Sign in with Facebook
Ron's Reviews > Jaws
Jaws
by
by
Did you know that the title Jaws nearly never existed? Among the many titles brainstormed, “Great White” topped the list, along others like “Shimmo”, “White Death”, and even “The Fish”. In the last seconds before the printing deadline, Peter Benchley crossed out the original title and penned in the single word, JAWS. “Don't know what it means”, he said, “but at least it's short.” The name is ubiquitous to nearly only one thing now, and then certainly after the summer of 1975 when the movie premiered, but nobody knew what it meant after it had been decided upon. Besides, they thought, what we have here is a first novel about a fish, and nobody reads first novels. “Furthermore, and as a does of reality, we all loudly agreed that there wasn't a chance that anybody would ever make a movie out of the book.”
Benchley grew up spending summers in the waters at Nantucket. His fascination for the ocean sharks in particular came early, but it wasn't after a 1971 documentary film Blue Water about a great white, and a separate book in the same year Blue Meridian that the ideas for Peter's novel began to coalesce. If you've read the book, you know that it and the movie are not wholly the same. The basis of the plot and characters of the book exist in the movie, but Benchley's ideas sprung from what could happen if this huge predator laid siege to this small resort community. Eighty to ninety percent of their income comes during their summers. What would be the loss? Would their be a cover-up? What about families? The questions kept coming to Benchley's mind, and so did the story upon the written page.
Upon its release, the reviews were decent. Hardcover sales were better than decent. The paperback went through the roof, thoroughly helped by the coming movie. One last line of the initial book review read, “Read 'Jaws', by all means read it, and see if you agree”. If you haven't read it, then I reiterate the word that were stated then. There are parts of the movie that I expected to find in the book, and parts of the book I'm surprised were left out of the movie. Both are exciting. Both are tense, and both are very good.
Benchley grew up spending summers in the waters at Nantucket. His fascination for the ocean sharks in particular came early, but it wasn't after a 1971 documentary film Blue Water about a great white, and a separate book in the same year Blue Meridian that the ideas for Peter's novel began to coalesce. If you've read the book, you know that it and the movie are not wholly the same. The basis of the plot and characters of the book exist in the movie, but Benchley's ideas sprung from what could happen if this huge predator laid siege to this small resort community. Eighty to ninety percent of their income comes during their summers. What would be the loss? Would their be a cover-up? What about families? The questions kept coming to Benchley's mind, and so did the story upon the written page.
Upon its release, the reviews were decent. Hardcover sales were better than decent. The paperback went through the roof, thoroughly helped by the coming movie. One last line of the initial book review read, “Read 'Jaws', by all means read it, and see if you agree”. If you haven't read it, then I reiterate the word that were stated then. There are parts of the movie that I expected to find in the book, and parts of the book I'm surprised were left out of the movie. Both are exciting. Both are tense, and both are very good.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Jaws.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
June 12, 2022
–
Started Reading
June 12, 2022
– Shelved
June 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
2022
June 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
monster
June 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
suspense-thriller
June 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
water
June 16, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Diana
(new)
Jun 17, 2022 04:44AM
Haha “The Fish”. Sounds way less scary than “Jaws”!
reply
|
flag
Great review, Ron! Makes me want to revisit this gem. 🏊 🦈
Interesting story about the title. I can't imagine it being anything other than JAWS.An excellent review, and as Wendy says, it makes me want to read the book again.
Yes I did know that Ron! ;o) And this was one case where I thought the film was better than the book. Great review!
Terrific review, Ron! I didn't know how the title Jaws was chosen :) I'm so glad you enjoyed both, the movie and the book.
Diana wrote: "Haha “The Fish”. Sounds way less scary than “Jaws”!"That would not have been a striking title, right? They had a list of doosies, and some very jokey ones too, probably putting a little non-serious fun in the mix.
Wendy wrote: "Great review, Ron! Makes me want to revisit this gem. 🏊 🦈"Thanks, Wendy! It's definitely one I'll reread down the road, and may just revisit the movie soon.
CoachJim wrote: "Interesting story about the title. I can't imagine it being anything other than JAWS.An excellent review, and as Wendy says, it makes me want to read the book again."
Jaws certainly fits, and the book gives the impression of this shark's (or any other) incredible strength, including those chompers. I'd be terrified on the open water knowing it might come! Thanks Jim!
Jon wrote: "Yes I did know that Ron! ;o) And this was one case where I thought the film was better than the book. Great review!"Thanks Jon! Benchley ended up loving the movie too, although it is more "popcorn" than the book, and it should be. That movie defined the "summer movie" I'd say.
Nika wrote: "Terrific review, Ron! I didn't know how the title Jaws was chosen :) I'm so glad you enjoyed both, the movie and the book."Thanks Nika! I love the details behind a book, things that you don't often see while reading. Benchley was younger, and said although the book was accurate, he'd never write it the same after knowing sharks more later in his life.
Saw the movie, didn't read the novel. Sounds like I should! Fantastic review Ron!
Barbara wrote: "Saw the movie, didn't read the novel. Sounds like I should! Fantastic review Ron!"The book does give a different perspective. It took me so many years to finally read the book (saw the movie when just a kid), but very glad I did now. Thanks Barbara!
seen the movie but never read the book now I am going to have to read it
Great review Ron!!! Loved the book and the movie. Have you read Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo? It's the real life Jaws in 1916. It was truly terrifying.
Katlyn wrote: "seen the movie but never read the book now I am going to have to read it"I usually always try to do the reverse, but it's been so long since seeing the film that this was nearly like new, and enough of it is different. Hope you enjoy it!
Susan wrote: "Great review Ron!!! Loved the book and the movie. Have you read Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo? It's the real life Jaws in 1916. It was truly terrifying."Thank you Susan! I have not heard of Close to Shore. Glad you mentioned - has to be terrifying. I was on edge at times even while reading this fiction book, but admit the writing was very good with suspense.
PS. Benchley may have mentioned the Close to Shore account, or something similar, in an afterward.
I had no idea that Jaws was a book, I will have to check this out now! I also had no idea about the title, what a stroke of luck that the author changed it at the last minute! I am so glad that you enjoyed this one and were able to find some similarities and differences from the movie! Excellent review Ron 😊
Great review Ron, still haven’t read the book! Enjoyed the movie though 😊
Ellie wrote: "I had no idea that Jaws was a book, I will have to check this out now! I also had no idea about the title, what a stroke of luck that the author changed it at the last minute! I am so glad that you..."I never knew about the title either Ellie! Finding that elements of the book were different from what I'd expected was a bonus. Screenwriters nearly always change things between book and movie, but they were smart enough to keep the main plot, the best parts, and added quite a few very suspenseful ideas. Hey, it's Spielberg at only 26 yrs old!
I think you are the only person I know who has read this book. Love the background info you included. I might wait until summer is over to read this one since I spend a fair bit of time on beaches this time of year 🦈
Maureen ( NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) wrote: "Great review Ron, still haven’t read the book! Enjoyed the movie though 😊"The movie scared me right out of the water, as it did many back then Maureen! Thank you.
Wyndy wrote: "I think you are the only person I know who has read this book. Love the background info you included. I might wait until summer is over to read this one since I spend a fair bit of time on beaches ..."Haha, I don't think it's possible to read this book and then not think about what may be swimming with you along the beach waters! Thanks so much Wyndy.
Terrific review, Ron! I enjoyed the debate on the name that you've included. They certainly made the right decision. ;-)
Fab review Ron! My husband used to have an old tattered copy of Jaws, it was knocking around for years, for some reason I never read it, kinda wish I had now.
Kimber wrote: "Terrific review, Ron! I enjoyed the debate on the name that you've included. They certainly made the right decision. ;-)"Seems like no other name could possibly fit now Kimber. The list of names was long, and many didn't make sense but I know must have to the author. Thank you!
Indieflower wrote: "Fab review Ron! My husband used to have an old tattered copy of Jaws, it was knocking around for years, for some reason I never read it, kinda wish I had now."Thanks! Wish I had the old, original paperback copy. Can't recall ever seeing one while browsing the thrift stores, but I'll keep looking. The first hardcover image was good and similar, but not nearly as terrifying.
Ron, what a compelling review! Good choice of a name for the book.
Laysee wrote: "Ron, what a compelling review! Good choice of a name for the book."Thank you, Laysee! I could imagine no other name here, but it was fun to ponder the others considered.
I'm sure this was my first ever thriller I watched, still remember how scared I was at times lol :)) And I still watch this classic whenever it's on. Should read the book, I suppose, after all those viewings :)
Beata wrote: "I'm sure this was my first ever thriller I watched, still remember how scared I was at times lol :)) And I still watch this classic whenever it's on. Should read the book, I suppose, after all thos..."You and me both, Beata! Had to be one of the first thriller movies I watched at the theater - big screen meant giant teeth. For whatever reason, I rarely see it now on the television, but I don't have cable networks. The book took me back in time, and may do the same for you.
Fascinating story behind the title, great review, Ron! 🦈
Kay's comcast is down wrote: "Fascinating story behind the title, great review, Ron! 🦈"Thanks, Kay! The "behind the scenes" in writing make a book even more interesting.
Jaws is one of my favorite movies. I wasn't too thrilled with the book.
Persephone's Pomegranate wrote: "Jaws is one of my favorite movies. I wasn't too thrilled with the book."The movie is outstanding. The book has great merits too. One angle wasn't really needed, but the movie did that as well, just not as far.
I haven't read the book, but those 2 beats of music can still get my heart beating a little faster. Since I wouldn't go into the water for a number of years after seeing the movie, I think I 'll skip the book.
Lisa wrote: "I haven't read the book, but those 2 beats of music can still get my heart beating a little faster. Since I wouldn't go into the water for a number of years after seeing the movie, I think I 'll sk..."You know I could hear that music while reading the book? Haha, especially in the beginning and when they reached the scenes on the boat. That first scene is at night, like the movie, and I just couldn't imagine the thoughts that would enter my mind in the dark water.
