Customer Reviews

Chasing Waves: A Surfer's Tale of Obsessive Wandering

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Who would have known waves could be described in so many new ways? Waeschle paints a beautiful picture as she writes about her experiences from just beginning to surf, to when surfing becomes a huge part of her life. I could hear the roar of salty spray, see the deep blue barrels of swell and feel the sun on my brow as I read. This book is a testament to how mother nature; in particular the Ocean can enhance ones life and enable a person to live their life more fully because of their relationship with the water. Of course the water isn't always peaches n' cream; Waeschle describes the scary moments out there with utmost clarity as well. Waeschle integrates how surfing and her personal relationships become braided as one, an inspiration to anyone who intends to keep doing what they do in the outdoors as they start a family. This book is enjoyable for those who have been surfing all their lives or those who have never surfed before. I have never surfed but it is written so that anyone can understand the wave terminology.

You don't have to be a surfer to enjoy this book! It's not only a delightful journey of wanderlust, but also the story of a woman's, and a family's, odyssey through the lens of the author's passion--surfing. The author has a knack for the descriptive turn of phrase and manages to make each encounter with a wave original, as when she describes her early attempts to keep hold of her board as "trying to commandeer a huge, slippery trout."

I am not a surfer; in fact, deep water scares me, but reading Chasing Waves made me want to run out and buy a surfboard, a sketchy, old van, and hit the road.

The writing was so colorful that the descriptions temporarily moved me to the sites with them. I have actually been to some of the places; my past travel experiences were renewed as I read her colorful details of the places and people. She is a pleasure to read with just the right amount of intensity to capture the moment. She also conveys the intensive need to surf along with the dedication to her relationships with husband and ultimately family! A wonderful relaxing read - - - Good Job Amy thanks!

Chasing Waves illustrates experiences that are common to all surfers. I found it to be an easy read and caught myself smiling during much of the book. I grew up surfing in So Cal and related to all of Amy's experiences regardless of where she was around the globe. A must have for anyone's surf collection.

This is a book for people who wonder what the excitement of catching and riding a wave standing up on a surfboard is all about; i.e., what's it like to be "stoked"? The author does a fine job capturing the arduous effort required to learn to surf, the thrill of the hunt, and the sheer joy and exhileration of the ride. Many nicely-observed travel passages will also make you want to pack a bag and get on the road.

Amy has captured the spirit of adventure, fun, and hard work in this entertaining and easy to read book. I'm not a surfer, but her exploration and persistence in pursuing surfing mirrors any woman's journey to mastering any difficult and challenging sport. I enjoyed reading about her struggles with learning from her partner, finding the time to catch some waves while raising a family, and her descriptions of her traveling adventures. Nice work, Amy!

When I stumbled across this book, I expected to like it. Maybe that was the problem, it did not live up to my expectations, and while that has nothing to do with the book, I must say that in my honest opinion this is a watered down adventure. Make that a very watered down adventure, you know what make that a mildly exciting vacation. For two days I read about this woman's vacation... I was not transported anywhere, never envisioned any waves, nor did I feel any wanderlust. And while the writing was ok it felt superficial, maybe there was too much description of the waves and not enough description of the feeling. Sooo, meh : /
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