I love Surfing Books and Hound of the Sea was no exception! In this post I share what I loved about this book in a Hound of the Sea Book Review.

When I have the bandwidth to read books recently I have gravitated towards two subjects:
1. Surfing.
2. Mountains/Rock Climbing Adventures and Experiences.

When I received Hound of the Seas: Wild Man. Wild Waves. Wild Wisdom. I was excited to read a surfing book about a surfer I knew very little about. The story did not disappoint.

Three Things I enjoyed about Hound of the Sea by Garrett McNamara and Karen Karbo!

1. Garrett’s childhood.
   And what I mean by this is not that I think it was a magnificent childhood. In fact it seems at times traumatic, sad, and scary. At other times beautiful, filled with love, and super unique.
   The story of his childhood is out of this world though and as a reader of his life memoir something that will make you gasp and awe as each page turns.

2. What life is actually like living on the North Shore.
   Life on the North Shore of Hawaii is glamorized by those who don’t actually live on the North Shore of Hawaii. It’s tough, can be very impoverished, and not quite 24/7 vacation mode as we like to “Westernize” our story about it. I found the stories and experiences to be worthwhile in understanding what Hawaiians actually experience and what those who move to Hawaii, not to retire but to hopefully survive life, is actually like.

3. The history and evolution of Big Wave Surfing.
   Look I surf in Tamarindo Costa Rica (easy pretty waves), Southern California, and Cozumel Mexico. I surf baby waves. Big Wave Surfing is something else. It’s also changed and is not just a ticket to riches (as nothing is in life). Garrett and Karen combine to tell a super fascinating lineage of the sport and what it means to be a big wave surfer and the pressures, dedication, and luck involved with turning it into a career.

Hound of the Sea Book Final Thoughts:

I didn’t know anything about Garrett before I read this book, or his brother. Seems like there are a lot of opinions about them in the surfing world (good and bad) but I honestly don’t give a shiz about that noise.

Also…as a writer…I understand how difficult it is to get a book out on your life story.

I wouldn’t say it was the best book I have ever read, but I also enjoyed it enough to not pick apart its minor quirks. Garrett has surfed the biggest wave anyone has ever surfed. He lived in communes in California, paid his rent by subleasing to Japanese surfers during swell season in Oahu, got left by his Mom in Mexico while walking and searching for God, and was one helluva little leaguer in Berkeley CA.

If you like surfing, Hawaii, interesting life stories, or any combination that I just listed you won’t go wrong with a week or two of your life reading Hound of the Sea!

Have you read this book? What’s your favorite Surfing Book?

Check out more Book Reviews in our Blog Archives page HERE and thanks for reading!

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R