Under the Wave at Waimea

By: Paul Theroux

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 18 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

“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 audiences 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.

Narrated by Jim Meskimen

©2021 by Paul Theroux (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Don’t care about the main character

This story is probably more appealing to men. It’s really just about riding waves and women in every single repetitive chapter. I found the main character extremely unlikeable and dull.

I’ve got about 3 hours left and I don’t know that I’ll finish it... time already spent was a waste.

First audiobook to make me cry

Theroux's masterful storytelling is carried beautifully into audio format on the voice of the narrator like a surfer on a perfect wave...with a few minor mispronunciations of some Hawaiian pidgin (which were actually kind of funny). This guy is definitely one of the better narrators out there. Shakas to both gentlemen. 🤙🏼

Of all the fiction books I've downloaded through Audible, this was the first to bring me to tears with the beauty of the writing. The story goes deep and explores the topic of what it really means to be "pono," or righteous, and the consequences when you're not honest with yourself. on a later note, I really enjoyed hearing about the local flora and fauna, the pidgin, and the accurately-described local sites on Oahu. Maybe it's because I've lived on Maui, or that I used to surf, or that I majored in literature, but this, to me is pretty much The Perfect Novel.

Happy that this was my first audio book!!

Under the wave at Waimea took me a couple of months to get through, mainly, I was listening to it while at the gym. What drew me to this book was the setting in Hawaii and about surfing. As I was listening to the book it became apparent that it was, more than just that. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and being that I am a busy father to three children and a husband to a most wonderful wife I don’t really have the time to actually read. I also enjoyed the narration all the different accents that the narrator provided each character. I am definitely recommending this to my circle of family and friends.

A great story and an amazing read.

This wonderful audio book was a treat due to both the story and the narration which place the reader right on the swell of the wave. The many characters are voiced distinctly and with vibrant personality. Dialogue really feels like a conversation between the characters due to the expert, amazingly consistent voicing of the multiple characters even as life experiences change and age them. I was more connected to the characters and the story because of this delightful audio read. An interesting, heart full story that mimics the rise and fall of the ocean, it’s true main character. This is a great book that reflects life’s paddle outs, wipe outs, and curls. This intriguing story is greatly enhanced by the talented narrator and the distinct voicing of each and every character, and what a cast of characters it is! Enjoy.

Terrible pronunciation of local words.

Anybody living in Hawaii for more than a couple of weeks would know how to pronounce Hawaiian and local words. Too many mispronunciations make it unlistenable. Could have just asked any Hawaiian to help the narrator proof listen and avoided this shameful reading.

Theroux punches through yet another

I thought ol Paulie was out of his lane this time but somehow he grappled with cliched Surfer Tales and whipped it around into something meaningful, storybook. Fulfilling yet missed when completed. The narrator decimates Hawaiian pronunciation and thinks an english dame sounds like C3PO. Unlike other Surf Stories this one doesn't require you to surf to get wet and go over the falls.

Started out well

This character study of an aging pro surfer started out well, Set mostly on Oahu, it was an interesting and picturesque portrait of Hawaiian surfer culture from the sixties forward and had a great cameo of Hunter S. Thompson, during the time that he wrote The Curse of Lono. But I found the search for redemption tedious and unconvincing. Since that takes up about half of the book I can't recommend it.

Better Than I Expected

I want to commend the author, Paul Theroux for this authentic story and special thanks to the narrator, Jim Meskimen, for his flawless performance. I lived and surfed in Hawaii at the time this story is reflecting and narrator's use of the local pidgin language is spot-on and made my mental image pictures a vivid reminder of Hawaiian surf-scene. The story and the narration are authentic and enthralling. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and recommend it to anyone! Well worth my time and the small expense!

Poor pronunciation

The story was fun and entertaining, especially since I’m from Oahu and live on the North Shore. My main complaint is with the narrators terrible pronunciation of Hawaiian
words! This could have easily been remedied. The pronunciation was very bad!

Poor Audiobook/ Narration and Pronunciation

The narration is awful. The narrator mispronounces Hawaiian words and names. Punahou School is mispronounced as well as towns and beaches. Olive's accent changes frequently in the story. I am a huge Paul Theroux fan. This is not his best work but still a good read; not so as an audiobook. The narrator doesn't even pronounce his name correctly. Theroux is on record saying his name is pronounced The-roo as it is a French name; not like the actor/relative pronounces it as The-row!