I feel like I arrived a little late to the party with this book. I remember the hype around this book, and the subsequent film, when I was still in my teenage years. But I never did read it at the time. The reference to objects like a Nintendo Gameboy and Walkmans in the book, as if they were up to the date gadgets, was a reminder that this book is now quite old.

Thankfully little else dates the books and I found myself gripped to the unravelling story from the very beginning. I was recommended to read this book by a couple of people, and throughout the novel there are many hints to suggest how things might develop in the end, so I was always left keen to turn one more page. I ended up reading all 439 pages in just two and a half days. Unfortunately I'm not sure the ending quite lived up to the build up throughout the book though, but the journey there was very enjoyable.

Along with the 'page turning' story line I also found the characters very intriguing, with a special interest for Françoise and her relationship to Richard (the main character), although some of the less important characters tended to merge into one in my head.

On the downside I found the book a little bit too Young Adult traveller type for me. Tales of constant dope smoking, traveller stories and necklaces made from shells isn't something that hugely appeals to me. Maybe 14 years ago when this was first published and I was a 'cool' teenager I might have found the lifestyle portrayed in the book more my thing.

Overall a solid read, and I can see how this was popular in its time. I was unsure whether to award three or four stars, but on reflection I think it more deserves to be rounded up (to 4) than down, as I did really enjoy it. ( )

I found this to be a hard book to get into to. His choices perplexed me. The lifestyle and the choices made to preserve the lifestyle angered me. I told myself that it was because drugs played a big part in the decision making. I am still a little...more I found this to be a hard book to get into to. His choices perplexed me. The lifestyle and the choices made to preserve the lifestyle angered me. I told myself that it was because drugs played a big part in the decision making. I am still a little bit confused about Mr. Duck's role, but I have my theories, so it does not keep me up at night.
My husband claims that the first few minutes of the movie are great, but I can't say there was a part of the book that I can say that about.
Overall, I think that this book would appeal to those who like reading about cults and dystopia (and I usually do like books on dystopia) but I just had a hard time feeling anything for Richard and most of the beach's inhabitants. ( )

An enjoyable read in 1998.

Inspired by images of the Vietnam war, a young backpacker arrives in Bangkok in search of adventure. He checks into a boarding house on the Khao San Road and picks up a map to the beach left by a fellow traveller who slits his wrists after a bad night. Apart from the map being signed Daffy Duck, it’s a humourless straight forward sort of story with a genuine feel.

Accompanied by a French couple he runs into at the hotel, Richard risks the shark infested ocean, treks through a dope field guarded by armed Thais and leaps a waterfall to get to the beach, which is part of a nature reserve and forbidden territory for the tourists.

The threesome ingratiate themselves with the self sufficient beach community, letting go of the outside world and immersing themselves in the hypnotic routine of the beach.

At first, Richard is assigned to fishing detail but later he joins Jed as a look out. Besides poaching marijuana from the Thai guards (which satisfies Richard’s Vietnam fantasies) he is preoccupied with observing a small group on the mainland who appear to be readying themselves to invade. What Richard had omitted to mention to his new found family is the insurance policy he left behind with some acquaintances on Thailand directing them to follow.

The appearance of Mr Duck in person signals that Richard’s sanity is at risk but he is still sane enough to recognise the signal. He also becomes aware that he is suspected of doing special favours for Sal, the camp leader, who is obsessed with the security of their Utopia. The group arrive from Thailand and Richard sets out to intercept but is beaten to it by the Thai guards. By the time of the Tet festival, he has decided to leave to beach at the earliest opportunity. When the Thai guards turn up with a pile of dead bodies it is definitely time to leave!

I thought there was great potential in the plot, bringing to mind shades of Heart of Darkness and Lord of Flies, but perhaps not realised to the full. For example, at the climax when the Thais dump the pile of bodies in the camp, Alex Garland writes, “I don’t need to describe them further.”

General Fiction Novel
First published by Viking 1996
Published by Penguin 1997. ( )

Like many, I read the book after watching the movie starring Leonardo di Caprio. The book is quite a different tale, yet I didn't realise that until near the end. Perhaps if I hadn't seen the film I would have responded to this book differently but I was able to visualise the scenery from the film, whether or not this was Alex Garland's vision. (He had nothing to do with the movie production.)

To continue with a comparison between the two versions, the protagonist of the novel is very English - and to me, this is an important part of his character - whereas di Caprio, of course, is American.

Richard's descent into madness/paranoia is expertly captured in the book in a way which probably can't be done on film and is, after all, why we bother reading books at all. Much of the conflict is internal. Daffy Duck, the crazy Scottish dude who left Richard a map and promptly killed himself, follows Richard in his dreams.

We can see at the beginning that Richard is a decent guy - he is concerned about the maid at the hostel who may electrocute herself. This contrasts sharply with several scenes later, when human life has assumed a completely different weight.

I felt the author might have gotten sick of the book because it finished abruptly. Then again, Richard got sick of the island very quickly, and the ending of the novel may simply be a reflection of his rapid departure. Still, I felt the last chapter was tacked on, especially the bit where we're told he's only going to bother writing a short summary, calling it an epilogue. I very much got the impression the better writing came at the beginning of the book. There were a few clumsy sentences and lazy descriptions towards the end.

Overall, this is a page turner. Each section is short and ends at a point that made me want to read on. Perhaps Richard's lack of compassion felt a little unbelievable to me; not just Richard's lack of empathy, but the general lackadaisical attitude of everyone on the beach towards human life. This feeling infiltrated throughout the community. I didn't buy that 30 people relying upon each other for their own survival would behave so callously towards each other.

But perhaps Garland's imagining is the correct one.

Did anyone else notice the coincidence of September 11 in this pre-2001 novel? The date is significant to Sal for a completely different reason. I wonder if Garland had a premonition! ( )

The books we have been reading have dealt specifically with Utopian and Dystopian societies of the past and the future. Author Alex Garland took a unique spin and created a society based in present day in his intriguing novel, The Beach.
The Beach is is compared to Eden in the early stages of this novel, it beauty is described as flawless; an island of oasis that is different from the other islands of Thailand. These other islands described as dirty, desolate, and are desentegrating more and more each year. The beach is a special place that only a handful of people know about, and of those that know about it even less have been able to find; obscured by a massive waterfall and countless other obstacles.
Richard, the protagonist in the novel is a typical traveler, who took a trip to Thailand to explore, but the things he ended up finding take the story in a direction I did not expect.
A seemingly unimportant character turns out to be the most important character in the book; propelling the action and adding to the conflict.
Getting to the beach is only part of the equation; its surviving in a society that has so many rules and restrictions, that becomes the real problem. The illusion of perfection and happiness on the beach that Garland portrays at the beginning of the novel has completely flipped by the end. Showing that no place no matter how heavenly is without problems, some are just not as apparent as others.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it kept me intrigued until the very end, and while we see a resolution by books end it still leaves me with numerous questions. This book is a prime example of a dystopian society. It shows how the more people strive to achieve perfection and 'make things normal' the farther they drift away from it. ( )