Rating: 
Summary: exciting books
Review: This books is really intrested to it because The book that I have read it was given me more information about the thing I have ever know about the Thailand, just has to be becarefull about a place that we've ever even known yet.
Rating: 
Summary: Join the beach club!
Review: After I read this book, it's rate XX. It's the incredible book ! I think the end is OK but sometimes I think Alex had a bad attitute about Thailand... so he should come back and learn Thai culture...
Anyway, it is pretty good
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining read
Review: After seeing the film, which I thought was quite good, I decided to read the book. I was amazed to find that the book's main male character was actually a Londoner, rather than an American. However, the film pretty much stays true to the book albeit for a couple of sub-plots and storylines. The ending in the book is completely different and for this reason I would recommend that anyone who enjoyed the film should read it just to see what an alternative ending for the film might have been.
Rating: 
Summary: Flash backs of Treasure Island ?
Review: Alex Garland has plenty of talent, but for some reason he couldn't finish the book the way it started. The creative flow ran out of fuel when Richard found the beach.(Advice, That would be the ideal spot to move onto another book.) If you are interested in fishing and gardening, then continue with the last half. Basically the book turns into lord of the flies in the last chapter. It even has a the same story plot as Treasure Island in the begining, it makes me wonder sometimes. I still can't believe it was made into a movie!!
Rating:
Summary: Cult Classic
Review: Alex Garland's book, "The Beach," was an underground classic among the hiking and backpacking subculture long before it was made into a big-time Hollywood movie. In it, Garland takes a "Lord of the Flies" motif and combines it with the dangers of living a hedonisitc lifestyle.
Richard, the protagonist, is a 20-something searching for the ultimate adventure. Sick of the hustle and bustle of the urban world, Richard embarks on an adventure in Thailand thinking it will bring him peace, quiet, and a simpler life.
The writing is somewhat sophomoric at times, which is why this is not a five-star book. Had Garland been more eloquent and sophisticated in his writing (which he IS very capable of), this book would possibly be considered among scholars as more of a creative fictional case-study of today's modern youth culture rather than merely a "pop" read. But then again, Garland WAS only 25 years old when he wrote it -- an impressive feat!
Be sure to see the movie after you read the book, as there are several significant plot differences.
Rating: 
Summary: This novel was so so.
Review: As a international student, I read this novel to acquire more vocabulary . It was intresting and relatively easy to read. The writer described the X generation well, however, I felt unpleasant that there were cruel expressions. It was too much for me. I could understand the theme of this novel, describing human nature, but I disagree the sense of value in this novel. It seemed that the writer agreed with euthanasia and drug abuse. During reading this novel, I felt somber and cold.
Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: I am not usually into "traveling fiction" but my sociology class required me to read a book relating to sociology, and fiction beats statistics any day. I got a brief summary from my teacher and I just didn't see why he liked it so much, but as soon as I started reading, it clicked! The one aspect that irked me was that I could never visualize a clear image of the characters and it side tracked me numerous times. Aside from that the book was amazing; it was a great movie you didn't want to stop watching. The book played out in a series of cinematic snapshots, which seemed so vivid and alive. Garland also reeled the reader in with his enticing exploration of human nature. Desire, greed, and adventure combined to make an enthralling piece of literature.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: I couldn't get enough of this book and had a very hard time taking breaks from reading it. I couldn't wait to get to the conclusion, but also didn't want it to end. The plot, the flow of the storyline, the characters, and especially the setting - all fascinating. Start this book, and you'll have to finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and interesting novel.
Review: I had chosen this novel for a school project with some early scepticism. After reading only a few dozen pages I was hooked. This book is fast paced and always twisting the projected outcome. Please don not base this book on the movie, for it is much better. I would reccomend this book to all readers looking for an interesting adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Beach Culture Never Looked So Good, And Unappealing
Review: I loved this book at first it starts out and I think OK its a bunch of rich shallow kids who are looking for some Nihilistic experience. But then they move on and find the Beach, and its culture, Richard and his 2 French companions find that Nihilistic experience there. Only in the beginning I think Richard was a little disapointed when no one sat around all day and talked about it. "Its just a beach resort." Sal told him. But in the beginning it was so much more, Richard is mesmerized by action of fitting in, in this utopian experience. At first he sees no petty differences, just everyone living "the Life," fishing, gardening, cooking, talking. There's no television, no radio, no newspapers, and no phone. So they only have each other for company and contact. There are some symbols of the outside world, only really two to be precise, the GameBoy, and the boat. Entertainment and transportation. Two of the bigger catalysts from the modern world. But then things sour, events don't just begin to sour, there were rifts previously there already, but they are made worse by some events that cause these rifts to broaden and engulf the commune. And it becomes evident that these people are in fact spoiled brats of rich parents and think only of themselves and how things will effect them and their time at the beach. They become completly irrational, they do not help people who are in life threatening danger, and allow them to be killed, they do not notify family members that their loved ones have died. In fact when some people are killed by other forces they in fact see this as a blessing, a particular problem that was bothering them has been taken care of, and the commune did not have to confront the issue. This bit was almost completly frustrating for me. I hated the people in the book for this. Read the book, enjoyed it very much, be sure to catch all the Vietnam references, one screwed event compared to another. One reference in particular is the Tet Celebration which signifies a change in the commune's way of life as did the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.
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