Books lack one thing—a sound track. Who doesn’t feel the hairs on the back of their neck stand up when they hear those iconic two notes in the movie “Jaws”? Think how your experience reading the book might be enhanced if John Williams’ music was playing in the background, though you might not turn the next page if you heard that “da duh” start up.
Until someone comes up with soundtracks accompanying books as you read them—and no doubt it will someday—you’ll just have to imagine the music in your head as you read Peter Benchley’s “Jaws” if you pick it up for your Shark Week reading. He also has two nonfiction books about the marine animal, “Shark Chronicles,” and “Shark Troubles.”
Quint, the crusty shark hunter in “Jaws,” refers to his time as a sailor who survived the shark attacks after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis (which was added for the movie; don’t look for his speech in the book). But if you want to learn more about the harrowing experience in the Pacific Theater during WW II, the library can help; check out “In Harm’s Way: the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis,” by Doug Stanton or “Indianapolis: the True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in US Naval History,” by Lynn Vincent.
But if you’re looking for something a little lighter in tone, take a look at “How to Survive a Sharknado” by Andrew Shaffer. Though the “unnatural” disasters described in the book are rather tongue-in-cheek, there’s also some “helpful” information such as “how to wield a chainsaw like a boss” which would come in handy when a sharknado hits. Or if a regular big Kansas wind topples your Bradford pear tree.