Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

Feel free to discuss the story here

It has been a long time since I have seen the move, but so far it is striking me as very similar!

I can’t remember much as well but I know there’s quite a few changes ahead. Mainly parts that were not used on the film.

I am enjoying this read a lot! I was very surprised at the wife/Hooper chapter, did not see that getting as sexy as it did hahah

Lindsey wrote: "I am enjoying this read a lot! I was very surprised at the wife/Hooper chapter, did not see that getting as sexy as it did hahah"

It's interesting you mention this because it surprised me to. Now, Hooper was played by Richard Dreyfuss in the movie - and no offense to him, but, I don't remember thinking that his character was being presented in a sexy sort of way.

Don’t even know what to say about this part of the story. 🤣

I don't see Dreyfuss as sexy either, so he is one of the characters I have no problem imagining different in the book. Especially since Dreyfuss really does seem perfect for what we see on screen, but just wouldn't in the written scenes that are left out.

Yes, this book is way naughtier than I expected - in that I did not expect it to be naughty at all and it is actually quite scandalous!

Benchley writes scandalous scenes in ALL of his books! Funny how they didn't make it to screen.

The story was great, but yeah I have to agree that weird sex scene with Hooper and Ellen was unexpected. I thought it would lead to something later on with the affair but then it didn’t. Besides that my only annoyance was that the shark was constantly referenced to as a fish which bothered me because it made the shark bit seen as impressive that way. Maybe it was on purpose though so that when the shark did appear it seemed more impressive by description in contrast because t was referred to as a fish so often.

Perhaps by flippantly calling it a fish in their minds, they try to make it seem less threatening/easily defeated?

Did anyone else feel like Quint vs the shark is a nod to Moby Dick?

Matthew wrote: "Did anyone else feel like Quint vs the shark is a nod to Moby Dick?"

Absolutely!

I think referring to it as a fish was to minimize the threat or at least the sound of the threat. Benchley certainly knows it isn't a fish, so that must have been a conscious reason.