The Beach

better than the movie

This book is full of arrogant, self-absorbed characters the author does not want you to like -- narrator included. If you like books like that, you will love The Beach.

The movie sucked, the book rocked.

Loved this book. The movie never should've been made. The movie was not at all true to the story told in Alex Garlands book.

really cool. and lots ,more twists then the movie. bound to bring some adventure int your life wether you want it or not.

Great book !! I read it 10 years back in England and i've been traveling since then...

I treasure the nights i spent reading this book and the escape it offered. The best of any travel literature causes the reader to transcend time and space and experience the location of the book. Well, its vivid here; the characters are real and the dialogue perfect in its casual realism. The motives are base and human and well thought out, maybe even experienced by the author himself....more

I treasure the nights i spent reading this book and the escape it offered. The best of any travel literature causes the reader to transcend time and space and experience the location of the book. Well, its vivid here; the characters are real and the dialogue perfect in its casual realism. The motives are base and human and well thought out, maybe even experienced by the author himself. Garland's novel became a lovely, though not so inspiring movie, but dont let it influence your decision to read this book. It will hold your attention without forcing conflict or action; its a peaceful narrative that, though there is drama, does not force the same stale story arc you see in every hollywood movie and action fiction today. It is an organic tale filled with real people and maybe even a bit of a moral fable, but dont worry about any of that; read it.   hide

A well written book dealing with freedom and solitude,turns into a strange story halfway through but this just adds to the tension of the writing.

ABSOLUTELY one of my favourites of all time. Don't see the movie... read this instead!!