Alex Garland

The Beach

Beatrix

With nothing to see but a blurred foot of sea on either side of me, and each breath requiring a manageable amount of labour, I felt agreeably cocooned by a mildly dangerous world.

In the middle of that hellish night, with all the vomiting and groaning and flickering candle-fames, I wasn't expecting to find sweetness. It took me by surprise, that little oasis.

I felt like I'd been damned by a glimpse of paradise.

‘...OK.' I returned his smile, willing him to fuck off with all my heart.

The Beach quotes

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