The Beach
Alex Garland
Read January 2008
Copy borrowed from Ramsey County Public Library, White Bear Lake branch
Essay written April 18th, 2008
I don't think I would have checked this book out if I had known at the time that it was made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It wasn't until I got it home and looked at the back cover more closely that I noticed the "Soon to be a major motion picture" text.
So I guess I'm glad I didn't see that, and reject this novel based on that. It was a really good book. Wonderful insight into not only travelling, but travellers. (Note: the built-in dictionary in Ubuntu Linux here informs me that travelling and traveling are both acceptable, as are traveller and traveler. This doesn't seem right to me, but what can I do about it? English is weird.)
Thailand never seemed more desirable. Richard was a compelling anti-hero. The obvious Lord Of The Flies comparisons have to be made, and that's a shame. It seems like while I was reading it I felt like it was one of the best books I had read this year so far, and now looking back I can't remember why. I really should write these little essays sooner after reading the book, instead of three months down the road.
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