The Thousands

Yes. Really. JAWS by Peter Benchley. It’s one of the best books you will ever read. Before the movie grossed a record one hundred million dollars and effectively invented the ‘blockbuster’, JAWS was actually a wildly successful novel that rode the bestseller list for an incredible 44 weeks!

Though JAWS the movie was amazing, it never really had a chance of doing JAWS the book any justice. JAWS the book is a dark and bloody snarl of subplots that swirl off the page and stay with you long after you put it down. And the finale! Wow! It’s completely different to the explosive Hollywood ending, which was great,don’t get me wrong, but wait ’til you read how the fish really dies. It’s fucking brilliant. I’ve read JAWS every second or third summer since I was 16 and I never tire of it.**Two summers ago I actually read it on the beach, which was kind of a mistake. I was so spooked! I had to have a few drinks before I could get up the courage for a swim! And it didn’t help that I had my period at the time either.