Written for the Road...

THE BEACH by Alex Garland is a travel book for the ages. Set against the backpacking scene of 1990's Thailand, Garland's story was so intriguing that Hollywood came calling a few years after its 1996 release...and completely fucked it up. While the books' many comparisons to the Lord of the Flies might keep it from becoming a great literary work, the story of The Beach is still a poignant reminder of how mindless travelers so easily make a home out of a land they know little of. This book is character driven and all whom have traveled via the backpack can relate to the cliches that Garland writes for his colorful cast. If you haven't read The Beach or have only seen the second-rate movie, you have to check this one out. The Beach is a great escape.