First published 2005
A blind hermit lives alone on Kenya's coastline, where his deep understanding of toxic seashells becomes an unexpected tool for rescue. Across the globe, an elderly businessman discovers that his Miami Beach retirement brings complications he never anticipated. Meanwhile, a young traveler finds himself stuck in a remote Thailand beach hut, working to strip away everything that connects him to his Western past. These characters anchor ten stories that span beaches across continents. Authors including Gabriel García Márquez, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Anthony Doerr, and Frederick Reiken explore why coastal settings seem to offer transformation and renewal. Each tale examines how the ocean's pull draws people toward change, whether they seek it or not. The collection reveals that beaches promise paradise but deliver something more complex.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, travel, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Kenya, Miami Beach, Thailand
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
208 pages · Paperback · Melcher Media