R.I.P. Peter benchely [Archive] - Literature Network Forums

View Full Version : R.I.P. Peter benchely

Stanislaw

03-09-2006, 04:45 PM

Peter benchely, author of Jaws and The white shark, has passed on at age 65. I just found out. :(

Scheherazade

03-19-2006, 07:22 PM

I want to read a Benchly book. Anyone else is intested?

beer good

03-19-2006, 08:09 PM

I've read two Benchley books, and my considered advice is to watch "Jaws" instead.

Scheherazade

03-22-2006, 04:06 AM

I have watched 'Jaws' but I still would like to read one of his books. Has anyone got any recommendations?

Jaws
The Deep
The Island
The Girl of the Sea of Cortez
Q Clearance
Rummies
Beast
White Shark
Peter Benchley's Creature

Jay

03-22-2006, 06:06 AM

I think I've read White Shark. It was good. I thought Benchley also wrote Megalodon and wanted to suggest that but after searching I found out it's not a Benchley book. Worth reading though, I liked it.

Megalodon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2268025926/sr=8-8/qid=1143021848/ref=pd_bbs_8/002-0786703-9863203?%5Fencoding=UTF8) is by Steve Alten btw.

beer good

03-22-2006, 06:50 AM

I've read "Jaws" and "Beast". Turns out they were basically the same book, only with a squid instead of a shark in "Beast". Of the two, I think I'd recommend "Jaws" - it's not nearly as good as the movie, but as thrillers go, it has its good sides.

I'm not saying this to put him down; the man wrote the basis for one of the best movies ever, and I kinda love him for that. But IMO (in fairness, it's been a few years since I read them) Benchley had Kilgore Trout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilgore_Trout) syndrome: he had at least one great idea, but not necessarily the writer's talent to back it up.

Scheherazade

03-22-2006, 12:02 PM

I'm not saying this to put him down; the man wrote the basis for one of the best movies ever, and I kinda love him for that. But IMO (in fairness, it's been a few years since I read them) Benchley had Kilgore Trout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilgore_Trout) syndrome: he had at least one great idea, but not necessarily the writer's talent to back it up.Thanks for that! I didn't know about Kilgore Trout (haven't read any Vonnegut, unfortunately). I am wondering how Jaws would have been had it been written 'better'. Another Moby Dick, maybe?