James RickardI finally read Jaws
October 25th 2011 02:54
It's a few decades too late but I finally read the novel JAWS.
The book
If you enjoy reading, books on which movies are based are often better than the movie or, at the very least, help illuminate minor characters or plot points. Sad to say, that's not the case here.
Just like the movie, a young woman named "Chrissie" is devoured by a giant great white and the town of Amity is thrown into a state of panic. Here, the similarities end.
The movie poster
All of the most powerful scenes from the film fail to show up in the novel. Ben Gardner's head floating from the sunken boat, our first glimpse of the shark as Brody ladles out the chum line, the bonding below deck at sea as the trio await capturing the shark--all these great scenes are missing!
One scene from the movie sort of parallels the book. After a little boy is killed at the beach, his mother confronts Chief Brody. If you didn't see the movie, it's no big deal.
Enough comparisons. What about the book itself?
Without being too much of a spoiler, all I can say is that the high point is the fact that Hooper and the Chief's wife have an afternoon tryst that kind of adds a little tension to the story because the real action, hunting the shark, doesn't take place until about 2/3 of the way into the book.
On the up side, Jaws is a fast read. Although it took me the better part of two weeks, it should go much faster than that. It only took me so long because I kept getting disgusted and stopping; only to be drawn back because I hoped the story would get better.
The book has been out over 35 years. Don't make the mistake I did and make it something you have to do. Save yourself the agony and read the synopsis on Wikipedia.
One scene from the movie sort of parallels the book. After a little boy is killed at the beach, his mother confronts Chief Brody. If you didn't see the movie, it's no big deal.
Enough comparisons. What about the book itself?
Without being too much of a spoiler, all I can say is that the high point is the fact that Hooper and the Chief's wife have an afternoon tryst that kind of adds a little tension to the story because the real action, hunting the shark, doesn't take place until about 2/3 of the way into the book.
On the up side, Jaws is a fast read. Although it took me the better part of two weeks, it should go much faster than that. It only took me so long because I kept getting disgusted and stopping; only to be drawn back because I hoped the story would get better.
The book has been out over 35 years. Don't make the mistake I did and make it something you have to do. Save yourself the agony and read the synopsis on Wikipedia.
Remember to take the hooks outta yer pocket before ya sit down!
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