Helpful Score: 2
The book that the popular movie "the Beach," starring Leonardo Dicaprio, is based off of.
A story of the discovery of an infamous and legendary earthly paradise, Richard looks for an adventure and definitely finds one. If you liked the movie, definitely check out the book, it is even better!
A story of the discovery of an infamous and legendary earthly paradise, Richard looks for an adventure and definitely finds one. If you liked the movie, definitely check out the book, it is even better!
Helpful Score: 1
Great book. Almost impossible to put down.
Helpful Score: 1
Pretty much the definition of escapism in a book. I really liked the story, very glad I read the book. The kind of life the main character has is something that many of us will never know. Being able to disappear from your entire life for months, or years, pursuing paradise and avoiding growing up and being a part of the real world. The book was very enjoyable, I had seen the movie first, but either could stand alone. There were several differences between the book and the movie which work out fine for both. Funny thing is, I don't remember much at all about the beginning or the exact ending of either the movie or the book. Mostly because the middle of both were far more interesting. I wish the middle part had gone on and on, into several books, continuing on as a sort of alternate reality. Having it end was the only thing I didn't like! ****SORT-OF SPOILER ALERT**** Well, there was something about the book I didn't like, not just that the fun times of the middle ended, but the wrap-up itself. It was as if the suddenness and violence of the ending was the only way to close the story, and it was such a sharp and stark contrast to the themes throughout the entire book, I didn't buy it. They went from Woodstock to Lord of the Flies in a New York minute. It just seemed to me that these people who had worked so hard to develop their little commune and their togetherness wouldn't have turned into such bloodthirsty maniacs at the end. In my mind, the ending he wrote never happened, and they are all still at the beach, arguing over who has to work carpentry with Bugs. The only other thing I wasn't completely sure of was the lack of romantic interaction between the main characters. The movie explored that, and did a great job, including the awkwardness of being in such a close situation with someone you may have just broken up with, the loyalties of friends trying to avoid love triangles, the near-inevitability of young unattached hormonal hedonists and the results of their close contact with each other on an ISOLATED TROPICAL ISLAND. I mean, really, it seems it could not be avoided, but the book didn't seem to cover that much at all. Other than that, it was a fun, light read with a lot of imagination and very interesting interaction between the characters. Definitely recommended for an escape from reality.
Helpful Score: 1
The book on which the film was based. A coming of age tale of travellers searching for an unspoiled area - a pristine beach - and a simpler lifestyle, the commune of the modern world. Shades of "Lord Of The Flies" for the twenty-somethings who haven't quite grown into themselves or their role in life and are still searching for something without being able to explain what it is they are lacking to be happy or content.
An adventurous novel about a man who finds paradise on a mysterious beach, and what the pros and cons of living there turn out to be.
Much better then the movie. A backpacker in Thailand is given a map to the Beach - a blissful community that isn't what it seems.
From Amazon.com
In our ever-shrinking world, where popular Western culture seems to have infected every nation on the planet, it is hard to find even a small niche of unspoiled land--forget searching for pristine islands or continents. This is the situation in Alex Garland's debut novel, The Beach. Human progress has reduced Eden to a secret little beach near Thailand. In the tradition of grand adventure novels, Richard, a rootless traveler rambling around Thailand on his way somewhere else, is given a hand-drawn map by a madman who calls himself Daffy Duck. He and two French travelers set out on a journey to find this paradise.
What makes this a truly satisfying novel is the number of levels on which it operates. On the surface it's a fast-paced adventure novel; at another level it explores why we search for these utopias, be they mysterious lost continents or small island communes. Garland weaves a gripping and thought-provoking narrative that suggests we are, in fact, such products of our Western culture that we cannot help but pollute and ultimately destroy the very sanctuary we seek-
From Amazon.com
In our ever-shrinking world, where popular Western culture seems to have infected every nation on the planet, it is hard to find even a small niche of unspoiled land--forget searching for pristine islands or continents. This is the situation in Alex Garland's debut novel, The Beach. Human progress has reduced Eden to a secret little beach near Thailand. In the tradition of grand adventure novels, Richard, a rootless traveler rambling around Thailand on his way somewhere else, is given a hand-drawn map by a madman who calls himself Daffy Duck. He and two French travelers set out on a journey to find this paradise.
What makes this a truly satisfying novel is the number of levels on which it operates. On the surface it's a fast-paced adventure novel; at another level it explores why we search for these utopias, be they mysterious lost continents or small island communes. Garland weaves a gripping and thought-provoking narrative that suggests we are, in fact, such products of our Western culture that we cannot help but pollute and ultimately destroy the very sanctuary we seek-
I read this book just before the movie came out, and I'm so glad I did. First, let me say, the movie was terrible!!
This book was so well written, I felt like I was actually there. It's a strange tale, yes, but that's what makes it so hard to put down. You have absolutely NO idea what is coming next.
This book was so well written, I felt like I was actually there. It's a strange tale, yes, but that's what makes it so hard to put down. You have absolutely NO idea what is coming next.
"The Beach is impressive in it's group portrait of a new generation of young vagabonds. Raised in an era of diminished confidences, they have set out in search of something that feels genuine and fullfiling. What they find turns out to not be utopia but hell"
Well written and an interesting read, for such a strange tale.
A fast and captivating adventure.
I saw the movie way before I read the book, but by chance happened to stumble upon it and was curious. Very glad I flipped the pages. This was SUCH a great read, very vivid and really pulls you in.
Wow, great read, lots of twists, turns and boy didn't see that coming in this action packed book. Interesting characters that you really wonder about and why they sought out the beach. Abit confussing in the beginning but really works up to a excellent read.
Took me 3 years to read this, Glad it was over, not in a bad way. read this if you grew up in the 90's,
I was given this book, and didn't think I would like it. It is not in my usual genre of books. If you have seen the movie and liked it READ THE BOOK. The story draws you in. It stays interesting to the end. It reminded me of the mental aspect of apocalypse now. I have already recommended it to five people, and I just finished it yesterday.
Awesome book. I would read it again!
This book is better than the movie. It is a great read!!! I think it is interesting and exciting to see another side of life. Paradise is not always what it should be;)
Great story, much better than the movie, of course.
Book based on the movie by the same title; book has a lot more information than the movie...which usually holds true...good read.
Riveting and page-turning! Like a modern-day Lord of the Flies.
A very neat book, reviewers who said that this book was like a 20-something's version of "The Lord of the Flies" were right on and it had a "Heart of Darkness" feel to it as well. At first it seemed like I was so close to the end but none of the action had happened yet but it turned out to be a swift ending that worked!
The movie was great. Then I read the book, which, as usual, was soooo much better than the movie. If you loved the movie, you'll not be able to put this book down until you're done.
Suspenseful. This is a new audiobook
Again, read before you watch the movie.
Interesting and strange- I need something like this once in a while!
I loved this book. The story line intrigued me, and I was not disappointed!
i do not have the original cover to this book but the book itself is in good condition.
It's been a while since I read this book, so the details are escaping me. I enjoyed it a lot, but it was not a "fun" read. Here is amazon's description....
In our ever-shrinking world, where popular Western culture seems to have infected every nation on the planet, it is hard to find even a small niche of unspoiled land--forget searching for pristine islands or continents. This is the situation in Alex Garland's debut novel, The Beach. Human progress has reduced Eden to a secret little beach near Thailand. In the tradition of grand adventure novels, Richard, a rootless traveler rambling around Thailand on his way somewhere else, is given a hand-drawn map by a madman who calls himself Daffy Duck. He and two French travelers set out on a journey to find this paradise.
What makes this a truly satisfying novel is the number of levels on which it operates. On the surface it's a fast-paced adventure novel; at another level it explores why we search for these utopias, be they mysterious lost continents or small island communes. Garland weaves a gripping and thought-provoking narrative that suggests we are, in fact, such products of our Western culture that we cannot help but pollute and ultimately destroy the very sanctuary we seek
In our ever-shrinking world, where popular Western culture seems to have infected every nation on the planet, it is hard to find even a small niche of unspoiled land--forget searching for pristine islands or continents. This is the situation in Alex Garland's debut novel, The Beach. Human progress has reduced Eden to a secret little beach near Thailand. In the tradition of grand adventure novels, Richard, a rootless traveler rambling around Thailand on his way somewhere else, is given a hand-drawn map by a madman who calls himself Daffy Duck. He and two French travelers set out on a journey to find this paradise.
What makes this a truly satisfying novel is the number of levels on which it operates. On the surface it's a fast-paced adventure novel; at another level it explores why we search for these utopias, be they mysterious lost continents or small island communes. Garland weaves a gripping and thought-provoking narrative that suggests we are, in fact, such products of our Western culture that we cannot help but pollute and ultimately destroy the very sanctuary we seek
