Fiction

Under the Wave at Waimea

Under the Wave at Waimea

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  • Create Date：2021-06-26 09:51:16
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Paul Theroux
  • ISBN：0241504457
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Summary

From legendary writer Paul Theroux comes an atmospheric novel following a big-wave surfer as he confronts aging， privilege， mortality， and whose lives we choose to remember。

'It was as if in surfing he was carving his name in water， invisibly， joyously。'

Now in his sixties， big-wave surfer Joe Sharkey has passed his prime。 The younger surfers around the breaks on the north shore of Oahu still call him the Shark， but his sponsors are looking elsewhere。
When Joe accidentally hits and kills a man near Waimea while driving home from a bar after a night of drinking， it seems he'll never rebound。 Under the direction of his devoted girlfriend Olive， he throws himself into uncovering his victim's story。 But what they find in Max Mulgrave is anything but expected: a shared history - and refuge in the waves。

With vivid， richly imagined detail， Theroux's latest novel explores the underside of an island paradise we rarely see。

'There is very little that Paul Theroux cannot fit onto a page。 His writing skills are disciplined and muscular， his ear as finely tuned as a musician's， his eye sharper than any razor， and， in pinpointing the bizarre and the unexpected， he both entertains and underlines the absurdity of humans' Daily Mail

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Reviews

Gregory Christensen ，

Captures Oahu beautifully！ Existential surfer journeys （my assessment） to redemption #10WordBookReview

Jon Barber ，

I really enjoyed reading about surfing and hearing about Hawaii， including the language and the culture， both good and bad， that Joe experienced。 I didn’t follow how he felt or understand it。 He came across as selfish and childish to me。 At times， he seemed to understand the negatives about himself and seemed to want to change but also seemed unable to change。 I thought that Theroux’s writing was very elegant， but the character of Joe made this book laborious for me to finish。

Barry Martin Vass ，

This is a fascinating story of Hawaii and Hawaiian culture。 Hawaii is the only state in the union where whites are the minority。 The bulk of its population is composed of Hawaiians， Samoans， Tongans， Filipinos， Japanese， Chinese， and other mixed races。 And， like anywhere else， to be the minority is to be discriminated against。 They even have a slang word for whites in Hawaii: haoles， and it is very much a derogatory term。 This story begins around 1968 when young Joe Sharkey and his parents are t This is a fascinating story of Hawaii and Hawaiian culture。 Hawaii is the only state in the union where whites are the minority。 The bulk of its population is composed of Hawaiians， Samoans， Tongans， Filipinos， Japanese， Chinese， and other mixed races。 And， like anywhere else， to be the minority is to be discriminated against。 They even have a slang word for whites in Hawaii: haoles， and it is very much a derogatory term。 This story begins around 1968 when young Joe Sharkey and his parents are transferred to Hawaii。 His father is a colonel in the army， who spends most of his time in Vietnam， returning home only briefly every few months。 So Joe is very much on his own， dealing with constant discrimination at school， which at times is vicious。 He gradually takes to surfing to escape the taunts he receives on land， and is mentored by an old Hawaiian， nicknamed Uncle Sunshine， who teaches him the finer points of big-wave surfing。 And he excels at the sport， winning the Pipe Masters at sixteen， picking up sponsors and dropping out of school the same year。 He is famous by twenty。 Author Paul Theroux starts Under the Wave at Waimea when Joe is sixty-two and looking back on his hedonistic， somewhat unfocused life with a mixture of accomplishment and failure。 Barely able to read， he's grateful for what he's managed to accomplish and yet dreading the future。 And then two things happen: he kills a man on a dark road during a rainstorm， and he almost dies in a near-drowning incident at Waimea Bay。 Here's an example of the prose: "He was spidery， with slick lizardy skin and squinting eyes， his fingers and toes pickled from constant soaking in seawater。 An old man， but he was tougher than Sharkey， a new side of him just revealed - a benign bully， an intimidator to Wilfred and the others。 He saw what the man was made of， the inside of the man， like the inside of Hawaii: no sweetness， but the sinew and survival skills of an islander; and suspicion。 He understood sharply the obvious truth， that people have two sides， that the islands just beneath the shaggy green surface were not earth but black rock， that the inner life of Hawaii was molten lava。" This is excellent work from an accomplished author。 。。。more

Jeff ，

Good not great。 Theroux has done better。 Some of the Hawai'i stuff （dialogue， characters seemed inconsistent and was a bit of a distraction， I'm guessing he was trying to get us to understand Hawaiian mentality， lifestyle， etc。， but a lot of stereotypes there。 I had real trouble liking or caring about the main character， though the flashback to his childhood， I thought， was very well done。 Good not great。 Theroux has done better。 Some of the Hawai'i stuff （dialogue， characters seemed inconsistent and was a bit of a distraction， I'm guessing he was trying to get us to understand Hawaiian mentality， lifestyle， etc。， but a lot of stereotypes there。 I had real trouble liking or caring about the main character， though the flashback to his childhood， I thought， was very well done。 。。。more

Dan ，

As powerful as a hundred foot wave。Everything about this novel clicks。 Character driven while backed by the incomparable beauty of Hawaii and Therouxs impeccable gift of stunning detail the reader is drawn inexoribly into the life of the main character who is deeply flawed and knows it。 His gift is capturing the power of a breaking wave and using it to achieve fame however fleeting。 Winners and losers float into the complex plot and the readers emotions are pulled apart like a breaking wave。 Thi As powerful as a hundred foot wave。Everything about this novel clicks。 Character driven while backed by the incomparable beauty of Hawaii and Therouxs impeccable gift of stunning detail the reader is drawn inexoribly into the life of the main character who is deeply flawed and knows it。 His gift is capturing the power of a breaking wave and using it to achieve fame however fleeting。 Winners and losers float into the complex plot and the readers emotions are pulled apart like a breaking wave。 This novel will keep the reader turning pages like paddling a surfboard to catch a ten foot wave 。。。more

Kris ，

I was really looking forward to this book--Hawaii， surfing， characters to examine。。。 However， this is a case where less would be more。 As interesting as Theroux's prose can be--and he easily can compete with Michener for most descriptive passages-- his quest to articulate the most precisely nuanced detailed descriptions left me drowning in a ocean of adjectives。I was glad that I rode the story through to the shore， because I wanted resolution for Joe Sharkey。 But at times the adulation of sex， s I was really looking forward to this book--Hawaii， surfing， characters to examine。。。 However， this is a case where less would be more。 As interesting as Theroux's prose can be--and he easily can compete with Michener for most descriptive passages-- his quest to articulate the most precisely nuanced detailed descriptions left me drowning in a ocean of adjectives。I was glad that I rode the story through to the shore， because I wanted resolution for Joe Sharkey。 But at times the adulation of sex， surfers' physiques， and Olive's determination to guilt Joe into being a less narcissistic person had me gasping for air。 Editor， please！ 。。。more

Vicki ，

Totally not my regular type of book-set in Hawaii about surfing。 It was interesting learning about the surfing culture， but basically the story was about Joe Sharky's journey to recover his life after an accident。 I could relate to his view of some of the things he was going thru and dealing with "younger" surfers because we were similar in age。 Your perspective certainly does change， but you remember what it felt like to be that age。 Totally not my regular type of book-set in Hawaii about surfing。 It was interesting learning about the surfing culture， but basically the story was about Joe Sharky's journey to recover his life after an accident。 I could relate to his view of some of the things he was going thru and dealing with "younger" surfers because we were similar in age。 Your perspective certainly does change， but you remember what it felt like to be that age。 。。。more

Joanne Douglas ，

The missing star is for a block of chapters that had me held under that wave， heavy and turbulent， causing me to question why didn't Theroux edit all this stuff about where these people go and why。 Perhaps that was point， the lesson of life。 It almost caused me to not finish reading the book。 By the end， it was worth it， but still， I would edit out the second half of the second half。 But don't let that stop you from reading an insightful and， otherwise， beautiful story。 The missing star is for a block of chapters that had me held under that wave， heavy and turbulent， causing me to question why didn't Theroux edit all this stuff about where these people go and why。 Perhaps that was point， the lesson of life。 It almost caused me to not finish reading the book。 By the end， it was worth it， but still， I would edit out the second half of the second half。 But don't let that stop you from reading an insightful and， otherwise， beautiful story。 。。。more

Rich Johnson ，

Audio

David ，

Great story。 Really makes you feel like you're there with the character。 Great story。 Really makes you feel like you're there with the character。 。。。more

Ann ，

Joe Sharkey， the protagonist of Under the Wave at Waimea， isn't a likeable character， except in his early years。 I would have structured the book differently and started with a scene in which Joe Sharkey is at the height of his surfing career and then gone back to his childhood years。 The reader would've cared more about Joe， having seen his early struggles as a haole growing up in Hawaii。 The way the book is structured now， I almost didn't make it past Part 1。 But Theroux's descriptions of the Joe Sharkey， the protagonist of Under the Wave at Waimea， isn't a likeable character， except in his early years。 I would have structured the book differently and started with a scene in which Joe Sharkey is at the height of his surfing career and then gone back to his childhood years。 The reader would've cared more about Joe， having seen his early struggles as a haole growing up in Hawaii。 The way the book is structured now， I almost didn't make it past Part 1。 But Theroux's descriptions of the North Shore of Oahu， and the ocean are exquisite and carried me through most of the book。 Theroux is a masterful writer， but would have benefited from more carefully crafted story architecture。 I didn't buy the premise that Joe Sharkey's life was cursed after killing a man。 And the subsequent search to figure out who he killed seemed forced and like a weak plot device。 That said， if you love Hawaii and surfing， Under the Wave at Waimea is worth the long read if you can't afford a Hawaiian vacation。 。。。more

Amy Lively ，

A beautifully written book about aging and reflecting on not just the meaning of life— the meaning of YOUR life。 And oh yeah， there is some surfing。 Ok， a LOT of surfing。 Actually， I am a sucker for just about any style of book that includes surfing in some capacity & Theroux has a way of transporting the reader from their easy chair right onto the board。 If you are looking for an action novel， this ain’t it。 It’s a lengthy character study of a guy who isn’t always so likable but with a mother l A beautifully written book about aging and reflecting on not just the meaning of life— the meaning of YOUR life。 And oh yeah， there is some surfing。 Ok， a LOT of surfing。 Actually， I am a sucker for just about any style of book that includes surfing in some capacity & Theroux has a way of transporting the reader from their easy chair right onto the board。 If you are looking for an action novel， this ain’t it。 It’s a lengthy character study of a guy who isn’t always so likable but with a mother like that， I kind of get it。 My only complaint is that the editor fell down on the job with this one。 The book could have easily been 75 - 100 pages shorter。 So， if you’re going to read it， settle in。 It’s not a quick read but it is （mostly） an enjoyable one。 。。。more

Karen Holt ，

Great story of haole surfer growing up on the water in Oahu。 His struggles as he uses his natural abilities to create a successful lifestyle which needs to be reassessed as he ages。

Charley Rico ，

I hated this。 Couldn’t finish it。 Maybe if I didn’t grow up in Hawaii and didn’t surf and was also an old white guy lamenting my youth， maybe I’d have liked it。 But yeah NAH。 Pages and pages of reading about this washed upped drunk/faux surfer named Sharkey （really？？！！ Joe Sharkey？） just made me want to stab my own eyes out。 I gave zero shits about his character if we can even call him that。 He’s banging a chick half his age who’s been written w so little resemblance to an actual woman， I wonder I hated this。 Couldn’t finish it。 Maybe if I didn’t grow up in Hawaii and didn’t surf and was also an old white guy lamenting my youth， maybe I’d have liked it。 But yeah NAH。 Pages and pages of reading about this washed upped drunk/faux surfer named Sharkey （really？？！！ Joe Sharkey？） just made me want to stab my own eyes out。 I gave zero shits about his character if we can even call him that。 He’s banging a chick half his age who’s been written w so little resemblance to an actual woman， I wondered why she wasn’t written as a piece of cardboard w tits。 Honestly what woman spends every waking moment thinking about the old dude she’s sleeping with？ NO ONE that’s who。 And then he kills a homeless dude and no one cares。 I tried four times to care about Sharkey’s white male privilege but nope zero fucks here。 I also found Theroux’s depiction of local people pretty condescending and off mark， painting us all like we’re a backdrop/quirky side kick to the white man’s “struggle”。 The way he tries to depict the pigeon dialect is also way off mark and truly cringe worthy。 Cue eye roll。 But if you enjoy reading books written by old white men about old white men doing things like surfing that you have never experienced nor ever will， by all means use this book as a fire starter for a cold night。 。。。more

Sharon ，

I can't think of a fictional character that I care less about than Joe Sharky。 I can't think of a fictional character that I care less about than Joe Sharky。 。。。more

Dawn ，

4。25 stars

Roxanne Millar ，

I love Hawaii and I love surfing and this book captures what is just so special about both。 It is able to communicate what is so hard to describe about surfing， the search， a good wave， and it does so beautifully。 I loved this book and Joe。 I felt the Hunter Thompson stuff detracted from the book - why introduce a real life character into fiction？ It didn’t work for me。 And a bit repetitive at times。 But a good read that has me again dying to get out on my board。 Hating that I read this during l I love Hawaii and I love surfing and this book captures what is just so special about both。 It is able to communicate what is so hard to describe about surfing， the search， a good wave， and it does so beautifully。 I loved this book and Joe。 I felt the Hunter Thompson stuff detracted from the book - why introduce a real life character into fiction？ It didn’t work for me。 And a bit repetitive at times。 But a good read that has me again dying to get out on my board。 Hating that I read this during lockdown staring at water I can’t surf。。。 。。。more

Carrie ，

Glad I got to read this while we were here。 Unlocks a little of the unknowabliity of the place as an outsider。 First book I’ve read by Theroux。 Excellent writing。

Josh ，

Great beginning， good middle， weak end until the satisfying last couple pages。 The PC fluff in LA was shameful and the search for Miles should have been halved。 The Hawaiian detail about Sharkey’s upbringing was my favorite part。

Suresh Nair ，

I picked up this book after seeing the author's name and locale of the story。 Well it turned out to be a long and quite a patient read。Ideally the plot is only worth a novella at best， the second part being the longest which needs some serious editing。 The protagonist Joe Sharkey， after being portrayed as a hero， rising up to worth something in adverse circumstances， turns out to be quite a wimpy， narcissistic， remorseless character。 Olive， while portrayed as righteous and egging on Joe to do th I picked up this book after seeing the author's name and locale of the story。 Well it turned out to be a long and quite a patient read。Ideally the plot is only worth a novella at best， the second part being the longest which needs some serious editing。 The protagonist Joe Sharkey， after being portrayed as a hero， rising up to worth something in adverse circumstances， turns out to be quite a wimpy， narcissistic， remorseless character。 Olive， while portrayed as righteous and egging on Joe to do the right thing， feels to be dealing with her own guilt of allowing Joe to drive while drunk and high。 The ending may seem poetic but still feels like both of them get away too easily。All said and done the best parts of the novel are about Hawaii， it's people and of course surfing。  。。。more

Jackie Stanton ，

I was raised in the Southern California beach lifestyle and bodysurfed and belly boarded every summer in middle school， high school and college。 I dated surfers and lifeguards and flip flops are still my preferred footwear。 I’ve travelled to an enjoyed visits to Hawaii at least twenty times， snorkeling， sunbathing and sailing it’s beautiful waters。 Paul Theroux’ evocative descriptions of waves， the North ashore of Oahu and Hawaiian culture and prejudices are vividly portrayed here， through the e I was raised in the Southern California beach lifestyle and bodysurfed and belly boarded every summer in middle school， high school and college。 I dated surfers and lifeguards and flip flops are still my preferred footwear。 I’ve travelled to an enjoyed visits to Hawaii at least twenty times， snorkeling， sunbathing and sailing it’s beautiful waters。 Paul Theroux’ evocative descriptions of waves， the North ashore of Oahu and Hawaiian culture and prejudices are vividly portrayed here， through the experiences of his protagonist， professional surfer Joe Sharkey。 This is not a plot driven novel， and may not appeal to everyone， but it’s beautiful writing， so true to the magnificence and complexity of Island living。 Sharkey’s story is bleak and sometimes heartbreaking， but forms the emotional heart of this memorable novel。 I’ll remember “Under the Wave at Waimea” for a vey long time， and it is motivation for reading Theroux’s work again very soon。 。。。more

Erin ，

This was quite the ride。 I saw Hawaii and I saw Sharkey。 This was an experience， not just a book。

Jennifer ，

DNFI love Paul Theroux， but once I reached the part of the book told in flashback I realized I was not going to enjoy this particular novel。 At one point we are told what a "crashing bore" people who retell stories are， however "new" Joe Sharkey stories were equally as boring and repetitive。I am looking forward to his next travel narrative rather than finishing this one。 DNFI love Paul Theroux， but once I reached the part of the book told in flashback I realized I was not going to enjoy this particular novel。 At one point we are told what a "crashing bore" people who retell stories are， however "new" Joe Sharkey stories were equally as boring and repetitive。I am looking forward to his next travel narrative rather than finishing this one。 。。。more

Deborah McMillan ，

Slow going until the end， then the pace quickened and the intensity of the storyline increased to a satisfying ending。

Diane ，

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: The life and times of a once revered surfer dude， now an aging has-been forced to deal with his new reality。BRIEF REVIEW: Joe Sharkey， A。K。A。"The Shark" for years held celebrity status when it came to mastering the big waves on the northern shores of Oahu。 It was how he spent his life of privilege， living off an inheritance and endorsements。 Now at 62， although he can't compete with the younger surfer-dudes who don't even recognize him。 Sharkey's not ready to give up life i ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: The life and times of a once revered surfer dude， now an aging has-been forced to deal with his new reality。BRIEF REVIEW: Joe Sharkey， A。K。A。"The Shark" for years held celebrity status when it came to mastering the big waves on the northern shores of Oahu。 It was how he spent his life of privilege， living off an inheritance and endorsements。 Now at 62， although he can't compete with the younger surfer-dudes who don't even recognize him。 Sharkey's not ready to give up life in the fast lane for a rocking chair just yet。 He has a 38 year-old British girlfriend， Olive， that helps him to forget his age and the old timers on the island still look up to him。 One night， after having a few too many drinks at a local bar， Sharkey hits a homeless man on a bike and although he manages to avoid prosecution， he life begins to go downhill。I was looking for a story that took place in Hawaii and this one seemed appealing。 I liked the idea that the protagonist was an older guy dealing with his new normal and， While I enjoyed the small town feel and overall setting this novel didn't work well for me。 Even though this was not a complicated story， it was one that tested my patience at times as the author chose to rehash the previous 50 years of "The Sharks" life。 I dislike the constant internal ramblings of the rather unlikeable （obnoxious） protagonist。 The novel was just over 400 pages and I admit to skimming certain parts which were not holding my interest。 I found the overall storyline disappointing。 。。。more

Connie ，

This one is very special

Kim Berkshire ，

Must read more Theroux！

Tim ，

Main character Joe Sharkey is not particularly likable and the writing is pretty weak in spots save for the descriptions of surfing。 For some reason， the author repeats the same phrases and descriptions over and over again as though he didn't realized what he had written a few passages earlier。 For example， for about 60% of the book， Sharkey has "his head in his hands"。 Rusty， overturned shopping carts also make numerous appearances。In Part 2， Sharkey's friendship with Hunter Thompson is recount Main character Joe Sharkey is not particularly likable and the writing is pretty weak in spots save for the descriptions of surfing。 For some reason， the author repeats the same phrases and descriptions over and over again as though he didn't realized what he had written a few passages earlier。 For example， for about 60% of the book， Sharkey has "his head in his hands"。 Rusty， overturned shopping carts also make numerous appearances。In Part 2， Sharkey's friendship with Hunter Thompson is recounted。 Thompson is eager to write about surf culture which he describes crudely as nothing but "endless girls" and "crashing waves"。 Sharkey scoffs at this trite description。 Ironically， that's the impression one gets when reading Theroux's own narrative。However， the book is saved by Part 3， which is a cross between a detective story and Tortilla Flat。 。。。more

William Hogan ，

Beautiful writing and insights are wonderful Theroux！ Not only did he tell a story， but he took me to Hawaii and Christmas Island， and Spain， etc。 Loved it！

Renee ，

Under the Wave at Waimea is the opposite of a coming-of-age story， rather an intimate viewing of a passing-of-life tale which centers around Joe Sharky， a world champion surfer who is grappling with his ever increasing lack of recognition。 In his 60's， long pass his prime he accidentally kills a stranger near Waimea， a tragedy that sends his life out of control。 Only through the realization of letting go of the pro surfer he use to be， is he able to live his life without embarrassment。 Without p Under the Wave at Waimea is the opposite of a coming-of-age story， rather an intimate viewing of a passing-of-life tale which centers around Joe Sharky， a world champion surfer who is grappling with his ever increasing lack of recognition。 In his 60's， long pass his prime he accidentally kills a stranger near Waimea， a tragedy that sends his life out of control。 Only through the realization of letting go of the pro surfer he use to be， is he able to live his life without embarrassment。 Without pontificating each point， Under the Wave is a story of privilege， aging， mortality， and the crushing realization of the ebbing of power。 In addition， I fell in love with the Hawaiian vernacular and the author's sublime ode to Hawaii and the art of surfing。I listened to this on audio and the narration was perfect。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Under the Wave at Waimea

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Under the Wave at Waimea&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Under the Wave at Waimea&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0