Scan barcode
A review by villyidol
Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 by Michael Capuzzo
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.25
In 1916 maybe one, maybe several sharks over the span of one and a half weeks attacked and killed swimmers along the coast of New Jersey. This happened during a deadly summer heat wave and a polio epidemic in the United States. Thousands of people were flocking to the shore and indulging in the, at the time, relatively new pastime of swimming in the ocean. What happened back then changed the perception of sharks, an animal of which relatively little was known at the time, and lead to a panic and subsequent shark hunt. The events of 1916 allegedly inspired Peter Benchley to write his 1974 novel [book: Jaws|126232], carry huge cultural significance and left a lasting impression on peoples’ relationship with and perception of the ocean. This book is telling that story.
<blockquote>…these people lived before modern oceanography, before radio and television, and were no more prepared to witness the first man-eating shark in American history rise from the waves than to see Captain Nemo’s <i>Nautilus</i> surface from the abyss. Who could blame them if they saw a “sea monster”?</blockquote>
The chapters for the most part are alternating between painting a picture of the times of the late 19th and early 20th century, explored through the people involved in the events, and depicting the nature of the great white shark. In the beginning it was a slow but nevertheless interesting reading experience. But when the attacks started, I got some very strong <i>Jaws</i> vibes and the book became a real-life-thriller that had me glued to the pages. I think I read somewhere that Benchley denied these events were the inspiration for his book, but some of the attacks are remarkably similar to some scenes of the movie and the reaction of the people as well gave me constant flashbacks. I think Steven Spielberg at least took quite a bit of inspiration from this and I’m only less sure about Benchley because his book is not quite so ingrained in my memory as is Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster.
Michael Capuzzo is a talented writer and at times his book got me pretty excited, notwithstanding that the events were gruesome and a terrible experience for a number of people. But next to the hysteria and in some cases lunacy that characterized peoples’ reactions to the attacks there are also a couple of examples of remarkable bravery. People are capable of many things, for better or worse.
Capuzzo seems to be pretty convinced that one single white shark was responsible for the attacks. Personally, I have my doubts. Especially the attacks in Matawan Creek are much more likely the doing of one or several bull sharks, in my opinion. He acknowledges in the end that there are other theories, and, in any case, it has never been proven one way or the other. His story is compelling enough to look past the fact that it might not have happened exactly the way he is telling it. No one can be 100% sure anyway, and he’s clearly done extensive research and formed his own opinion from all the input he got. I’m fine with that.
Recommended, if you are not planning to go to the beach in the immediate future.
<i>Buddy read with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/43553552-russ">Russ</a>.</i>
<blockquote>…these people lived before modern oceanography, before radio and television, and were no more prepared to witness the first man-eating shark in American history rise from the waves than to see Captain Nemo’s <i>Nautilus</i> surface from the abyss. Who could blame them if they saw a “sea monster”?</blockquote>
The chapters for the most part are alternating between painting a picture of the times of the late 19th and early 20th century, explored through the people involved in the events, and depicting the nature of the great white shark. In the beginning it was a slow but nevertheless interesting reading experience. But when the attacks started, I got some very strong <i>Jaws</i> vibes and the book became a real-life-thriller that had me glued to the pages. I think I read somewhere that Benchley denied these events were the inspiration for his book, but some of the attacks are remarkably similar to some scenes of the movie and the reaction of the people as well gave me constant flashbacks. I think Steven Spielberg at least took quite a bit of inspiration from this and I’m only less sure about Benchley because his book is not quite so ingrained in my memory as is Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster.
Michael Capuzzo is a talented writer and at times his book got me pretty excited, notwithstanding that the events were gruesome and a terrible experience for a number of people. But next to the hysteria and in some cases lunacy that characterized peoples’ reactions to the attacks there are also a couple of examples of remarkable bravery. People are capable of many things, for better or worse.
Capuzzo seems to be pretty convinced that one single white shark was responsible for the attacks. Personally, I have my doubts. Especially the attacks in Matawan Creek are much more likely the doing of one or several bull sharks, in my opinion. He acknowledges in the end that there are other theories, and, in any case, it has never been proven one way or the other. His story is compelling enough to look past the fact that it might not have happened exactly the way he is telling it. No one can be 100% sure anyway, and he’s clearly done extensive research and formed his own opinion from all the input he got. I’m fine with that.
Recommended, if you are not planning to go to the beach in the immediate future.
<i>Buddy read with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/43553552-russ">Russ</a>.</i>