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Summary: Lord of the Flies and escapist desires
Review: Reading The Beach gave me a sense of comfort in that Richard's frustrations with the everyday materialistic existence of today's corporate world actually prompted him to explore Thailand. I have traveled his route as well but not as many adventures of travelling through weed plantations and all. Overall, despite being a fiction it addresses a very important fact omnipresent on today's twenty-something's mind - What does one believe in? this might sound rather philosophical but I, like much of my other friends my age have started questioning our existence as merely pawns of the system someday hoping to ride in our glory. Previous generations had feelings of patriotism, hobbies etc. - we are a unique group where we settle for often simulated environments and have learnt to pursue hedonism. Specifically, the book is amazing in that rather than trying to be a 'feel-good fiction' where the central character learns a single lessson, there is a myriad experiences ranging from rivalry over one's romantic feelings(Francoise) to examining the group dynamics in a far better manner than 'SURVIVOR' or 'The Real World'. This book serves as a reason to travel outside the States, especially for those prior to entering college - as the real world outside has much too offer that often gets overlooked as we chase productivity. Read this book - you are not the only one disenchanted.
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Summary: good... not great
Review: I was expecting more. I read this book after seeing the movie so I could fill in all the plot holes, and while it did it's job, I can't help but say I was a little disappointed by the whole thing... It's not a horrible book, and you wont hate yourself for having read it (like american psycho) but dont tackle each other to buy it
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Summary: Garland is the Lord of the Flies
Review: There has been so much hype about this book, especially since the movie. Forget it all. This book is excellent. It's like the intellectual raver's version of Lord of the Flies with paranoia, and prickly heat. It's so intense that you can almost hear a soundtrack pounding as you read it. If you saw the film and were curious, read the book and everything that you couldn't quite grasp in the movie will become clear. The film was a B compared to the novel's straight A.
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Summary: A Teen's Perspective
Review: I'm a teenager who read this book after listening to the perpetual nagging of my friend Desiree. I wasn't looking forward to it because of its obvious length, and i pretty much read it to make her shutup. But, i absolutely loved it. And even though people say it is the next Lord of the Flies, it's not, cuz that book was extremely boring and slow-moving, while this one is fast-paced and exciting. i'm sure i didn't really understand all of the hidden meanings of the book, but it was awesome all the same. i'm really glad i read it, because for the 5 hours it took to read it, i got to see the world through Richard's eyes, and i loved every minute of it.
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Summary: undoubtedly the best book written in the last 10 yrs
Review: Alex Garland is the greatest new author on the market. I also strongly suggest reading the Tesseracts.
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Summary: One of the best books I have read in recent years
Review: This book was a huge surprise for me. In fact the trailer for the upcoming (and horrible) movie rendition is what prompted me to purchase it. I was overwhelmingly surprised; it's a wonderful book. Alex is witty and entertaining, the story pans out very nicely, there are many surprises and it's overall beautifully written. Aside from the obvious similarities with "Lord of the Flies" I am not sure I should compare the two novels, this one is fundamentally different in focus. Really, what gripped me the most about the novel is the little anecdotes and brilliant narratives from the protagonist. Clearly I could identify with the character enough to make it impossible for me to put this book down. In conclusion, read this book! And leave Leonardo's new movie for the uninformed masses. Consider yourself warned. This book is a must read for (I hate this moniker) GenX'ers with the travel bug!
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Summary: Very Original Story Backpackers Will Love
Review: The closest thing we've got to The Great Backpacker Novel.Garland really knows the backpacker culture about which he writes. It's an amusing, well-written tale of the Lonely Planet traveler's dream-come-true. The film tried, but could not interpret the style of the book, which is half the fun. No laugh-out-loud hilarity, but a very amusing and original read. Unless you saw the film first, you wouldn't be able to guess the end. Great gift for that friend or relative who likes to 'travel rough.'
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Summary: Headline: Movie inspires book reading
Review: Ever see a movie and when you're leaving think to youtself that the movie had potential, I bet the book kicks ass? Well, that was me with the beach. I had already seen the movie while reading it, so I wasn't really suprised at stuff that unfolded. You're really looking for parts that were cut from the movie and usually help fill the plot holes. The ending of the book was a hell of a lot better, as usual. Good book, not great, but definitely worth my time.
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Summary: Little going on but a good book none the less
Review: The Beach is one of the most engorsing novels I have read yet not much really happens apart from at the end where everything happens at once. I finished this book in 4 days because i was reading it nonstop. I did like this book but it seems to be the same thing the whole way through. People go to catch fish, smoke weed and worry about little things that dont matter. The best part of this book was at the beginning because there is some slight vission of a plot but then it dies out. A very well written book. I dont know how Garland keeps the book alive through the 400 so pages but you carry on reading. I would recommend this book because you will like it you just wont know why. God knows how they even thought they could make a good movie out of this novel.
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Summary: Book and movie
Review: If you liked the movie, sure you will enjoy the book. Mainly because it doesn't have some flaws like the ending of the film, which is really disappointing. I liked the film also, but it fails in some parts where the book doesn't. It is interesting to compare the original book and the film rendintion. It gives clues about how the same things can be told in different ways, taking advantage of the different available tools. For example, due to time limitations, there are fewer characters in the film, but the director manages to keep some cool parts (e.g. some parts of missing characters are played by Richard or his French friend). Also the way the video game issues are included in the film is great, in a short and funny scene where Di Caprio becomes a video game character. The book can take its time to develope the characters and plot, and that may be the reason why its ending, and the piece of work on the whole, is better.
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