriller, it lacked suspense and tension... And I'm a whimp when it comes to scary stories.
The book is problematic. I tried to read it with the mindset that it is a product of its time, but it was hard to ignore the racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
The book wasn't well balanced: too much time was spent on developing the relationship between Ellen and Hooper, and not enough on the real story of the politics of the town. Benchley started plot lines, but never played any of them out in any meaningful way.
My favourite characters in this book were Quint and the shark. They were the only redeeming qualities that kept me interested. It's a quick, nostalgic read.
The book is problematic. I tried to read it with the mindset that it is a product of its time, but it was hard to ignore the racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
The book wasn't well balanced: too much time was spent on developing the relationship between Ellen and Hooper, and not enough on the real story of the politics of the town. Benchley started plot lines, but never played any of them out in any meaningful way.
My favourite characters in this book were Quint and the shark. They were the only redeeming qualities that kept me interested. It's a quick, nostalgic read.