I have to say, I tried to not have much expectation of greatness before entering into this story, simply because I've been quite disappointed lately with the additions to beloved books written by someone other than the original author...to the point where I came close to not even bothering with this one.

JAWS, to be frank, wasn't the best of novels. Much like THE EXORCIST, I think the movies were able to both distill and then amplify the best parts of the novels, while jettisoning, or at least downplaying, the stuff that didn't work.

So, I wasn't upset that Lautner pulled more from the movie Quint, but tucked in the mentions from the book to homage both. Which is all well and good, but...was the story any good?

For me at least, the answer is a very enthusiastic yes. I really enjoyed this, the stream of consciousness thoughts as we followed the man through his life and his memories. I love the Pinocchio quotes. I love the seeming mashup of Steinbeck and Hemingway and Melville.

And, of course, those few minutes of intense film where Robert Shaw, as Quint, tells the haunting story of being in the water after the sinking of the Indianapolis...that Lautner makes even more harrowing and haunting.

I truly enjoyed this read.