Blockbuster

A Novel

By: Richard H. Smith

Narrated by: TJ Clark

Jaws arrives in movie theaters - soon to forever shatter expectations for summer entertainment. Theater manager Nate Burton and Spence Reeves, a former Buffalo soldier with remarkable talents, face the frenzied and, sometimes, lethal challenges associated with this blockbuster movie’s arrival.

Nate, who has had to delay his college dreams, also falls for one of his college-bound employees, but must contend with her boyfriend, whose cool superiority inspires a frustrating blend of envy and jealousy.

©2020 Richard H. Smith (P)2020 Richard H. Smith

Nice quick read

This book first jumped out at me as I had worked at a movie theater for the better part of a decade through HS/College. So a huge part of my enjoyment is based on this past experience. The book itself was a quick and easy read, but the plot was a little bit too slow. Overall I enjoyed it, getting a nice trip down memory lane going back to my theater days.

Dreamlike Youth in the 70’s

What I loved most about this story was how self-enclosed it was. It conjured up perfectly what I would imagine a southern summer would be during one of the biggest movie releases. Nate is an earnest and likable protagonist with his own set of well rendered insecurities. I felt transported from start to finish.

Narrator does a great job too. He added an interesting flavor to the story.

Great story

I enjoyed this story centered around the release of JAWS. The mystery was good but I enjoyed the insights of the main character to his circumstances. it is worth a listen.

A real blockbuster of a read

I got a huge kick out of this novel. It vividly recreates the American south in 1975, including slices that do not get much attention, like the inner workings of a movie theater. The cast of characters is carefully drawn, especially the narrator Nate, and the co-hero Spence.

It provides a perfect mix of comedy, mystery, suspense, and coming-of-age story.

The narrator's southern drawl brings the characters to life, and he deftly handles various accents. The energy grows as he brings the story to a frenetic conclusion.

It took me back to the feeling of a simpler time -- much needed in these complex days.

I hope that the author can produce other monuments of the same time period.

Intertwined facts from JAWS with an interesting murder story.

The story mixes what a theater that is going to show JAWS and adds characters that are employed there. When a murder takes place an investigation happens. Some good plot twists too.