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Paul Theroux
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Under the Wave at Waimea Hardcover – April 13, 2021

by Paul Theroux (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,011 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
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“Theroux’s work is like no one else’s.” –Francine Prose, New York Times Book Review

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.

Now in his sixties, big-wave surfer Joe Sharkey has passed his prime and is losing his “stoke.” The younger surfers around the breaks on the north shore of Oahu still idolize the Shark, but his sponsors are looking elsewhere. One night, while driving home from a bar after one too many, Joe accidentally kills a stranger near Waimea, a tragedy that sends his life out of control. As the repercussions of the accident spiral ever wider, Joe's devoted girlfriend, Olive, throws herself into uncovering the dead man’s identity and helping Joe find vitality and refuge in the waves again.

Set in the lush, gritty underside of an island paradise readers rarely see, UNDER THE WAVE AT WAIMEA offers a dramatic, affecting commentary on privilege, mortality, and the lives we choose to remember. It is a masterstroke by one of the greatest writers of our time.
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  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Mariner Books
  4. Publication date
    April 13, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.37 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0358446287
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0358446286
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“For a generation of backpackers now gone gray, the tattered paperback accounts of [Paul Theroux's] treks through China, Africa and South America were a prod to adventure, bibles of inspiration under many a mosquito net.”
—Gal Beckerman for the New York Times

"Incantatory, ecstatic, hypnotic...One of Theroux’s best novels.”
—Seattle Times

“Immersive…[Theroux’s] fans will appreciate the perfectly rendered exotic setting, which takes the reader deep inside the Hawaiian surf culture.”
—Publishers Weekly  

“Devotees of Kem Nunn's Tapping the Source who have been searching for the next great surfing novel need search no more. In flowing, lyrical prose, Theroux celebrates the sheer individualistic exhilaration of riding waves.”
—Booklist, starred review

“Extraordinary. A frightening ride to the bottom of the soul of a man with a previously unexamined life. This is contemporary Hawaii as it’s rarely evoked, with surfing strangely near its troubled heart.”
—William Finnegan, author of Barbarian Days, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
 

About the Author

PAUL THEROUX is the author of many highly acclaimed books. His novels include The Lower River, Jungle Lovers, and The Mosquito Coast, and his renowned travel books include Ghost Train to the Eastern Star and Dark Star Safari. He lives in Hawaii and on Cape Cod.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books (April 13, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0358446287
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0358446286
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.37 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,011 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,011 global ratings
Theroux is riding this story like a boss on at Mavericks -- WAIT! Hunter S. Thompson!
5 Stars
Theroux is riding this story like a boss on at Mavericks -- WAIT! Hunter S. Thompson!
UPDATE TO MY earlier review below:Omg, nobody said Hunter S. Thompson was going to make a cameo. I did not realize he and Theroux were friends and hung out together in Hawaii. Anyway, I saw Thompson speak at the University of Maryland as an undergrad, and he was only intermittently lucid. He spent most of his (no doubt highly paid) hour trying to maneuver the mic into a roll of toilet paper to act as a stand. Not sure what he was high on. Anyway, Theroux captures a very engaging version of Thompson who is high on dozens of things at once but lucid enough to land some zingers. HST's arrival in this book caught me by surprise!Back to my original take on this book --Paul Theroux is my favorite author, and I have probably read about 90 percent of his novels, meta autobiographies and travel writing. I did skip his last book about the Mexico border area because reviewers said he got into left-wing politics, but by and large he tends to be searingly truthful -- his Deep South book was one of the most masterful exposes of how globalists have hollowed out the region's small towns, ripping out manufacturing.I ordered Under the Wave at Waimea immediately upon seeing it was released, on general principles given that is by Theroux and specifically because as a resident of Hawaii now, he has knocked it out of the park in his writings on the Aloha State, especially in Hotel Honolulu. He is not afraid to examine racial tensions in the island chain, as well as the beautiful softness to the air, perfumed by exotic greenery, more familiar in the tourist image of Hawaii.The story here is about 62-year-old Surfer Joe, and the writing just crackles with the in-the-moment attitudes of a has-been surfer who is at one with the waves, and less so with the mundane everyday life. I'm about 80 pages into this novel, and Surfer Joe has a new lover and a fatal encounter with a drunk bicyclist. I cannot tell how dark (or light) Under the Wave at Waimea will be, its direction is not yet fathomable, but I will say the writing sings. The observations of Hawaii are lushly observed, with Theroux's keen eye for bird and ocean life, and the surf references check out -- I have only boogie boarded myself, but am fascinated with documentaries on surfing and have watched a half-dozen or more.So far this is a page turner packed with Pacific atmospherics.
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Top reviews from the United States

mjgearon
5.0 out of 5 stars A smooth ride.
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2023
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I discovered Paul Theroux while living in Taiwan. Our expat group would share precious books. Theroux one of the best. Moved to London and found out I was a block from where he wrote 17 Novels. Elsynge Rd. Even did dips at the station on Clapham common opposite his famous son Louis Theroux. I’m a sci fi reader and picked this book up for a local book club. Opened my eyes back to a style of reading from younger years. Following the life of Joe Sharky is at times a rough ride. Well worth the effort. One can wonder what parts of the book parallel the life of Paul Theroux and maybe he makes a partial appearance as an author. Paul Theroux does live part time on the north shore of Oahu and apparently owns geese. He’s also at an age where one may reflect on their life and indeed on how the famous and the unknown interact. I had one just yesterday playing my part as the not famous. I decided the 60 something long haired guy in sunglasses at both the American club and first class seats was an imitation rock star trying too hard. When we got off the aircraft my wife told me he was the drummer from REO speed wagon.
2 people found this helpful
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Thomas A. Clark
4.0 out of 5 stars Surf's up: man down.
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021
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I read this with a predisposed opinion as to how I would find it a flawed effort. And I didn't disappoint myself for much of the book. With a few exceptions I have found P. Theroux's fiction to be mediocre. His non-fiction though superb. And one of the best observers of of human behavior that has ever put a pen to paper.
So why did read it? I guess to prove that this summation was accurate.
And what did i find? A long narration about a brainless dude named Sharkey. The very name keeps slamming you in the face as it much have been used over a 1,000 times. Long and repetitive narrations saying the same thing over and over about Sharkey. Something he said at the scene of an accident must have been repeated 50 times or more. It's like a jackhammer. You begin to think he was cutting and pasting passages from one page to the next. Then there are brilliant passages of almost poetic prose describing surfing. How did P. Theroux come up with these? Even if he surfed at some point in his life wouldn't these memories be dulled by age when he wrote this? They are not the things a surfer would ever say.: they are the words of an exceptional writer. Then there is a gritty exploration of the impoverished and homeless there on the island. Which as another reviewer wrote makes you see Hawaii in a whole new way. And then primarily there is the story of the unknown victim of an accident which like a detective novel takes us along for a ride. And finally it seemed to me the book comes together in the last 15 pages to find closure for Sharkey, and more importantly for the reader. We can call it quits on this read. We got there.
Is it worth reading? Yes: you will definitely take something away from having read it. But that's my view in hindsight. About half way through it was touch and go if I would finish it.
6 people found this helpful
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HG
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2022
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This is an amazing story which weaves its way through the ins and outs of surf culture and life in Hawaii. I think it gives a great insight into the underbelly of life in Hawaii , given the author has lived there for 30 years and has been always had an amazing eye for foreign lands it is not surprising that he would be able to characterise the many levels of society and life on the Sandwich Isles. The many chapters on Hunter Thompson are very enjoyable and given the author knew him well are likely inspired too some extent on real adventures he had with the mad man. All the characters in the book are so well developed as they always seem to be in his books. I certainly hope this gets made into a movie. I think it would play well on the big screen. Best, Tim Greaton
4 people found this helpful
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Larry Johnson
3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2021
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I'm not interested in surfing, and I've recently had my fill of narcissism, so Paul Theroux's Joe Sharkey didn't resonate with me much at all. He's a narcissistic aging surfer who fills the pages of this book with ruminations about fame and mortality.
The problem is, I didn't care because I found Sharkey self-absorbed and obnoxious. I finished the book, and read every page, but didn't get much pleasure from it. Some of the writing is good, some of the descriptions are excellent, and some of the other characters are well-drawn and interesting.
But Sharkey's character, particularly his interior monologues, needed serious editing to avoid taking on the characteristics of a blowhard who comes to visit and never leaves.
I believe I have read -- and reread-- all of Theroux's books. This was one of my least favorites.
42 people found this helpful
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Jim28
5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022
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As a travel writer Theroux is up there though he faltered with On the Plain with Snakes. Not a very big fan as well of his fiction. But i got blown away with this one. Totally absorbing and he frames the scenes as if the reader is right there with his characters - swimming, smoking, crying in pain - and inhaling the reef, salt and smoke. The big looming character is Hawaii and its crook and people and language. Everything is almost perfect (a meandering plot near the end is a bit off) but only if you want to nitpick.
3 people found this helpful
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Jack Karolewski
4.0 out of 5 stars Existentialism on steroids!
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021
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Paul is one of my favorite authors! I like how this book draws you in, and then goes deeper and deeper. Existentialism on steroids! A serious examination of the life choices we all must make, and their ramifications. You will learn a lot about the gritty, dark underside of The Islands too, beyond the showy tourist haunts of Honolulu — the homelessness, the drugs, the racial frictions, and the gangs in Hawaii. Of course, everything about the surfing lifestyle is examined. Theroux is a master of almost poetic detail! He recently turned age eighty, so his wisdom is on full display. Heavy-duty thoughts and observations from start to finish. As for some slight negatives, I thought that the chapters featuring Hunter S. Thompson could have been scaled back a bit. And the font of the entire book’s text was smaller than standard, from what I could tell — this 400 pager is probably more like a 500 pager. But mostly, this very good book will really make you think about your own life and what it means to be fulfilled...’Catch the wave’ and read this one!
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

marco onesti
5.0 out of 5 stars Hawaii, the ocean, a surfer, a life
Reviewed in Italy on August 15, 2022
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First of all, I have never read anything by Paul Theroux. What enticed me toward “Under the Wave at Waimea” was the Surfers’ world and Hawaii.
I myself a supper, have often encountered them, our water-loving cousins, the Surfers, far at sea or on the shorebreaks.
Theroux has been superb in the description of the Haole Joe Sharkey, his predicament, coming from the mainland, in getting accepted by the kanaka (natives), Surf as evasion from humdrum life at first and way of life ever later, comfy life, the power and uniqueness of the waves and the ocean, the utter beauty and wilderness of the Islands, but also homeless camps.
Above all Life, even hard life, with no discounts, no shortcuts, even if so longed for and long persued by self-denial, but eventually let go.
And Redemption.
I read it in few days this summer, savoring, slackening, the last 20-30 pages.
Beautiful
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Amber
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2022
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Absolutely brilliant book if you have any interest in big wave surfers, Hawaii or surfing in general this book weaves in real life people brilliantly into the fictional characters and story. It was unputdownable the main character Sharkey was fascinating and portrayed in so much detail you understood him and why he was how he was. Loved this book didn’t want to finish it. Highly recommend!!
2 people found this helpful
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niklaas van poortvliet
5.0 out of 5 stars Surfs up!
Reviewed in Germany on August 16, 2021
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Cool story that made me want to go to Hawaii big time! Thanks for enabling us to travel vicariously and showing us a slice of life over in the Pacific Ocean, Cheers PT! ( P.S. also thanks for reintroducing Hunter S Thompson, I've just bought all his books!)
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Warick A. Leeming
3.0 out of 5 stars not his best
Reviewed in Australia on June 8, 2021
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story ordinary
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S. H. Mitchell-morgan
1.0 out of 5 stars Poor for Paul...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2021
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Not the standard of his other books. Feels like much of it is spent having a healous go at Hunter S. Shame.
2 people found this helpful
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