Rating: 
Summary: I thought it was amazing
Review: This was one of the best books I have read in a while - I could not put it down. At the end, I was actually sitting on the edge of my couch, with my hand over my mouth, reading as fast as I could - and when it was over - I just had to sit for a minute and shake my head. It blew me away. I have recommended it to many people.
Rating: 
Summary: This book should stay as lost as Paradise
Review: This is a book that you keep reading, expecting it will go someplace. "They are setting up the background of the charators," you think as you read. Then you find yourself half way through the book and it still has not developed a plot. The only interesting point made by the book is that of the dilemma of tourism - people want to go to places that are unique and unspoilt, but as soon as they are found, they are no longer unique.I have not seen the movie, but based on so many comments about the book being better than the movie, I can only hope I will be spared this torture.
Rating:
Summary: "The Beach" should go out with the tide
Review: This book is a bore. It starts out with great promise but quickly gets bogged down in a useless and weak plot. The ending is a great disappointment -- it's almost like the publisher called up and told Mr. Garland he had one day to finish the book. Frankly, Mr. Garland writes like the very young author he is. Don't waste your money on the book, or the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie
Review: The Beach (the novel) is much better than the movie. Where the movie left you with unexplained emotions and actions, the novel fills in the blanks. Some of the basic plot is different (Hollywood went overboard on what is a simple love story aspect). If you liked the movie, get the book - you won't be disappointed. If you hated the movie, you still might give the book a chance.
Rating:
Summary: Don't critique it as a classic, just see it as a fun read.
Review: To all those who are griping about charachter development, and dead end ideas, and implausability...you all are acting like this was supposed to be some instant classic, destined to be taught in future literature classes. I went into the book hoping for an entertaining read and got just that. I wouldn't say his writing is fantastic, but it is definitely good. I think everyone here, while critiqueing the literary merit of this book, can't deny that it was an extreme page turner. I also think that there are some really interesting ideas brought up about travel culture and utopia...I don't think it is all drivel and silly. However, the book is not a classic it is merely one of the most entertaining beach reads I've had in awhile. I wished the book had continued on more and I didn't want it to end at all...so if you are in the mood for a bit of pop culture writing that is a lot of fun, buy this book. If you are looking for a classic, buy a classic.
Rating: 
Summary: What's wet and smells like fish?
Review: Stoned, sloppy and wealthy western youth get better than they deserve in the travel ghetto's around the world. Globetrotting in the search for some catatonic Eden in someone else's back yard is typical of the arrogance. The ghettos are there to primarily shield the natives from the westerners, not visa-versa. Garland's "hallucinogenic" writing style, suicidal Disney characters and all, is insincere and silly. Richard's epiphany from the jaded and squirrelly into some almost-crucified Christ-like innocent at the story end was unconvincing. It would have been more apropos and less tedious if the dope-freeloading gameboy-playing western beach colony had all been lined up and shot by the Thai drug traffickers 100 pages earlier than this book's ending. This was not an important yarn, but a flatulent yawn.
Rating:
Summary: stirring
Review: There are a good many things I want to say about Alex Garland's first novel...It was a very interesting read, but how could it be compared to "Lord of the Flies"? "Lord of the Flies" is a book I dislike very much, and the only thing these two books have in common is the part when a bunch of people go to an island paradise and become violent in the end. I don't think "The Beach" is too slow a novel, as one customer wrote in their review, but I do have to admit that parts of it, especially one part towards the end, made me lose my interest. I don't understand, though, why the people want to live permanently on a little island. I don't understand what it is with Mr. Duck. Is he dead and just in Richard's imagination, a spirit? Did some of the events in this book have hidden meanings in them, like Sten being killed, the phosphorescence? I like the unique way, though, that Garland kept the book long but almost completely interesting. That's certainly a talent not many people are gifted with. I'm a little challenged with how to write a review for such a complex book. This is a confusing yet really good book, and if you don't mind long novels, you really really ought to read this one.
Rating:
Summary: TOTALLY overrated . . .
Review: You know, I don't know what's all the fuss about. I read the novel, and I was VERY underwhelmed. I'm not saying it was a bad novel, but it just wasn't all that. It's like eating leftover pizza--edible but hardly satisfying. The action was flat and derivative of other better books--Lord of the Flies immediately springs to mind. The character development was nonexistent--the narrator Richard is a total bore. And Richard going bonkers in the jungle was so silly and unconvincing. And the ending was completely unbelievable. You can see Garland clumsily controlling his characters actions like marionettes. And yes, I too was born in 1974, but if this is my generation's idea of a great novel, we're doomed. There's a MUCH better book on Western Man's flawed flirtation with utopia, and that's Paul Theroux's "The Mosquito Coast." Now, there's an IMPRESSIVE novel--seriously impressive.
Rating: 
Summary: Very interesting read for generation x
Review: I read this book in one day. It was great. For those who say there is not enough character development, think again. The lead character (Richard) seems uncaring and unfeeling at times but then again, most generation x'ers do at times (myself included). Telling this story in the first person was brilliant, I really connected with Richard and what he was feeling (or wasn't feeling and maybe should have). At times I thought he seemed cold and distant until he slams into a brutal reality that makes him feel some emotions. This is a great read for a generation brought up watching too much tv and playing too many video games and not experiencing life as it should be experienced. The whole concept of there is no paradise, you have to live with yourself and adapt to your surroundings wherever you go was the best thing about this book. Really makes you think.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, excellent book
Review: Another example of how the book is far better than the movie. As an avid reader of Crichton, Grisham, and Clancy I am reluctant to start reading the work of authors I am not fimilar with, however after seeing the film, I knew I had to read the book and to say the least I was very impressed. It is written in the same style that other popular fiction writers use (ie not technically correct) but that doesn't matter. The story of a young traveller, going through Thailand, who finds a beach...a perfect beach, and lives there with a group of other people from around the world is fascinating. Many wonderful and exciting things happen during his stay there, including many visits from his 'friend' Mister Duck. An excellent book that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys crichton, grisham, clancy.
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