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A review by dnietoperafan
The Beach by Alex Garland
4.0
This has been such a ride. Let me explain. The writing style is super easy to get lost into. The dialogue and descriptions make you feel as if you were a character inside the novel. Garland has a great story-telling talent. The characters are believable, which only adds to the world-building. It’s a great book to dive into.
The only thing I did not like at all was the privilege that exuded from it. Casual racism, transphobia, and sexism almost put me off from finishing the book. The way white and privileged people think is VERY prominent. All the characters are in Thailand, but Thais are given no voice (and if they are, it’s always in a negative light). There’s a chapter that details an encounter with, what seems to be, a transgender woman; it made me VERY uncomfortable to read. Finally, the female characters are not developed at all, which pisses me off. But, you know, white male author…
That’s my only harsh critique. Apart from that, good book.
The only thing I did not like at all was the privilege that exuded from it. Casual racism, transphobia, and sexism almost put me off from finishing the book. The way white and privileged people think is VERY prominent. All the characters are in Thailand, but Thais are given no voice (and if they are, it’s always in a negative light). There’s a chapter that details an encounter with, what seems to be, a transgender woman; it made me VERY uncomfortable to read. Finally, the female characters are not developed at all, which pisses me off. But, you know, white male author…
That’s my only harsh critique. Apart from that, good book.