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meg_demint's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ripxreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity
shetef's review against another edition
Graphic: Body shaming and Misogyny
Moderate: Infidelity
hannuhreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
- A classic
- Thriller / horror
- Unlikable characters
- Relationship drama
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Blood, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
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
infinite_finite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, and Infidelity
woodsybookworm'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
2.0
Things I liked:
- the detail of the shark attacks
- the few moments we actually see the shark (this book was more about Hooper and Ellen's affair than the freaking shark)
Things I didn't like:
- the affair subplot (main plot?)
- the shark being described as "the fish" Even other characters in the book say that it's odd when the shark is described that way but that's how it's described for the ENTIRE book 🐟
Other thoughts:
- Vaughn should have been eaten by "the fish". Why did he get to skip off into the sunset? He was a terrible person.
Maybe my nostalgia for the movie is blinding me, but I was not a fan of this book at all.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, and Blood
lareinadehades's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
gummybearlife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, and Infidelity
ghoulishshark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
extremely disappointed.
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Vomit, and Lesbophobia