Beast

I've read jaws and this doesn't quite measure up. Overall, I enjoyed the book. I liked Whip and Sharp, but the 'bad' guys weren't as well developed. The action scenes were tense, but I'm just not as scared of giant squid as I am of sharks, so the creature fell a little flat.

Another excellent read by Benchley. Not as good as Jaws, but possibly only because it doesn't hold the same nostalgia as Jaws does. Whip makes a great protagonist, just wish some of the other antagonists (St. John & Manning) had more spectacular deaths, but that's just nitpicking. Other characters come and go pretty quickly but the plot flows well, sometimes a little predictable, but good overall. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Have read several of Benchleys novels and have never been disappointed... With this in mind I got hold of Beast.

Firstly I'll say that this book has been awarded 5 stars and deserves an extra one as well. The main basis of the book is that man has overfished the seas around Bermuda and upset the balance of nature. A giant squid has therefore come to be found in the seas and boy is it hungry.... It is left to local sailor, Whip Darling to unwillingly oversee it's destruction

For the novel Benchley has created numerous strong willed characters such as a vengeful father, a self important Doctor, a sea loving Fisherman, a proud navy captain and a sea expert looking to fulfill his lifes ambition. This mixture really helps to carry off the show more larger than life plot, and believe me there are more than enough twists to keep you gasping along (including the ending)....

During the book Benchley even manages to have an inside grin at the success of Jaws and makes a comparison in public reaction to a film and the 'real life' depicted in the novel.

The chapters written from the Beasts point of view are amazing and really add so much to the atmosphere that Benchley seems to so easily create.

Rarely do I come across an author that has such a depth of knowledge of his subject matter. The book, as with most of his others, is filled with an encyclopedia of facts and figures of marine life. You can really tell how much he cares for the sea and his passion is infectious.

If you are not familiar with Benchley, put him on your 'to do' list for this year. And if your looking for somewhere to start, Beast is a great place. show less

Though a little formulaic, Beast is a riveting read. With plenty of suspense and death, there is rarely a dull moment. The giant squid is a real animal, yet is still unfamiliar enough to provide plenty of thrills. This book will have you thinking twice about ever entering the ocean again.

This is my favorite fiction book by Peter Benchley. Perhaps because I love oceans and giant squid. The story follows a line similar to Jaws--boats mysteriously disappearing, strange signs left on remains, and the suspense of what is waiting in the deep. I especially enjoyed the occasional chapter written from the beast's perspective.

Also in tradition with Benchley's other works, the book promoted protecting the environment and not wasting the sea's resources. I appreciate that Benchley encourages such practices through his writing.

All's calm in Bermuda until a massive squid begins attacking boats and killing people.

Creepy and fast-paced, this thriller never lagged. Although I had to suspend my disbelief pretty far to buy the squid-intent-on-killing-just-because-of-rage angle, a gruff sea cowboy of a main character helped to get me into the story. Benchley obviously knows the sea and includes lots of detail to make the setting and characters come alive.

3/5

has its moments and some well written inner dialogue. I think I enjoyed this more than Jaws? The ending.. chef's kiss.