2008-05-05 I loved The Beach and I loved Losing Gemma

This is said with reference to the quote on the cover of the book.
I enjoyed knowing the outcome of the story at the beginning of the book (or thinking I did anyway) as it gave me a strange sense of superiority over the narrator Esther. All through the book I wanted to shout at Esther that she should know better than to do what she has just done - then gradually and sadly realised that she didn't and than she had to go through all the experiences she did just to find her real self.
As someone who didn't go back packing the life seems appealing although I would never have wanted the discomfort - so reading about someone else is a great way of soaking up the experience.
I couldn't stop reading the book and would recommend it highly.