The Beach
by Alex Garland
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avg 3.85
Read in May, 2007
I basically devoured this book. Started on Friday, finished by Monday. Part of it has to do with the way the book is written (short, three to four page vignettes that make it easy to say, "Oh I'll just read one more") but a larger part has to do with the momentum of the story. it doesn't really ever let up. i was never bored reading this book in fact I almost compulsively needed to know what would happen next. The whole thing kind of plays out like a really well-done summer popcor...more
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I will defend this book's subtle intelligence to the ends of the Earth. Garland's performative act--seducing us with the myth of perfect travel, deftly balancing the naive hypocrisies of Westerners rooting out the exotic in the East--creates a brutal ending that recasts what had lead up to it. While Garland could have easily stopped with a cautionary tale, he went further by lacing his character's thoughts not with literary allusions, but filmic ones. Which 20-something British kid wouldn't thin...more
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Read in April, 2007
captivating and riveting to say the very least :). three pages into the book and i was hooked ( hey, it rhymes!! im a poet and i dont know it LOL ).
the only time i put the book down was when i had to do number one. and by then i realized that i was well on my way to pulling an all-nighter.
okay, so sue me for stating the obvious, but for me the book is about adventure. and hopes. and dreams.
about to what extent one is willing to pursue them. and once those things become reality, what is one...more
the only time i put the book down was when i had to do number one. and by then i realized that i was well on my way to pulling an all-nighter.
okay, so sue me for stating the obvious, but for me the book is about adventure. and hopes. and dreams.
about to what extent one is willing to pursue them. and once those things become reality, what is one...more
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Read in July, 2007
Excellent writing -- different, interesting, and colloquial without being cliche. His short descriptions of the characters are beyond adequate, as he lets you immediately understand the person. Richard, the main character, is both elusive and relate-able -- he's an enjoyable character for me because I could see myself in him. He's selfish and flawed, but tries to remain a team player and at the end of the day (or the trip?), he tries to save himself and his friends.
Everything about this...more
Everything about this...more
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This book is maybe my favorite book ever. I have read it 5 times (just completed the fifth read) since I bought it in 2000. I never get tired of this story. The writing is extremely witty and transports you to a world that seems beautiful on the outside, but quickly turns on its protaganist to become deeply sinister and threatening. The main character of Richard is relatable to everyone: he is searching for something, he is not sure what, but thinks he has found it in the beach. He never es...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
backpackers and fans of Lord of the Flies
I picked this book up, a bit dubious because of the Movie Cover (those of you who know me know how I hate to look like I"m only reading the book because there was a movie made about it). I started reading it on an airplane on a Friday night and upon arrival, I wanted to skip socializing with my friends to stay in my hotel room and read it to the end. It's definitely a good reflection of the personalities you meet "on the road" and while "traveling"... (traveling, as you ...more
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
backpackers
This book is of course way better than the movie.
The movie was watered down, warped, and completely missed the point Garland tried to make in his astonishingly succesful first novel.
For starters, Richard, the main character, is brown, English, and doesnt have sex with anybody. He's not Leo at all.
The first half of the book is incredible and really gets deep into the backpacking culture in Thailand, and is the best example of backpacker literature for our generation that I've yet se...more
The movie was watered down, warped, and completely missed the point Garland tried to make in his astonishingly succesful first novel.
For starters, Richard, the main character, is brown, English, and doesnt have sex with anybody. He's not Leo at all.
The first half of the book is incredible and really gets deep into the backpacking culture in Thailand, and is the best example of backpacker literature for our generation that I've yet se...more
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Read in September, 2006
recommends it for:
travelers
I read this book like a dork when I ran out of other material on a surprise trip to Thailand. Like a dork because, yes, I was on Koh Phangan, upon which this book is based, and yes, I openly read it while lying on the beach.
It's fantastic if only because it captures perfectly that young, angsty travel vibe that I jealously missed out on.. I didn't travel the world with nothing to my name, in search of the best new secret spot, and tire of the endlessly hip-then-discovered third world cities....more
It's fantastic if only because it captures perfectly that young, angsty travel vibe that I jealously missed out on.. I didn't travel the world with nothing to my name, in search of the best new secret spot, and tire of the endlessly hip-then-discovered third world cities....more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone with a passport
We've all wanted to escape: bin it all, cut ties, draw some sort of savage line between the Straight World and the primal self. And after about half an hour, we all realize that this may not be such a grand idea.
The Beach is a prime case of "it was a good idea at the time..." starring Richard, a British twentysomething (as of the mid-Nineties) with a standing case of wanderlust and an imagination populated largely by Hollywood's take on Vietnam - 'Platoon,' 'Full Metal Jacke...more
The Beach is a prime case of "it was a good idea at the time..." starring Richard, a British twentysomething (as of the mid-Nineties) with a standing case of wanderlust and an imagination populated largely by Hollywood's take on Vietnam - 'Platoon,' 'Full Metal Jacke...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Laura by:
my friendrecommends it for: everyone
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Old Shit I've Been Revisiting Part 1:
The Beach was the catalyst for this experiment I've started, I couldn't believe that it'd been five years since I've read the thing. It was also the book I was most afraid wouldn't hold up. It's reputation has suffered since the awful Danny Boyle movie, not helped by the fact that Alex Garland answered the question "Would he be the great novelist of Generation X?" with a resounding "No!".
The Beach was one of those perfect time per...more
The Beach was the catalyst for this experiment I've started, I couldn't believe that it'd been five years since I've read the thing. It was also the book I was most afraid wouldn't hold up. It's reputation has suffered since the awful Danny Boyle movie, not helped by the fact that Alex Garland answered the question "Would he be the great novelist of Generation X?" with a resounding "No!".
The Beach was one of those perfect time per...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
travellers, escapists
I don't know why I liked this as much as I did, as it had some problems. The whole Vietnam thing was unnecessary and never quite tied in. The Mister Duck device was just meh, and at times confusing in terms of purpose. Yet it was still a really fun and engaging read, and the characters were pretty likable. The author also turned some phrases I really liked.
<pre>'You're here about that guy who died, huh?'
'Yes. I heard you were the one to find him.'
Fame.
'Yep,' I replied, pulli...more
<pre>'You're here about that guy who died, huh?'
'Yes. I heard you were the one to find him.'
Fame.
'Yep,' I replied, pulli...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Backpackers
Richard ist als Rucksacktourist in Asien unterwegs und erhält in einer schäbigen Absteige in Thailand eine mysteriöse Karte von seinem Zimmernachbarn. Darauf ist ein Strand markiert, der das Paradies auf Erden sein soll. Zusammen mit einem französischen Pärchen macht Richard sich auf, dieses wundervolles Fleckchen Erde zu suchen - und sie werden nach einer beschwerlichen Reise sogar fündig. Einige Monate leben sie dort unbeschwert und glücklich, doch verschiedene Ereignisse führen dazu, ...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Travelers, Fans of the movie
I saw the movie first and even though the movie is at times melodramatic and completely different to the book (for starters Richard is English, not American, Mr Leo Dicaprio!!!), but I love it.
My boyfriend and I both hold it in our favourite movie of all time categories, because its so much fun, the acting IS good, despite what people say and just the whole idea of it - its what we want so much. Freedom...but of course, freedom comes with a price.
The book is obviously much better than the ...more
My boyfriend and I both hold it in our favourite movie of all time categories, because its so much fun, the acting IS good, despite what people say and just the whole idea of it - its what we want so much. Freedom...but of course, freedom comes with a price.
The book is obviously much better than the ...more
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Read in September, 2008
Regardless of the age of the author - this is a good book - but it is all the more impressive that it was published when Garland was 26. Some authors simply "have-it". It is fast-paced and keeps you hooked. The protagonist - and perhaps Garland - are obsessed with popular American Vietnam lore. The story is a Gen-X variation of Lord Of the Flies meets Apocolypse now. It's a rock-and-roll descent into hell with multiple references to Saigon and Hueys replete with over-the-top Vietnam ...more
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Read in January, 2006
I was not expecting this book in the least. I kept thinking something wild was going to happen. When I finally put down the book, slightly disapointed, I realized that a million wild things had happened but all in the form of the protagonist's head trip. The book, at first review seemed less than interesting. But as I thought about it more, the plot rolled around in my head for weeks encouraging me to see new and different levels. So I changed my mind. Thumbs up.
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone. particularly those travelling in Southeast Asia
I found this book to be quite clever. "Lord of the Flies" is one of my favorite books, so I was initially drawn in by reviewers that claimed it offered a nouveau intepretation of the classic.
I found the prose to be easy to follow. The descriptions of how it feels to be in Southeast Asia really resonated with me as a traveller in the region. Similarly, I found the Thai cultural references to be spot on.
I read the book in about two days while travelling overland through Cambod...more
I found the prose to be easy to follow. The descriptions of how it feels to be in Southeast Asia really resonated with me as a traveller in the region. Similarly, I found the Thai cultural references to be spot on.
I read the book in about two days while travelling overland through Cambod...more
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Read in October, 2008
I've seen a lot of travelers carry around dog eared editions of this book. I'd always avoided it, partly because of the movie, partly because it seemed cliched, like a Southeast Asian On the Road. I'm happy to say though, I was very wrong.
This book tells about a traveler's paradise off on one of the minor islands that make up Thailand. It's only comparisons to the movie are that they both take place on a beach. This island tale, gets darker and is much less sexy than the film. Also, the prot...more
This book tells about a traveler's paradise off on one of the minor islands that make up Thailand. It's only comparisons to the movie are that they both take place on a beach. This island tale, gets darker and is much less sexy than the film. Also, the prot...more
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A young Englishman goes to Thailand in search of the perfect gettaway. He finds it, a secluded beach known only to a few dozen people. But, of course, all is not what it's cracked up to be, and he finds himself fighting for this life.
This is an entertaining read. It's by no means great fiction, but it is fast paced and kept my interest throughtout. A good novel to take to the beach...
This is an entertaining read. It's by no means great fiction, but it is fast paced and kept my interest throughtout. A good novel to take to the beach...
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Alex Garland writes like a first year creative writing student and has his character spending far too much time smoking cigarettes and reflecting on pointless shit, but this book is one of my favorite in terms of concept. I'll even fess up to liking the movie, even though it was cringe worthy at times. (doin’ it in a bunch of glowing plankton? Bitches please.) But as shows like Lost, Survivor and countless comic strip gags have proved, the whole desert island theme will never become unpopular ...more
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