Living in splendid isolation on the shores of Kenya, a blind hermit finds that his knowledge of poisonous seashells can save lives-forcing a haunting reckoning . . . Paradise turns out to be a mixed blessing when a crafty old businessman retires to Miami Beach . . . A young globetrotter winds up stranded in a Thailand beach shack, determined to shed the baggage of his Western identity . . . In these and seven other stories, The Beach Book gathers a seminal selection of fiction set on beaches around this big blue globe. Internationally acclaimed authors like Gabriel García Márquez and Isaac Bashevis Singer, as well as emerging voices such as Anthony Doerr and Frederick Reiken, have all written eloquently about the sea's siren song. Why does the beach seem to promise nothing short of paradise on earth?The Beach Book is completely waterproof. Put it right in your tote bag along with your sunscreen and beach ball. It's the perfect companion for a day of sand and surf.