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fetom101's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
itsjustgrumpy's review
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexism
bookishevy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't have enough space to discuss how many ways the book differs from the film, but I'll draw some comparisons. Chief Brody is not former NYPD who settles in Amity. He's actually a local. His wife, Ellen, comes from a well-off family who vacationed there. After marrying Brody and settling in Amity, she drifted away from the high life. Now, she yearns to be among the more cultured. When marine biologist Matt Hooper resurfaces from her past, Ellen sees him as a chance to recapture what she's lost. Brody takes an immediate dislike to Matt, who represents everything Brody hates about the upper class.
Life for the 1000 residents of Amity depends on the money that the 9000 summer vacationers bring in. The pressure Brody is under to keep the beaches open is more felt in the book because the mayor is mixed up with dangerous people and trying to save his own neck. Matt's a snob, Brody isn't the kindest husband, Ellen's flirting with other men. In the book, the shark isn't the only villain. I now understand why Spielberg initially rooted for the shark and decided to make the characters more likable to moviegoers.
But I loved that the book's characters are flawed. There's more at stake, and the tension between Brody and Hooper adds to the suspense on the boat while they hunt for the maneater with Quint. The attacks are more graphic. A key character in the film dies, leaving me stunned, and the shark's death isn't as explosive as in the film. Spielberg, again, giving moviegoers what they want. To me, the book's ending is more haunting. Erik Steele does a great job with the characters, especially Quint, who, unlike in the film, doesn't have a reason to hate sharks. He just thinks they're dumb. Until he meets this one.
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity
jpolito's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexism, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Antisemitism
msorendreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence
alicesayshi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Ellen Brody is a great example of r/menwritingwomen.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Racism
thebearnest's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
my_forest_library's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, and Violence
celisabeth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
We can also talk about the endless fact that this novel sparked so many fears of sharks, who mostly don't attack people (seriously, it's supposedly more likely to get struck by lightning than to get attacked by a shark) and aren't truly attracted to women's menstrual cycles. (I will note Benchley wrote an introduction to the edition I read retracting a lot of those issues and problems faced in the book.)
But even through the problems, the book was an easy read with strong writing and an engaging storyline. The characters could have been developed more and I wished for more tense reactions when the shark did appear. Nonetheless, this book is finely written, but I would say (in this case), you could really just watch the movie and forego the book.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
walenchao's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall fantastic - less explosive than the movie but a bit more compelling from a pacing perspective.
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content