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In waves: Édition augmentée
In this graphic novel, surfer and illustrator AJ Dungo remembers his late partner and the shared love of surfing that endured throughout their time together.
Dungo explores the beauty and complexity of his relationship with his partner as they face her prolonged battle with cancer. With his passion for surfing uniting many narratives, he intertwines his own story with those of some of the great heroes of surf.
Dungo explores the beauty and complexity of his relationship with his partner as they face her prolonged battle with cancer. With his passion for surfing uniting many narratives, he intertwines his own story with those of some of the great heroes of surf.
392 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
About the author
A.J. Dungo
4 books75 followersAJ Dungo was born in Fort Myers, Florida. He then moved to Toronto, then settled in Los Angeles where he attended Art Center in Pasadena. When he’s not making comics he works as an illustrator and designer. And when he’s not working on anything, he’s working on his cutbacks on his surfboard and slappies on his skateboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,206 reviews
June 29, 2019
A large graphic novel by AJ Dungo that blends a historical reflection about surfing with a memoir about his love, Kristen, whom we learn almost from the very first has cancer. The history of surfing parts seem initially (and mostly throughout) rather disconnected and in a rather different tone from the more personal sections about Kristen and their friends, who all spent a lot of time (and joy) surfing, as a kind of joyful, almost spiritual practice. The history part, focused on two icons of surfing history, Duke Kahanamoku and Tom Blake, doesn't really focus on those psycho-social dimensions, but the two parts finally do both make it clear that surfing is often a passionate practice, where one connects aesthetics with sport.
I pretty well like the layered storytelling that moves between past and present, between surfing and relationships, but I'm somewhat unconvinced that the two fit together, or that there should be so much focus on the history/biographies of these two famous dudes in a story of grief. I like the final reflection on waves, including waves of grief. The illustration, design, and use of color (sepia for the surfing history, aqua for Kristen), with a lot of open space for reflection consistent with time on the ocean, are beautiful. This is a very attractive artifact from Nobrow, lovingly made, a 3 star story in a 5 star art-ifact.
I didn't get as deep a sense of AJ and Kristen's relationship as I would have liked. Early on, he seemed obsessive, pushing her away, but then she seemed to come back to him when he left her alone. Her parents seemed to discourage the relationship for a time. This isn't really a love story in the usual sense, since a group of guys including AJ spend time with her, mostly. We don't see them alone for much time at all except when we go back in time late in the book to a trip to New York where we see them together as a (sort-of) couple. But there is a kind of respectful sense of privacy in the telling, and we get a real sense of her as special, joyful, living each day, one hopeful wave at a time. My rating would be 3-3.5, rounded up because it is so visually impressive, I guess.
The book makes good on Kristen's dying wish to live on in his art.
Here's an interview with the artist:
https://www.comicsbeat.com/aj-dungo-i...
Here's a quick look at it that may make you dizzy, but you can at least get a sense of the beauty:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByS7kuEgKJ0/
I pretty well like the layered storytelling that moves between past and present, between surfing and relationships, but I'm somewhat unconvinced that the two fit together, or that there should be so much focus on the history/biographies of these two famous dudes in a story of grief. I like the final reflection on waves, including waves of grief. The illustration, design, and use of color (sepia for the surfing history, aqua for Kristen), with a lot of open space for reflection consistent with time on the ocean, are beautiful. This is a very attractive artifact from Nobrow, lovingly made, a 3 star story in a 5 star art-ifact.
I didn't get as deep a sense of AJ and Kristen's relationship as I would have liked. Early on, he seemed obsessive, pushing her away, but then she seemed to come back to him when he left her alone. Her parents seemed to discourage the relationship for a time. This isn't really a love story in the usual sense, since a group of guys including AJ spend time with her, mostly. We don't see them alone for much time at all except when we go back in time late in the book to a trip to New York where we see them together as a (sort-of) couple. But there is a kind of respectful sense of privacy in the telling, and we get a real sense of her as special, joyful, living each day, one hopeful wave at a time. My rating would be 3-3.5, rounded up because it is so visually impressive, I guess.
The book makes good on Kristen's dying wish to live on in his art.
Here's an interview with the artist:
https://www.comicsbeat.com/aj-dungo-i...
Here's a quick look at it that may make you dizzy, but you can at least get a sense of the beauty:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByS7kuEgKJ0/
August 4, 2022
Gorgeous, profound, and emotionally devastating.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
November 6, 2019
"Surfers have always found solace in the waves . . . " -- page 10
Quietly educational yet also equally sincere and heartfelt, this combination historical graphic novel / memoir recalls the beginnings of surfing in popular culture and also details the loss of a loved one. Using just a turquoise and burnt sienna color palette along with his unique illustration style, author Dungo briefly retells the origin of the sport via its birthplace in the Polynesian culture hundreds of years ago. He then spotlights the two men who are arguably responsible for bringing the pastime to a wider audience in the 20th century - champion surfer / Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku of Hawaii, a.k.a. "The Ambassador of Aloha," and Tom Blake, a midwestern U.S. native who cleverly redesigned the shaping and style of the surfboard. Interspersed with the history is the personal aspect, as Dungo honors a deathbed promise to his girlfriend Kristen to "tell our story" about their relationship being irrevocably altered by a cancer diagnosis in her 20's. It was sad but very moving.
Quietly educational yet also equally sincere and heartfelt, this combination historical graphic novel / memoir recalls the beginnings of surfing in popular culture and also details the loss of a loved one. Using just a turquoise and burnt sienna color palette along with his unique illustration style, author Dungo briefly retells the origin of the sport via its birthplace in the Polynesian culture hundreds of years ago. He then spotlights the two men who are arguably responsible for bringing the pastime to a wider audience in the 20th century - champion surfer / Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku of Hawaii, a.k.a. "The Ambassador of Aloha," and Tom Blake, a midwestern U.S. native who cleverly redesigned the shaping and style of the surfboard. Interspersed with the history is the personal aspect, as Dungo honors a deathbed promise to his girlfriend Kristen to "tell our story" about their relationship being irrevocably altered by a cancer diagnosis in her 20's. It was sad but very moving.
April 29, 2023
Una storia emozionante tra passato e presente, la storia del surf e la vita di una ragazza il cui unico sogno era vivere.
Le tavole sono di una potenza disarmante, capaci di teletrasportarti in luoghi e tempi lontani.
Le tavole sono di una potenza disarmante, capaci di teletrasportarti in luoghi e tempi lontani.
June 19, 2019
The structure of this graphic memoir gave it a detached air that kept me from fully engaging with it. The author alternates moments from his relationship with a young woman who has cancer with biographical sketches of surfing legends Duke Kahanamoku and Tom Blake. The history bits are fairly straightforward if a bit dull due to the pacing, but the relationship parts aren't in chronological order, which usually doesn't bother me, but somehow detracted here, leaving me more confused than curious about what was wrong with the woman.
The takeaway seems to be, "Hey, my sick girlfriend liked to surf, and here are some other guys who liked to surf too."
The takeaway seems to be, "Hey, my sick girlfriend liked to surf, and here are some other guys who liked to surf too."
June 20, 2023
Ładne, wzruszające, w ciekawy sposób przeplata historię surfingu z osobistą tragedią. Wydaje mi się jednak, że przez jej niewielką objętość i małą ilość tekstu nie zostanie ze mną na dłużej.
September 3, 2021
Wow, nepochybne jeden z najlepších grafických románov, ktoré sa mi kedy dostali do rúk. Neskutočne krásna kniha. Nie len po vizuálnej stránke, i keď aj to. Jednoduché, no krásne ilustrácie, nádherná farebnosť. Pár ťahov, pár farieb a predsa dokonalé.
Jednoduchosť a krása vystihujú celý román. Je písaný veľmi jednoduchým jazykom, no povedal všetko, čo bolo treba. Bolo to absolútne nádherne, citlivo napísané. Na prvý pohľad je o chorobe a smrti, no v skutočnosti je to oslava života a lásky. A vĺn.
Autorovi sa podarilo pomocou pár viet a obrázkov vyrozprávať svoj príbeh. Vložil do toho seba a bolo to veru cítiť. Ako však dokázal v takom malom rozsahu vytvoriť niečo tak silné, je pre mňa záhadou. Mne až slzy tiekli.
Ak si máte prečítať nejaký grafický román, tak tento. Neoľutujete. Ja som sa zamilovala a rozhodne sa k nemu v budúcnosti budem vracať. Úplná nádhera.
Jednoduchosť a krása vystihujú celý román. Je písaný veľmi jednoduchým jazykom, no povedal všetko, čo bolo treba. Bolo to absolútne nádherne, citlivo napísané. Na prvý pohľad je o chorobe a smrti, no v skutočnosti je to oslava života a lásky. A vĺn.
Autorovi sa podarilo pomocou pár viet a obrázkov vyrozprávať svoj príbeh. Vložil do toho seba a bolo to veru cítiť. Ako však dokázal v takom malom rozsahu vytvoriť niečo tak silné, je pre mňa záhadou. Mne až slzy tiekli.
Ak si máte prečítať nejaký grafický román, tak tento. Neoľutujete. Ja som sa zamilovala a rozhodne sa k nemu v budúcnosti budem vracať. Úplná nádhera.
January 25, 2020
This graphic memoir alternates between the personal and the historical. In the memoir section, the author outlines his relationship with his partner as she battles cancer. Intertwined with their personal story are sections about the history of surfing.
This book is clearly something he promised his partner he would write, and it is a lovely ode to her. However, I, the reader, was kept at a distance during the personal sections - these people seemed too remote for me to connect with in the telling of this story. There's a wall, a clear one, but still a wall put up between the people and the reader. I wanted to be let in. Feel emotionally connected to the people. The history portions felt disjointed, and while I appreciate personal stories set amid historical contexts - in this case, surfing culture - there wasn't enough of a tie in. Solace found in nature, especially in waves, is the thin thread that ties the two sections together, and I wish that was explored more deeply.
What makes this book worth the price of admission is the art. It's beautiful. I loved the color palette, and the use of simple line work to capture complex scenes. Grief is both personal and universal, and I appreciate the author's efforts to capture some of that on paper.
This book is clearly something he promised his partner he would write, and it is a lovely ode to her. However, I, the reader, was kept at a distance during the personal sections - these people seemed too remote for me to connect with in the telling of this story. There's a wall, a clear one, but still a wall put up between the people and the reader. I wanted to be let in. Feel emotionally connected to the people. The history portions felt disjointed, and while I appreciate personal stories set amid historical contexts - in this case, surfing culture - there wasn't enough of a tie in. Solace found in nature, especially in waves, is the thin thread that ties the two sections together, and I wish that was explored more deeply.
What makes this book worth the price of admission is the art. It's beautiful. I loved the color palette, and the use of simple line work to capture complex scenes. Grief is both personal and universal, and I appreciate the author's efforts to capture some of that on paper.
August 11, 2020
Il blu dell’oceano per raccontare la sua storia d’amore con Kristen, il colore della sabbia per narrarci la storia del surf, fin dalle sue origini: questo è A ondate, un delicato, fragile e tenero memoir autobiografico.
AJ Dungo parte da una storia universale, quella del surf moderno, per intrecciarvi i suoi ricordi personali legati all’amore per questo sport e per Kristen, una giovane ragazza che capiamo fin dalle prime tavole essere gravemente malata. Ho toccato con mano quello di cui parla AJ Dungo, ho vissuto la provvisorietà di una storia in bilico tra la vita e la morte, il lacerante dolore che il senso di impotenza e precarietà porta con sé, la paura dell’ignoto che il domani rappresenta, l'improvviso e interminabile istante in cui tutto si compie. Molto spesso, nel leggere le poche pagine (avrei voluto che la lettura durasse molto di più…), mi sono dovuta fermare per ritornare con la memoria alla mia di storia, sperando di poter riassaporare ancora uno di quei giorni assieme, cercando un po’ di quella forza che traspare in Kristen in questa bellissima graphic novel. E’ stato come lasciarsi cullare dalle onde, abbandonandosi ad un modo molto dolce per ricordare. Trovo davvero bello che il ricordo di una persona che si è amato così tanto possa rivivere in maniera così spontanea e consolante nell’arte.
A ondate è il dolore, che non ha un flusso costante, non è mai in equilibrio, ma va e viene, colpendoti all’improvviso, lasciandoti stordito magari, per poi ritornare a quietarsi nello stesso modo in cui era arrivato. Le onde dell’oceano diventano inizio e fine di una storia, che non è mai una morte definitiva, ma nasconde in sé sempre una rinascita, in un eterno ciclo vitale che è vita, che mai potrà interrompersi, ma che va abbracciato e cavalcato.
AJ Dungo parte da una storia universale, quella del surf moderno, per intrecciarvi i suoi ricordi personali legati all’amore per questo sport e per Kristen, una giovane ragazza che capiamo fin dalle prime tavole essere gravemente malata. Ho toccato con mano quello di cui parla AJ Dungo, ho vissuto la provvisorietà di una storia in bilico tra la vita e la morte, il lacerante dolore che il senso di impotenza e precarietà porta con sé, la paura dell’ignoto che il domani rappresenta, l'improvviso e interminabile istante in cui tutto si compie. Molto spesso, nel leggere le poche pagine (avrei voluto che la lettura durasse molto di più…), mi sono dovuta fermare per ritornare con la memoria alla mia di storia, sperando di poter riassaporare ancora uno di quei giorni assieme, cercando un po’ di quella forza che traspare in Kristen in questa bellissima graphic novel. E’ stato come lasciarsi cullare dalle onde, abbandonandosi ad un modo molto dolce per ricordare. Trovo davvero bello che il ricordo di una persona che si è amato così tanto possa rivivere in maniera così spontanea e consolante nell’arte.
A ondate è il dolore, che non ha un flusso costante, non è mai in equilibrio, ma va e viene, colpendoti all’improvviso, lasciandoti stordito magari, per poi ritornare a quietarsi nello stesso modo in cui era arrivato. Le onde dell’oceano diventano inizio e fine di una storia, che non è mai una morte definitiva, ma nasconde in sé sempre una rinascita, in un eterno ciclo vitale che è vita, che mai potrà interrompersi, ma che va abbracciato e cavalcato.
March 28, 2021
ce récit autobiographique est renversant et absolument bouleversant.
« Peu avant minuit, sa mère est revenue. Elle a pris sa fille dans ses bras et lui a dit à quel point elle l’aimait, combien elle était fière d’elle et qu’elle pouvait s’en aller à présent. Au son de la voix de sa maman, le rythme cardiaque de Kristen s’est ralenti. À minuit, Kristen s’en était allée ».
Je comprends maintenant pourquoi ceux qui l’ont lu l’ont tant aimé, ce livre. Je comprends sa grandeur et j’en suis encore renversée.
« Peu avant minuit, sa mère est revenue. Elle a pris sa fille dans ses bras et lui a dit à quel point elle l’aimait, combien elle était fière d’elle et qu’elle pouvait s’en aller à présent. Au son de la voix de sa maman, le rythme cardiaque de Kristen s’est ralenti. À minuit, Kristen s’en était allée ».
Je comprends maintenant pourquoi ceux qui l’ont lu l’ont tant aimé, ce livre. Je comprends sa grandeur et j’en suis encore renversée.
June 25, 2024
✨ 4.5 Stars ✨
I cried two (2) times while reading this, in the library, in a public space, right before I needed to work, and I carry NO shame 🥹
Safe to say, this graphic novel broke me 💙 and that’s okay 😊
I cried two (2) times while reading this, in the library, in a public space, right before I needed to work, and I carry NO shame 🥹
Safe to say, this graphic novel broke me 💙 and that’s okay 😊
November 4, 2019
Coup de cœur absolu, et grosses larmes de crocodile.
June 26, 2022
Poznáte taký pocit, keď ležíte na nafukovačke, ponárate sa do snov, ale nezaspíte kompletne, len cez závoj spánku vnímate cudzie jazyky okolo seba? Presne tento pocit vo mne vyvolala táto kniha. Na vlnách jemne unášaná smutným príbehom som sa ocitala v mysli niekoho iného, v mysli niekoho, kto stratil blízkeho človeka.
January 12, 2022
A very beautiful meditation on grief, through the lens of water. The author, who lost someone very dear to him to cancer when she was quite young, weaves through the history of surfing with his own experiences of surfing, and the oceanic properties of grieving.
December 8, 2022
2.5/5 stars
Reviewing a personal memoir, especially about a topic so vulnerable as grief, is alway particularly tricky for me. This one mirrors a feeling I've often had about them.
On a personal level, as a personal exorcism of grief and a tribute to a loved one, I think this was wonderful and I hope it's brought a lot of healing.
On a more "objective note" as a published work, I don't think it has the same effect on an outside audience. The illustrations are stunning, but the text and format keep the reader at a distance and stay a little too surface-level for me to really engage with it.
In short: I commend it as a personal memoir/dairy for the author. As a published memoir I would've liked it to dive a little deeper, instead of surfing the surface.
Reviewing a personal memoir, especially about a topic so vulnerable as grief, is alway particularly tricky for me. This one mirrors a feeling I've often had about them.
On a personal level, as a personal exorcism of grief and a tribute to a loved one, I think this was wonderful and I hope it's brought a lot of healing.
On a more "objective note" as a published work, I don't think it has the same effect on an outside audience. The illustrations are stunning, but the text and format keep the reader at a distance and stay a little too surface-level for me to really engage with it.
In short: I commend it as a personal memoir/dairy for the author. As a published memoir I would've liked it to dive a little deeper, instead of surfing the surface.
October 16, 2020
4,25⭐️/5
Na początek muszę powiedzieć ,ze to moja pierwsza powieść graficzna oraz ,ze jest to historia autora.Bardzo,bardzo polecam,prawie płakałam kilka razy,ma przepiękna kreskę i jest pięknie wydana.
Na początek muszę powiedzieć ,ze to moja pierwsza powieść graficzna oraz ,ze jest to historia autora.Bardzo,bardzo polecam,prawie płakałam kilka razy,ma przepiękna kreskę i jest pięknie wydana.
October 11, 2020
Tanto triste e tanto dolce ❤
January 1, 2022
Tolko krasy par slovami. Necakala som to, nevedela som, o com tato kniha je a uplne ma prekvapila, rozcitila, rozplakala a pohladila na dusi. Krasny a smutny pribeh plny vln, surfovania a lasky. Nadherne nakreslene, uplne jednoduche a predsa toho v sebe skryva tak vela. Je to kniha, ktoru budem citat este velakrat, lebo viem, ze mi stale nieco da, nieco nove, iny pohlad. Kupujte a citajte 🥰
January 19, 2022
Bardzo fajnie, że główny wątek przeplatany był historią powstania surfingu, bo nie miałam pojęcia o początkach tego sportu. Samej historii Kristen nie będę oceniać, bo została oparta na faktach. Nawet uroniłam łzę gdy sobie to uświadomiłam.
January 28, 2020
I was so glad no one was in the back office while I was eating my lunch at work and reading this one. I had pulled it aside when we ordered it, then put it back, and then saw that it was an Alex award winner and pulled it back out to read. And then in a flash I'm dabbing my eyes because it's an EMOTIONAL book: the storytelling, artistic approach with the dual stories in complimentary color schemes, and the actual memoir is moving. Readers can tell Dungo poured his heart and soul into it and then to find ways to introduce readers to surfing culture and legends while also telling Kristen and his story was superb.
Then there were just some pages that just wrecked you. And the message it sends reverberates. He uses the page and the colors effortlessly.
Then there were just some pages that just wrecked you. And the message it sends reverberates. He uses the page and the colors effortlessly.
February 18, 2020
Roman graphique que j’ai terminé avec beaucoup de tristesse... c’est dire la puissance de l’histoire, sa structure étonnante, les personnages d’aujourd’hui qui répondent à ceux d’hier, sur fond de passion pour les vagues. Excellent roman graphique, avec dessins parfaits. Juste magnifique!
September 7, 2020
Ciężko ocenić książkę opartą na faktach. Bardzo podobało mi się przedstawienie historii surfingu oraz pokazanie jak surfing pomagał autorowi radzić sobie z problemami. Piękne rysunki, chętnie będę częściej sięgać po komiksy.
February 14, 2021
Une très belle histoire d’amour, de deuil, le tout autour du surf. J’ai beaucoup aimé les couleurs choisies (alternance de bleu & de sépia). Un très joli roman graphique, très émouvant.
October 20, 2021
If ever 'heartbreaking' was a word to describe a marvellous piece of art
August 29, 2023
"wieść o swojej śmiertelności przyjęła z bohaterską nonszalancją."
January 27, 2026
Mieszanka emocji oraz informacji. Słyszałam, że dobre, ale poruszyło mocniej niż się spodziewałam.
July 14, 2021
In Waves is a beautiful and moving memoir that follows A.J. Dungo, the author, and his late partner Kristen. This graphic novel explores the years they got to spend together and it was very touching and emotional to read.
It also has some sections about the history of surf, a passion that AJ and Kristen both shared. Even though I found these parts interesting to read, I think they kind of interrupted the natural flow of the main storyline and at one point it felt like I was actually reading two separate stories.
But overall this is definitely a graphic novel that I would recommend.
It also has some sections about the history of surf, a passion that AJ and Kristen both shared. Even though I found these parts interesting to read, I think they kind of interrupted the natural flow of the main storyline and at one point it felt like I was actually reading two separate stories.
But overall this is definitely a graphic novel that I would recommend.
August 23, 2020
Ik heb deze dikke kanjer in één zitting uitgelezen. Mijn bladwijzer bleef verweesd langs de kant liggen. Het is zo'n boek die enkele uren lang de wereld rondom mij wegvaagt: er bestaat enkel nog de inhoud van deze strip. Thema : liefde, levenspassie en de geschiedenis van het surfen. De sobere tekenstijl vol klare lijnen sleepte me genadeloos mee tot de laatste pagina.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,206 reviews