 | Price Comparisons: Rental | | Sorry, the textbook you were looking for is not available as Rental, at any of the stores we searched. | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | Michael Capuzzo tells the harrowing story of the real-life Jaws that helped inspire Peter Benchley's classic novel (and movie). Modern science now tells us that shark attacks are exceedingly rare and limited to just a few species. Yet they do occur, and one of the most terrifying episodes of fatal attacks occurred near the New Jersey shore in 1916, when a renegade great white shark went on a man-eating spree that left three adults and one boy dead. Capuzzo likens the shark's abnormal behavior to that of a person "who goes off the deep end and starts shooting." Whatever its motives, the shark captivated the public's imagination along the Eastern seaboard, devastated the resort economy, and even drew the attention of President Woodrow Wilson. Close to Shore is a bit slow to get going and could have been a much shorter book. There is a fair amount of stage setting, and the first shark attack doesn't occur until about one-third of the way through the narrative. But Capuzzo does much with limited source material and includes lots of interesting asides on everything from the lore of sea monsters to the bathing-suit fashions of the day to nearly everything science knows about great whites, which, it turns out, is surprisingly little. Alternating from the victims' perspectives to the shark's, Capuzzo's descriptions of the attacks are a blend of horrors and thrills: "Charles Bruder felt a slight vacuum tug in the motion of the sea, noted it as a passing current, the pull of a wave, the tickle of undertow. He could not have heard the faint, sucking rush of water not far beneath him. He couldn't have seen or heard what was hurtling from the murk at astonishing speed, jaws unhinging, widening, for the enormous first bite. It was the classic attack that no other creature in nature could make--a bomb from the depths." If this book were on any other subject, it would make for good beach reading. --John J. Miller |
Average Customer Rating:   When a Shark Went Down the Shore Close To Shore by Michael Capuzzo
Michael Capuzzo is a journalist who was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize four times. He worked for newspapers and magazines, and lives in rural New Jersey. Ocean bathing became popular in NJ in the early 20th century. In July 1916 there were shark attacks along the Jersey Shore. This is a story about that event with other historical facts about that era. The book has a `Selected Bibliography' but no Index. There are no photographs of the items mentioned here (p.12). [Some of the details in the movie `Jaws' echo the facts of the 1916 shark attack.] The map of NJ for 1916 shows the railroads but only the Pennsylvania Railroad is named (p.xiii). What were those "mysterious and deadly plagues" in Philadelphia (p.3)?
Part One describes the culture and background of that era. The "man-eating shark" was said to be a fisher-man's fable by skeptics and scientists (p.19). Clean air was believed to be an antidote for polio (p.34) or other ills. That was an era where most men owned only one suit (p.42). White bread was a pure factory-made food that lacked wheat germ (p.43). The shark bit Charles Vansant once, then waited for death (p.96). Modern treatment could have saved his life (p.102).
Part Two tells about the next attacks. Why would a shark avoid a long-distance swimmer (p.135)? A lone swimmer is defenseless against a shark attack (p.143). Charles Bruder died from a grade-one shark injury (p.153). A "famed expert" doubted the idea of man-eating sharks because there was no documentary evidence (p.178)! Dr. Sir Victor Coppleson theorized a "rogue shark" was responsible for recurring attacks (p.182). A steel net protected the Asbury Park bathing beach and people returned to normalcy (p.197).
Part Three concludes the story. The incoming tide carried the shark into Matawan Creek where it attacked swimmers (pp.233-245). The shark in Matawan Creek prompted men to get their rifles and shotguns to hunt the sea monster (p.250). A $100 bounty was offered to the person who killed the shark (p.251). Dynamite was thrown into the creek so the explosions would kill the shark (p.253). Small fish were killed (p.254). John Nichols the icthyologist arrived at Matawan Creek (p.256). The funeral for Stanley Fisher left the whole town in mourning (p.261). But the sea monster escaped (p.262). A full moon is associated with shark attacks (p.266). Shark sightings caused a panic (p.269). Beach hotels suffered great losses when people stayed away (p.274). Nothing could be done (p.275).
On Friday July 14 two men went fishing off the small port of South Amboy (p.281). They were surprised by netting a big fish (p.281). Michael Schleisser clubbed the shark with an old oar handle (p.282). The stomach contained bones that appeared to be human (p.292). The controversy continues (p.297). The `Sources and Acknowledgments' explain the origins of this book. Capuzzo explains where he got his background facts on Charles Vansant (p.303). Close to Shore: Close to a great book This books' written words were mesmerizing. But the fact that photos and a decent map of the area are non-existant is INEXCUSABLE! Had one crappy, poorly detailed 100 year-old map of the area where the attacks took place, and that's it! Booooooo!!! Book would have been so much better if author had included photographs of not only the shark's victims, but others prominantly mentioned in the book as well. And 1916/present day photographs of Spring Lake, and Matawan creek (the scene of the shark attacks) would have been an obvious touch. Capuzzo, you are a lazy !$#! All the reseach you put into this book; how could you fall down on the job like this? Thankfully, some ambitious types have done your job for you on the internet. You can see what Spring Lake, Matawan Creek looked like in 1916 as well as today on Youtube. Close, but no cigar..........Such a waste for an otherwise splendid book....... Great Story Michael Capuzzo writes a great story about these actual events. His research into the era and the people that were effected was tremendous. He never second guessed or used his own opinion about the incidents. He also made the comparisons to what we know today and what they did not know then about sharks. As you read the book you can basically see the movie Jaws's inspiration. Terrorized on the Beach For a sea shore vacation in 2007 I brought a few books to read "on the beach". This one turned out to be a fascinating and well presented historical narrative of the 1916 white shark attacks along the New Jersey shore. Well to say the least I was riveted to my beach chair and did not venture too far into the surf while I was reading this book. The author has done a great deal of historical and scientific research in this excellent historical narrative. Once you've read this one you'll be sure to loan it to a friend as there is much about this book that provokes exciting discussion. Even if you cannot read it at the beach... it will keep you riveted to your easy chair uneasily anticipating whatever is about to happen "next". brings the past back to life. from looking on amazon, it appears there is a kids version of this book that has been published (which seems strange to me given the subject matter, but okay), so, if you are an adult, be careful that you get a proper copy of this. but do get a copy. this book brings the eastern seaboard and the shark attacks that occurred there in 1916 vividly to life. the author evokes the time and place as well as could be expected from the reader, and gives a completely interesting narrative of this series of shark attacks. an excellent history piece of non-fiction writing that i highly recommend. |  |
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