“The Beach” by Alex Garland
I was in Thailand for 38 days this summer, and it was my first out of country trip. Thailand is amazing, beautiful, the people are friendly beyond American measure, and the food was spicy and delicious. Saddended to depart from my new found home, I perused books in the Bangkok Airport, and stumbled upon “The Beach” by Alex Garland.
The book focuses on Richard, a traveler who found interest in escaping to the unknown, and finds himself in Thailand, in pursuit of a secret beach compared to the Garden of Eden. I found interest in this book for two reasons: 1) The setting is Thailand and 2) I identify with Richard.
Richard is a true traveler. I myself believe that living the average American life, living in the suburbs, and ending one’s traveling days before it has even begun, is frightening. And I also believe that traveling should not consist of going to a foreign country (like Thailand) and finding refuge in a tourist destinated area to sleep in a four-star resort, while eating a poor attempt at a copy of the western cheesburger, and using a toilet that actually allows one to flush toilet paper (which is non-existant in the majority of Thailand).
I haven’t even given you a summary of this book, but I don’t want to ruin the story here. You should read this for yourself, and if you like suspense, this is a good choice. I recommend this to the traveler, or the bored reader.
(credits to: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ for the book cover image)
