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A review by jaygabler
Jaws by Peter Benchley
dark
tense
fast-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
5.0
The conventional wisdom I've always heard about this book is that the movie's perfection is all the more impressive given how bad the novel is. After listening to the audiobook (with incredible narration by Erik Steele), I don't think that's fair.
I understand why the book disappoints many latter-day readers, especially those familiar with the movie: it includes a lot of relationship drama, and reflects some hoary attitudes about gender and race. It's also not exactly "a novel of relentless terror," as the '70s paperback cover suggested: there's terror, all right, but there's a lot of slow-going character development stuffed in there as well.
That said, this is ultimately a highly effective feat of storytelling that established the parameters for a thriller about a killer who shouldn't be all that terrifying: after all, you can always escape it by staying on land. These characters, though, just can't stay away — and by the end, we understand why.
I understand why the book disappoints many latter-day readers, especially those familiar with the movie: it includes a lot of relationship drama, and reflects some hoary attitudes about gender and race. It's also not exactly "a novel of relentless terror," as the '70s paperback cover suggested: there's terror, all right, but there's a lot of slow-going character development stuffed in there as well.
That said, this is ultimately a highly effective feat of storytelling that established the parameters for a thriller about a killer who shouldn't be all that terrifying: after all, you can always escape it by staying on land. These characters, though, just can't stay away — and by the end, we understand why.