Review
Bill Morris' book, STOKED! , combines New Age California philosophizing with good characterizations, good descriptive surfing and some interesting peeks at the surfing lifestyle.
Morris does shine when he's describing the surfing world. His description of Bill's first encounter with a wetsuit is a hoot; the passages concerned with actually surfing are right on; and the characters Bill meets are well described the only shortcoming being that you want more of them. -- Gary Joyce, New York Outdoors
STOKED! describes surfing with accuracy; in fact, Morris' initial distance from the sport sheds a light that will interest the more familiar who can't themselves remember the trials of beginning, or who find themselves bored by the sport's standard descriptions and lingo. Fresh observations are not the only attraction, however, as the storyline is interesting and provides some surprising twists for the variety of familiar characters. Morris achieves an interesting and valid picture of the surfing lifestyle, and recognizing its joys and faults.
It is this respect for surfers and their individuality that makes Stoked! a valuable addition to the culture it describes. -- Matt Walker, East Coast Surfing Magazine
STOKED! describes the turmoil and struggle of a forty-something sex addict for regaining balance in life after his divorce and layoff from a newspaper job. Eventually, a mysterious female with a small dog helps him find real peace of mind by encouraging him to start surfing. Once stoked for the first time, the world is not the same to him anymore.
If you surf, you will find this book surprisingly inspirational. If you don't surf, you'll wish you did. -- Robert Kieffer, The Lip e-zine on the World Wide Web
STOKED! is a powerful, vivid piece of work reminiscent of Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull, though much richer. It's one of those few and far between novels that has you staring into the sky for a few moments after you've turned the last page, and if it doesn't become a classic I will be very disappointed. -- Patrick Riley, Stoked e-zine on the World Wide Web
STOKED! is a self-healing narrative that takes you on a journey of discovery, a discovery that leads you to a beauty of life and all it has to offer. The story involves a group of very different people, people who share a common bond--surfing. Yet, none of them speak openly or share their true emotions as each character has psychological problems stemming from their childhood years, causing an atmosphere of hostility. Their experiences tell of personal progress and discoveries of inner growth as they come together to form a group of surfing pals, some with novice skill, some expert. Together they share a common love of surfing, a love of being stoked and all for their own different reasons. The book was hard to put down, and was a quick read and at the end, you find yourself asking for more. Anyone who surfs can feel for the main character, Bill, as he journeys out into the cold ocean and moves on from there. With a good story line and a rather harsh ending, Stoked! is a book that every true surfer in search of a life lesson should read. -- JK, Wave Action Magazine
STOKED! is a welcome addition to a long line of meditative works, including Homer's Odyssey and Hesse's Siddhartha, which depict a character's descent into his own version of hell on the rugged road toward enlightenment, and his eventual attainment of a lasting peace through self-discovery, and in this case, through surfing. A Way of the Peaceful Warrior for surfers. Check it out. -- Phil Wikel, SurfWriter's Quarterly
From the Publisher
Here's what readers are saying about Stoked! by Bill Morris:
"Loved it. Read it all in one sitting. Could not put it down. The surfing is great, but it's one of the best damn stories I've read in a long time!"
Dan McUsic, La Selva Beach, California
"Stoked! is surfing's equivalent to 'Golf in the Kingdom.' A spiritual surfari to the promised land."
Rick Wheaton, La Crescenta, California
"Stoked is a compelling odyssey of self-transformation and personal awakening."
Janet Periat, Pescadero California
"Stoked should be filed in the sports, erotica, adventure, goddess mythology, spirituality, and (no kidding) recovery section at every bookstore. Read it and you'll understand."
Don Lubach, University of California at Santa Barbara, California
"It's great! I'm impressed...! I stayed up too late trying to finish it and fell asleep dreaming of it. What a piece!"
Nancy Jean Travis, Berkeley California
"Bill Morris should be riding high on a wave of success after his first book. Stoked! is essential reading ...worldwide"
Nick Cory, Plymouth Devon, England
"A classic, a book that everyone would be proud to have on the shelf."
Frank Higgins, Pescadero California
"Bill Morris' writing is fast-paced, full of surprises, and describes real people and real surfers."
Terry Ulick,Batavia Illinois
"Fun reading! Wish I was back in California and a few years younger!"
Dave Bowman,Seattle, Washington
"Stoked! is surfing's Steppenwolf."
Dennis Goldman, surfer, Boulder, Colorado
"A great reminder of what it's all about. I finished it and had a new outlook. Very well done and thought provoking. If we could all have the same focus Bill had at the end, the world would work out well."
Tim Maddux, Santa Barbara, California
"I loved Stoked!...it exposed the heart of why many of us surf. Thanks for the story, Bill. I look forward to the sequel!"
Daniel Hinojosa, San Jose, California
