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Jaws Audiobook
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(3.00) - 40,452 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
With the 1974 publication of the novel Jaws and the release a year later of the film based on the book, an American cultural phenomenon was born. Today, the remarkable bestseller by Peter Benchley still towers as a thrilling classic of suspense, drama, and the eternal conflicts of man against nature … and man against himself.
As the movie continues to broadcast all over the world, entire generations may know the Jaws story only through its cinematic rendition. Those unfamiliar with the literary forerunner are in for a wonderful surprise, for the novel contains many twists of plot and character that were omitted in the film. Peter Benchley’s Jaws is an extraordinary experience of its own, a masterpiece as mesmerizing today as it was in 1974, when it first took us into the watery world of a creature designed by nature to kill … and into the terror it brings from the silent darkness of the deep.
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"One of the very first books, I read right through, as a young teenager. First time, I had ever experienced expletives, usually from Quints vocabulary. Some chapters were tedious to get through, and some were quite exciting. All in all a good read that still leaves the film behind. Some scenes are unequalled in literacy no matter how good the CGI is."
— Mark (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Erik Steele’s performance heightens the tension, thereby increasing the payoff at the conclusion.”
— AudioFile -
“Steele’s reading makes this classic beast-tale new again.”
— Library Journal (audio review) -
“A small gem of suspense fiction…Steele amplifies not only the suspense but Benchley’s surprisingly well-honed characterizations.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred audio review) -
“A tightly written, tautly paced study of terror...that still makes us tingle.”
— Washington Post -
“A super-thriller! If you have any imagination at all, the book will give you the shivers.”
— New York Post -
“Relentless terror.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“Pick up Jaws before midnight, read the first five pages, and I guarantee you’ll be putting it down breathless and stunned as dawn is breaking the next day.”
— Daily Express (London) -
“Benchley keeps it moving, fulfills all expectations...Jaws is lean, all sinew, everything directed toward a climax that is implanted on the retina from the very first sentence.”
— New York magazine -
“An eminently successful combination of adventure story and moral fable...The narrative is tense and absorbing, the characterization excellent, and the climactic shark hunt as exciting a sea story as one could want.”
— Library Journal -
“Benchley’s writing is lean and efficient—this is his first novel, and also by far his best—and the story is a solid mixture of small-town politics, mystery, and outright terror.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Jaws Listener Reviews
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" read this a long time ago and it scared me to death! "
— Gail, 2/15/2014 -
" Well, I have been meaning to read this book for many years now. I have seen the movie countless times; it is one of my favorites. I felt it only sensible to read the origin of a story that has become a cult phenomenon. Who knows how I would have judged this novel had I read it BEFORE I watched the movie 100 times. But that didn't happen so instead I am judging this novel, its characters, its plot fluidity and development and its execution against a Spielberg movie. That being said, this book gets only two stars. Benchley's writing is some of the most meticulous writing I have ever read. When it comes to shark attacks, it is quite gripping. In everything else, it is more of a nuisance. The movie/book discrepancy that bothered me the most (more than the fact that Matt Hooper was unlikable and killed off and Quint was sadistic for no other reason than money) was Ellen Brody. In the film, she is a strong, smart, capable woman who supports her husband and is a source of strength for him. In the novel, she is whiny, obnoxious, and ultimately unfaithful to her husband. It is a no-brainer that movies are simpler and less detailed than novels. Most of the time, that is why we usually like the book more than the movie. But in the case of the most famous killer shark, I think less is more. "
— Jeanette, 1/31/2014 -
" One of the better horror books I have read that was turned into a movie blockbuster. Benchley successfully portrays the feeling of terror that Spielberg later shows in his 1975 movie adaptation. "
— Ryan, 1/30/2014 -
" People had sex in 1974 "
— James, 1/25/2014 -
" Was looking for an in-between book until I grab the third in the "Millennium Trilogy" and decided to re-read this; forgot how good it is. I just started thumbing through it again last night, but I'm already halfway done. "
— Nicole, 1/24/2014 -
" The movie was actually almost as good. Still one of the scariest movies ever. "
— Cin, 1/12/2014 -
" Read this at the beach and loved it. It is very different from the movie, though it starts off the same. would have made a great flick as is. You know the story, but it's better. "
— Kimberly, 1/3/2014 -
" love this book. Read it in high school. "
— Randy, 1/1/2014 -
" The parts that were good were really good. But a HUGE portion of the book is dedicated to stupid bad marriage relationship drama that really made me want to put the book down. "
— Derek, 11/30/2013 -
" Grabbed the book from my parents' shelves, maybe 18 years ago. Worthless. "
— Arjen, 8/13/2013 -
" First read summer of 1997. Reread 2011. "
— Jeremiah, 8/9/2013 -
" could have done with out all the summer and winter people stuff other than that good "
— Charles, 4/30/2013 -
" This was a stupidly written book but a really popular, well-done movie. "
— Virginia, 4/22/2013 -
" what more could be said that isnt said already...this book is a classic "
— Rob, 11/22/2012 -
" This book was excellent -- an amazingly quick read. "
— deitra, 7/24/2012 -
" Love love love love love love love this book! "
— Ashley, 5/14/2012 -
" The rare case of the film being better than the book! "
— Rob, 4/26/2012 -
" MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER i absoulutely love this book, the ending in the book is way better "
— Lukas, 4/8/2012 -
" I never swim in the ocean after reading this book. Great book. "
— Brian, 2/16/2012 -
" Wow, much darker than the movie. "
— Kim, 10/17/2011 -
" Great Movie based on a sub par book. "
— Scott, 9/22/2011 -
" A nearly perfect quick beach read. "
— Craig, 8/22/2011 -
" The first "adult" book I ever read. 5th grade. Felt I was very grown up until I the nightmares started, all based on the first chapter with he description of the swimmer's leg being chewed off. Great, trashy read. "
— Kara, 7/1/2011 -
" Loved the book and the movie. Book is different so if youve only seen the movie you have to read the book. "
— Debbie, 5/17/2011 -
" I loved it. I could see why they'd make a movie out of it. This one cost a lot of beach b usinesses a lot of money... "
— F., 5/14/2011 -
" Not as good as it was when I was 10. "
— Nic, 5/10/2011 -
" I try to stay away from books like this but who can resist shark attacks? "
— Pete, 5/8/2011 -
" Bizarre, but fun. Different than the film, in a good way. "
— Elissa, 5/6/2011 -
" The movie was better. "
— Perrin, 4/28/2011 -
" The movie is way better, but the book wasn't bad. "
— Sarah, 4/14/2011 -
" The first "adult" book I ever read. When the paperback edition came out, I was around 5 years old. It seemed my mom and everyone else had that book. I was fascinated by the cover and got to reading--quite an exercise for a kindergartener. To this day, a real thriller. "
— Jeremy, 4/5/2011 -
" The only time I think I'll ever say this...THE FILM WAS BETTER! "
— Jamie, 3/31/2011 -
" This was the first adult book I had ever read when I was 9 years old. The enchantment of a deadly, man-eating fish captured my imagination. A truly great story. I don't think anyone ever looked at the beach the same way again after reading this book. "
— Scott, 3/23/2011 -
" Stephen King recommended. <br/> <br/>Read the book, then saw the movie. Even though I knew what was coming, I still jumped clear out of my seat when the severed head popped out of the wrecked ship! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! "
— Debra, 3/13/2011 -
" I read this as a teen and couldn't put it down. "
— Leesa, 3/5/2011
About Peter Benchley
Peter Benchley (1940–2006) was an American author best known for writing the novel Jaws and cowriting the screenplay for its highly successful film adaptation. The success of the book led to many publishers commissioning books about mutant rats, rabid dogs, and the like threatening communities. The subsequent film directed by Steven Spielberg is generally acknowledged as the first summer blockbuster. Benchley also wrote The Deep and The Island, which were also adapted into films, and several other novels. A champion of conservation, he was a compelling author for shark fans and foes alike.
About Erik Steele
Erik Steele is a professional actor living in New York City, where he has worked both on and off Broadway and in film. He has toured with the prestigious Acting Company, performing Shakespeare and Sheridan in theaters from Atlanta to Anchorage. He holds an MFA in acting from New York University and a BA from Vassar College.