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Summary: I travelled this country 28 years ago during Vietnam War.
Review: Back in 1970 as an ex-Peace Corps Volunteer I traveled throughout Southeast Asia, hitchhiking where possible - Malaysia yes, Thailand no - and sleeping on the deck of a Thai boat making its way down the coast to Malaysia - stopping at an island that easily could double for the one in The Beach. Reading the book was thus eerie: in those days Vietnam was very real, not a movie; and Southeast Asia wasn't a tourist destination other than GIs on r and r. Interesting book. The interest in Vietnam - or movies about Vietnam - by the central character shows that it hasn't been forgotten. And the view of Southeast Asia in the book is at odds with my memory of it - mysterious, beautiful, confounding. I guess that's why the backpackers went looking for that pristine island. Again, an interesting book that got me to thinking about a very interesting - and different - time.
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Summary: Can an individual honestly exist in a crowd mentality
Review: I enjoyed the read. The interplay of group mentality (social and psychological) vs. individuality was very interesting. I found the subtle mechanics of Richard's seemingly to assimilate into the "group" to parallel what is found in a few corporations. Alex must have experienced life to a fuller extent than most his age. The layers and players fit together beautifully. I hope that the film is not "Americanized" but stays within his vision.
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Summary: Nostalgia
Review: Any Westerner who has traveled SE asia will appreciate Garland's comentary on bagpacking culture.
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Summary: Great the first time, excellent the second.
Review: Truly this book was one of the best reads in recent memory. I feel like I can really relate to Mr. Garland. But that is what good writers are striving for,right? The book starts out in Thailand and would make the most wretched agoraphobiac want to pick up a pack and start hostelling. The dialogue is very real and the author's voice is fresh and imaginatively original. Watch out for the parts when Richard is smoking out with Sammy and Zeph, their introduction into the book is cleverly done and will be hard to forget(The surfer act). Also the part where Richard (Excuse me, he is the protagonist) is imagining a fight scene with Bugs (Once again excuse the quotations he, Bugs, is another character included in the read). Who doesn't do this? It is like "Wait a minute, back up, now...no, yeah thats it, This is what I'd do... Once you read this book you won't forget it. I have told all of my literary friends about it (The two that I have-"So Braddocks what did you think of it my man?...Ha) and am very much impressed. For a young doubtful writer like myself it was a sheer motivational and inspirational experience. " You are in Vietnam, man! /people are strange... Thanks.
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Summary: It was so awesome!
Review: It was the book I EVER read. I could not put it down. I did have to read it a couple of tines to understand stuff that I didn't get the first time. It's going to be one helluva movie!
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Summary: Mouse on the stairs
Review: First thing that comes to mind is that it was funny for me to read about Richard humming the mouse on the stairs song as, should I start, I myself cannot stop doing that for hours to the extreme irritation of whoever is around, except my 2-year-old - which incidentally I blame for this - Apart from the unhappy connection of the mouse song there is the fact that Apocalypse Now is one of my 'films of the millenium' and Heart of Darkness is of course one of my "books of..." hence I could not fail to enjoy The Beach. I'm very envious of Alex Garland. I saw him on `Bookmark' or some such TV programme and as if extreme writing talent and youth were not enough he also possesses dark good-looks and overwhelming sex appeal - yes, even in a two-dimensional, TV screen format. The bastard. If I really have to look for a tiny snag, it is that I cannot find Sal particularly threatening but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt as I have not quite finished the book yet so she might turn out to be so by the end. Also, as anyone who has ever smoked powerful stuff in exotic countries knows well, your brain does strange things to you under that kind of influence so she may not seem derangedly vicious on a rainy afternoon in South London but, given the chance and a change of scenery, who knows.... I cannot for the life of me imagine Leonardo di Caprio as Richard but who cares about the film anyway - they are never as good as the books (apart from Apocalypse Now-like ventures) and I understand that the economics of the thing require the involvement of gormless Hollywood stars. Whatever happens I'm sure it will not be a much more ordinary picture than 'A life less ordinary'. Maybe one Hollyheartthrobby will be enough and Boyle won't want to resort to Cameron Diaz to play Francoise. Can't stand that weasel-faced, sentimental, unfunny american crap thing myself but there you go. Congratulations Alex.
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Summary: BRILLIANT
Review: I cannot imagine how some people felt this was a 'boring' book! I was entraced from the very first page! I have never been to Thailand or Vietnam...it makes it all the more exciting! Garland's words painted incredible scenes in my head- of the beauty and tranquility of the island, to the viciousness of one's soul. I truly recommend this book for anyone with a sense of adventure. A MUST READ!
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Summary: Suspenseful, page-turning prose and supertight plot.
Review: This book completely kicks ass. I couldn't put it down. The prose is tightly written and not too literary. Characters are beautifully drawn with a lead protagonist who is uniquely, simultaneously attractive and repulsive. The plot is very suspenseful and will leave you with a suprising and extremely satisfying ending. Garland is an amazing writer whose vivid details make a reader almost believe this is an autobiography. Looking forward to the movie which just wrapped production.
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Summary: Lord of the Flies meets Catcher in the Rye in Thailand
Review: It's a good read, frustrating to think of the ways that it could have been even better.
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Summary: Throwaway paperback suitable for Beach reading
Review: I did not have the advantage of having read Lord of the Flies, so my comments of this book are on its own merits. Essentially, the book idles along with mundane beach commune life until the writer finally decides to wrap things up with a contrived ending. What surprised me, though, was how easily the book read despite the lack of events throughout much of it. I suppose that's more of a comment on the writer's sparse, non-thought provoking writing style than anything else. But another thing that kept me reading on was my constant expectation that something interesting has to happen soon. Unfortunately, nothing ever did. And then at the end, I was left feeling empty. Don't get me wrong, though. I do think that this is a solid effort for a first novel, especially for a 26 year old. But don't you believe all those rave reviews that you see on the book's cover. Better to perhaps wait for the movie to see if a rewritten sceenplay can make the story more interesting.
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