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Summary: The Beach
Review: Richard is a young man.He travels quite a lot until he reaches Bangkok.There,he heards about an unknown beach which is like paradise as not an official one. So he decides to go there with two people he met there...
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Summary: Writing books = easy money
Review: I sat in economy on BA 49 to Seattle and read this thing. I soon got worried. The attractive girl sitting next to me would think I had the mental age of 12 if she saw a paragraph or two of what I was dragging myself through. I tried spilling wine on the cover, wrapping it in the world traveller magazine, hiding it under my seat. Nothing helped me from cringing at some truely awful prose. I've edited my copy with a blunt plastic knife to remove all mention of Daffy Duck, Vietnam, Video Games, Airfix toys, Thai Dope Guards. We can discuss whats left. The weird thing is that I could fully appreciate what Garland was trying to do. It seemed some formula of Herr's Dispatches + Conrad's Heart of Darkness + Golding's Lord of Flies. The problem is that all are superb, and not easily duplicated. Anyway, what really got me thinking (and writing this review) was how easy it would have been to write this book. Notice the 5 page chapters. Knock out a few a day. Sprinkle in some Lonely Planet. Add some dross about video games. Sit back and wait for the film... Anyway, I'm considering cashing my check with a combination of my own : Lewis's Liars Poker + Thompson's Hells Angels. Easy money.
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Summary: Great stuff! But Leo DiCaprio...?
Review: Loved the book. Lord of the Flies with young adults was a good idea and Garland tackled it from the right angle - his results are less spectacular than Golding's (at least to begin with), but then that would be expected with adults. But Leo DiCaprio as Richard? Surely Ewan McGregor would've been far more suitable (I always envisaged Richard as rather like Alex from 'Shallow Grave'. Leo's a bit floppy haired and squeaky for my liking. It's all about money these days...
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Summary: Didn't finish the novel he started
Review: I am a baby boomer (52) and read The Beach as an insight to "Generation X." I suspected is was a good window on that generation since reviews of the book divide along demograhpic lines. I was pulled through the book despite its transparent debt to Lord of the Flies and On the Road. Those who do not like the book seem to feel it adds nothing to the "road" genre or literature in general and they are correct. But it's debt to the earlier books doesn't mean it has to extend or enlarge them. I suspect Garland's purpose was to communicate the "running on auto pilot" mind set of twenty somethings searching for authentic experience in their lives and he got that just right judging by the adoration of that age group. Actually, I'd venture a guess that Garland didn't finish the novel he started but tacked on the incongruent ending when he couldn't get all the diffuse characters/story lines to come together in any credibly coherent way. He was left with a diminished story but he still had the context and feelings of these travelers and it was worthy of publication. I came to respect, if not enjoy the very flat narrative voice of the novel. It was errie to follow this bunch of self proclaimed "trekkers" on their exotic travels but to feel little sense of adventure or even fun: they found Eden but it barely raised their pulse. Excitement seemed to come only from danger and danger was either vicariously co-opted from Viet Nam or contrived as in swimming the underwater caves or shadowing the dope guards. As a Viet Nam veteran I initially resented the vacant allusions to Viet Nam (West-More-Land, give me a break!) but came to understand that such borrowing was a way for these listless characters to bring some substance to their lives. The Beach deserves praise not so much for what it accomplishes but what it attempts. I felt Garland, intentionally or not, indited these young travelers for living in bad faith; for defaulting on the opportunity of their youth and resources to live useful, or at least interesting, lives. I am an admitted generational voyeur and feel I did receive insight into a part of the twenty something mentality. However, this book did not rise to literature because Garland failed to bring his characters to the end their feckless, anemic lives dictated. Instead he just employed a violent deus ex machina and let them off the hook. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful first novel. Garland should be watched.
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Summary: Backpacking has never seemed more exciting!
Review: Garland has created an extraordinary tale of Travel, adventure, and excitment. People reading this book to get a view at Leo's next movie may be extremly disappointed. This movie is more emotional and graphic than the average twelve year old can handle. It has the captivating sense of the earlier travel tales of the beats, mixed with a much more modern wanderlust appeal. It is a great read for anyone who dreams of excape and adventure.
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Summary: taut, exciting, and provacative read
Review: Garland's debut effort introduces us to a gifted story-teller with a bright future. Focussing on the disenchantment of the current "generation x" and the search for worthy experience in a seemingly homogenious world, the story ultimately raises serious questions about the contemporary youth. Complete with suspense that draws the reader in a cleverly designed sublty, the novel is entertaining in the least, and at best serves as a serious wakeup call to the consequences of disenchanted future leaders of the world.
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Summary: Fast moving, excellent debut, by the author of 1999
Review: I read this book last year but it's relevance only became apparent when i became a back packer myself this yearI travelled around Australia with my sister for six weeks, from Sydney to Cairns, and discovered a whole new world, in the words of The Beach,and also in the words of Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion, in the Disney song of the same title.I thoroughly recommend this book, and even if they are wary about the subject matter, give it a go - it might justchange your life!
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Summary: Wow, I couldn't put it down and yet I dreaded the end...
Review: This was the most exciting, well-written and absorbing book I have ever read. I felt I had known the characters all my life and the thought of turning the last page filled me with a dread I have never known before. If you haven't read it you're missing out, big time.
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Summary: Absolutely Brilliant
Review: I had heard great reviews from friends and thought yeah I'll get around to reading it - one day. Finally I broke the seal and opened the front cover - what a read. It was like I was there amongst the trees and sand. I could smell the sea air and was totally swept away by the speed of which the book and I travelled. ITS A MUST READ
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Summary: All that's in every twentysomething's mind and heart.
Review: The Beach is that place we've all dreamed of retiring to, even at a young age, but never dared to because of the silly pressure of our daily life routine. But, the beach also faces us with the most amazing, yet real aspects of human nature. My list of favorite books include: Catcher in the Rye(J.D.Salinger), The Stranger(Albert Camus), Trainspotting (Irvine Welsh), No se lo digas a Nadie (Jaime Bayly)and Lo Peor de Todo (Ray Loriga)but I never thought I'd find a book that could top them all... Today I can say that THE BEACH is the best and MOST INSPIRING book I've ever read in my entire life... MARIANA FUENTES (Caracas, Venezuela) B.F.A. New York University
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