Helpful Score: 2
My husband and I loved the book -- it was full of fascinating information regarding both the era and sharks. If you don't like history, you won't like the book -- he spends a lot of time setting the scene before the first shark attack.
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating true story of 1916 shark attacks, - hard to put the book down. Well research and well told.
Jodi R. (jrenshaw) reviewed Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
One of my very favorites. I hate to part with it. Part thriller, part historical documentation, part biology.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
Helpful Score: 1
There is alot of emphasis on the American society's mindset in an era where polio was just becoming a baffling reality, "bathing" in the ocean was a new pastime, U-boats were making the news, and no one believed sharks to be man-eaters. Then, the first shark attack documented in American history occurs and this book becomes more frightening the further into it you read. I learned things about sharks that I did not know, as well. For example, the word shark is derived from a German word meaning "villain". You can easily see the parallels to Peter Benchley's "Jaws" and it only makes it more frightening that this is a true story!
