Play Book Tag discussion

Jaws had me spellbound with fear when I read it in 1974. And the cover still scares me to look at. Gory and supernatural, the book Jaws is a far different feel and story than Spielberg’s cult movie classic. In the novel, the good-guy, easily swayed Chief Brody, is pitted against a cast of selfish characters. We have the corpulent opportunistic Harry Meadows who runs the local paper, sleazy ichthyologist Matt Hooper, and the wholly self-obsessed Mayor of Amity with mafia-connected debt problems, Larry Vaughn. And of course there’s the transparently Melville-inspired ‘Quint’. The only person Brody expects in his corner is his wealthy and connected wife who is more interested in rekindling her youth and social standing with the visiting ichthyologist.

In the novel, the mob theme and Brody’s wife’s affair are two of the main points of tension, the shark an instigator who ruffles seemingly calm waters. In the movie, however, the shark is everything and the characters and town second to the mayhem. Benchley had the ability to give a personality to the shark; the scenes where the shark is stalking, lurking or attacking people are exquisitely accomplished and help the reader gain an insight and they even are able to feel something for the shark.

It’s difficult to re-read this novel without having the movie version repeatedly pop into your mind. I've always believed that Jaws, the movie, was much better than Jaws, the novel and reading it again fifty years later has reinforced that feeling. The producers made a great choice in streamlining Jaws into an action packed, roller coaster movie but the novel can add some interesting background if you've never read it before.

Benchley later said he regretted demonizing the shark. They are magnificent beasts and definitely top predators, but they don't attack humans regularly.

Agree about the movie ... I sat with my girlfriend at a matinee in a nearly empty theatre (we cut out early from work that day), and I kept my feet up on the chair in front of me the whole time. She laughed at me, but I said, "I just know a shark will bite my ankles!"

My brother and sister and I look forward to Shark Week much the way other people look forward to Christmas. We even have shark clothing. Jaws inspired me to start my collection of over 70 shark movies, many of them stupid and campy, including Super Shark and Santa Jaws.