Rating: 
Summary: Speilberg butchered this book
Review: I remember Stephen King once said that books and movies were like apples and oranges. Both are delicious but taste completely different. Spielberg's adaptation of Benchley's novel would be a bananna in this case. The movie was a brilliant, suspenseful and chilling spectacle, while the book is an intense drama set amidst extraordinary circumstances. I think only about a handful of things from the book were actually in the film. For most of the book the Shark is a bit of an afterthought, as Benchley concentrates on the human element. The affair between Ellen and Hooper and The Mayor's ties with the mob grab your interest and dominate the pages, even though neither were even touched in the film. The characters are completely different, their actions are completely different and the only thing that this book had in common with Spielberg's film were the attacks themselves, even though they were changed slightly. It is a very good book for what it is, an extraordinary soap-opera. However I will admit that after seeing the movie first, I was disappointed with the lack of action in this book. I'm sure I would've enjoyed this book a lot more had I not seen the film first.
Rating: 
Summary: DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, JAWS IS NOT A THRILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: For those of you who don't get it, Jaws is not a thriller. The novel has more in common with Moby Dick than Speilberg's entertainment masterpiece of the same name. Approach it as a morality tale and you'll understand. Ellen and Hooper: corrupt. The Mayor: in bed with the mob--needs beaches open to make monet to pay 'em back: corrupt. The shark: a hook to get readers to read the real story. Brody: good. He doesn't die. Jaws the novel is a healthy dish of rigatoni with a side salad. It's not a Big Mac or a Quarter pounder.
Rating: 
Summary: typical suspense novel
Review: In the opening scenes of the novel, Benchley grabs the readers attention by explicatly describing a grusome attack on an innocent young woman. Considering the title of this suspense thriller, this is expected. Once you read past the introduction of the novel, however, the it moves slowly and becomes rather tedious. Benchley extensively introduces the reader to a score of characters, many of whom are unimportant. Fortunatly, by the climactic scenes of the novel, the suspense again increases and it is difficult to put the novel down. Unlike many other reviewers of this novel, is dissagree that the ending was unfitting. I felt that although Benchley left some elements unexplained, the death of both the fisherman and the shark brought closure to the town of Amity. Jaws is a typical suspense novel but lacks the substance of a classic tale
Rating:
Summary: Horrible Writing, lame Ending
Review: I can't believe that people gave this book more than 2 stars. The only reason this book was popular was because the movie was based on it. If Jaws the movie had never been made, Peter Benchley's book would not have sold more than five copies. The writing is terrible, the affair between Hooper and Ellen doesn't make any sense and the ending is rushed and unimaginative. Don't bother reading this book, just stick to the movie and enjoy the legend of Jaws. If you do read this book, you'll be hard pressed to figure-out how Spielberg was able to create what he did on film. If this book was the inspiration, Spielberg really must be a genius.
Rating:
Summary: Jaws is very interesting, but what's with the ending?
Review: I have just finished reading Jaws, and it is a really good book. Benchley catches the reader's attention and those who have seen the movie, here's a spoiler: Ellen Brody has an affair with Hooper! Well anyways, the only part I was confused with was the ending. I didn't understand if the shark had died or not. It just says in the book that the shark disappears into the water with Quint trailing behind. Anyways, it was a good book, and I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great read, but did get boring sometimes
Review: I loved this book. I thoght it was a great read. I have to admit that it did get boring sometimes. The book goes to politics, affairs, and I was getting tired of hearing about problems that Ellen and Brody had, and not to mention the Ellen and Hooper affair was so not needed.It kind of made the plot gray. But overall I think Mr. Benchley did a fine work of art. This book was a mix of man vs. man to man vs. beast. I did not like how the book didn't really revolve around the shark all that much. It revoloved more around the towns problems, politics, and Hoopers affair. If the book revolved around the shark much more than it lacked, I would have enjoyed the book to the fullest. If your the type of reader that wants a novel just about underwater violence, gore, and suspense I recommned reading Extinct, Meg, or The Trench. If you are more into the politics, read Jaws. So, to conclude I loved the book and did find it very interesting but it lacked suspense. The ending was full of suspense, but the middle of the book gets into political things and the townspeople's problems. One thing I did not understand was how the shark died at the end. If anyone who reads this message and knows what I'm talking about, please e-mail me because the ending has baffeld me since I first read the book in 4th grade. I have read the book a few times and the ending several and it still remains a mystery to me.
Rating: 
Summary: Like sands through the hourglass...
Review: Anyone that saw Spielberg's classic movie before reading this book should leave all their expectations at the door. It is amazing to me, and testifies to Spielberg's genius,that he could come up with such a classic thriller from this soap opera garbage. There are extra-marital affairs, slanderous politicians, and other such melodramatic claptrap. Spielberg managed to leave out all the melodrama and still create deep characterization, never once forgetting that we are dealing with a shark in the water. In this book, the shark is merely a bit player, merely serving as a reason for one woman to have an affair. Fans of afternoon television will enjoy this; fans of the movie will be sorely disappointed. The only reason I gave this book a star at all is because it served as the inspiration for one of the greatest, most suspenseful thrillers of all time.
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping!
Review: I read this book in 4 days! It was so amazing! I love the movie and the book is better! I definately recommend that you read this book! It grips you all the way through, you can't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Best book I ever read
Review: This is a great book although I don,t recomend it for children under 9 years of age. You know that Jaws the novel came first then the movie for you knumskulls out there.Its a book about a shark that atacks a beach resort in New England called Amity.
Rating:
Summary: One of the few books not as good as the movie
Review: Yes, this is a very good book. Some of it seems a lil rushed, however. I'm not going to go into specifics for fear of giving away the plot... but the movie left out some parts of the book that were only there for filler and that part is what made the book less enjoyable to me. The movie was also more suspenceful then the book. Some people don't believe that books can bt suspenceful... but it is possible. This book is fun and is a must read for anyone who's seen the movie. But if you're looking for suspence, go for The Relic.
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