In Waves

This is a beautiful book and a beautiful story. And that’s what it is, a story... like all of us. Simple, clean, and noble this personal tale weaves a majestic journey worthy of our attention, emotions, and solace. And the artistry is welcoming and poignant, like nothing I’ve seen before.With all due respect, the unfortunate review above is a bit misguided and incomplete. While only partially accurate and relating to just the first 10 pages, I almost allowed it to steer me away from this masterpiece, hence my review. As a surfer born and raised on Kauai’s North Shore, Hawaiian surfing and culture is rife with beauty, integrity, suffering, separation, joy, and reunion. And of course, like us, like all stories, it is so much more. Additionally, the very first sentence on the very first page begs reprieve, “I must admit, I am not the most qualified source to teach you about the subject of surfing.” Do your own due diligence and gauge for yourSelf.If you are looking for something deep and meaningful to dive into, try this... then maybe try the sea.May you be well.AloHA!

I was completely immersed in this book from cover to cover! AJ fearlessly dove into his private life and shared a deep understanding of the human experience that I could relate to.Passion, love, hope, and loss are all major themes in this novel, but above all: what it means to remember, and what it means to keep track of history and the impact that a single individual can have on an entire community. He does all of this with such a cinematic and detailed drawing style that I was able to become absorbed in its fluidity and blur the world around me.I recommend reading this book slowly and absorbing the images page by page the way that one would do with a painting at museum. This is in fact a work of art, and an engaging account of personal and learned experiences, all archived and packaged into a wonderful graphic novel printed by the one and only Nobrow Press (A publishing company that I love because of their sharp and colorful printing quality).The panels speak for themselves. Don't hesitate with this one.

Really beautiful and impactful book.

Put simply, this book is masterfully done. Between the beautiful illustrations and seemingly effortless transitions in storytelling, AJ, the writer and artist, has created a masterpiece. As an artist and writer myself, I was enamored with both the visual flow and narrative movement throughout the whole book. Once you start reading you won’t be able to put it down. As you take the journey you will be hit with many feelings, happiness, determination, love, warmth and tragedy - that will surely keep you emotionally invested. AJ transitions throughout the book with information about his surfing knowledge and surfing culture, from the surfing greats to the misunderstood, accompanied with his own personal happiness and adversities. Everyone can find something to relate to in this book whether it be the themes portrayed, the awe inspiring color palette and illustrations, the storytelling, the heartwarming/heartbreaking encounters or just the enjoyable facts about surfing knowledge and culture itself. A must read and must buy for anyone.God Bless Aj Dungo and the story and gift he shared with us. Thank You.

Such a delightful read. Huge Thanks to Surfer's Journal for including an article showcasing Dungo's, In Waves in the recent 30.1 issue.This book gets at surfing from other angles than most books on the subject. Moving and informative, I enjoyed Dungo's personal story of loss with deep emotion and crisp simplicity, juxtaposed with two surf pioneers encounters and innovations. It seemed to expose the different reasons for the obsession: enjoying the blissful nature of surfing and receiving comfort from life's hardship.Highly recommend.

The definition of the perfect balance between illustration and words. Which creates an wonderful story that moves you and shakes you off your seat. It’s so well done that I believe there are stories hidden in between those tasteful images and words that could educate younger audiences or even the upcoming generations the lecture of love, loss, gain. In waves came in the rapid social media world and instead being used to being in control, it shows you the beauty and the art of not in control. Learn to let it go and open your heart. Learn the be vulnerable, that’s how you becoming stronger. It is a book I will be passing it down to my kid and grandkids if I ever have the blessing to have any.

A must-read graphic novel taking place on the Asian American coast, this is the most talented AJ Dungo's writing debut. The story parallels the writer's relationship with his cancer-stricken partner and the relationship between two historical pioneers of surfing, Duke Kahanamoku & Tom Blake. Beautiful illustrations and sparse writing give the reader the introspective space necessary to reflect on the emotional gravitas of the situation. Ultimately, it's a story about finding your place in the world, when the tides pull everything away from you. To be in waves. Beautiful, beautiful book!!PS. Be careful with ordering directly from Amazon, they put the book in a bubble mailer so there's a pretty big fold in addition to roughed up edges.

It's been some time since I've been so arrested by a graphic novel, and then taken on an journey that made me feel as if I've live a tiny part of the story and felt the echos of the real emotions that were involved in it's creation. The highs are lovely, and amazing. The lows crushed my heart. The art seemed simple at first, but by the end of the book I couldn't imagine any better style as the writing and images combined into a truly great story.

An absolutely gorgeous, moving graphic novel. Wonderful artwork and genuinely emotive, this is a wonderful example of what comics can be. Truly special

The dual narrative and beautiful use of comic format creates amazing emotional tension - I finished this in one read. Visually stunning.

Un résumé parfait trouvé sur Babelio :La perte d’un être cher et la façon dont on traverse le deuil, en surfant comme on peut la crête d’une grosse vague. Tantôt au-dessus de l’écume, tantôt envahi et fracassé par le poids de l’eau.Avec beaucoup de finesse et de pudeur, AJ Dungo, immortalise les instants de grâce de sa relation avec Kristen. La légèreté et l’émotion des premières rencontres, la violence du combat contre la maladie, la noblesse de la jeune femme qui se bat avec calme.Il évoque en parallèle leur passion commune pour le surf, l’océan. Et évite très justement l’écueil du pathos en intercalant dans son récit personnel, un petit précis d’histoire du surf.

Je suis tombé sous le charme !Ce roman graphique aborde l'approche de la mort et le deuil d'une manière très poétique sans tomber dans le mélo.J'étais perplexe concernant les dessins assez simples et monochromes avant de le lire mais ils sont vraiment merveilleux. Réussir à faire passer autant d'émotions, à servir le propos aussi sobrement, c'est un art et l'art est ici absolu.Il est aussi question de surf, un plus pour les afficionados mais si on ne l'est pas, ca reste intéressant et "secondaire".Je recommande absolument cette lecture dont on le ressort pas impassible.

In Waves is many things. It's a coming-of-age story. It's a dissertation on the history of surfing, told through the biographies of two of its main protagonists. It's a tale of love and grief. It's life, told through the lens of a passion who comes and goes, just like the waves. I definitely recommend this.