The Beach (1996) by Alex Garland is an adventure fiction novel about Richard, a young traveler who seeks an idyllic and secluded beach after hearing about it from a man named Daffy in Bangkok. He and a group of friends embark on a dangerous journey to find the beach, only to discover it is inhabited by a self-sustaining community that cultivates marijuana. Over time, the isolation and tension on the island lead to conflicts, and Richard becomes increasingly disillusioned with the utopian dream he sought. The novel explores themes of idealism, human nature, and the destructive consequences of paradise lost. It was adapted into a film in 2000, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
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