The Beach by Alex Garland is a novel that has the power to
transport you from your chair or couch, directly to Thailand.
Although the characters are eccentric and diverse enough that you
realize that this a story you are reading, Garland manages to
captivate you. He has created a modern adventure with all of the
necessary items: love, danger and a new world.
By following the character of Richard through the streets of
Thailand and to the beach of paradise it is the setting that you
visualize most clearly. While reading you can hear the ocean as it
laps onto the beach, and you can feel the way the sun hits your
skin, just as Garland has described it. Although it is difficult to
empathize completely with the characters, it is easy to relate to
the bonds that are formed between certain characters in the book,
making one feel much more anxious during certain parts of the
novel.
Garland has done a wonderful job of entertaining. It is an easy
read that you will not be able to put down. A true joy to read -
again and again.