Gravity

by Norman Ollestad

From the author of the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling memoir Crazy for the Storm comes the next chapter in the extraordinary life of a survivor determined to embrace life with the passion his father instilled in him. Twenty-year-old Ollestad escapes his mundane collegiate routine in Southern California for St. Anton, a remote village nestled in the glittering and dangerous peaks of the Austrian Alps. There, he befriends the local clique of ski bums and fills his days with endless, exhilarating skiing, and his nights flirting with the prettiest girls at the bars. But in the quiet moments, Norman cannot escape the painful memories of his challenging, adrenaline-addicted father who took him to St. Anton fifteen years earlier, and who died in a terrible plane crash of which Norman, at the age of eleven, was the sole survivor. In Gravity, Ollestad transports us to those thrilling days in the Alps, and reveals how his search to find greater meaning in his rudderless life helped him discover the relationships that make life worth living.Norman Ollestad was born in Los Angeles in 1967 and grew up in Malibu. He studied creative writing at UCLA and attended UCLA’s undergrad Film School. His writing has appeared in Outside, Men’s Journal and Time. He is married and has two children—a son and daughter—and lives in Venice, California.Cover design by Adil Dara

Genres: Nonfiction

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2015

About the author

Norman Ollestad, a New York Times BESTSELLING author, studied creative writing at UCLA and attended UCLA’s undergrad Film School. His writing has appeared in Outside, Men’s Journal and Time. He is married and has two children—a son and daughter—and lives in Venice, California.

Reviews

[Lisa J · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed "Crazy For The Storm" you will 100% enjoy this.

If you did not read "Crazy For The Storm," "Gravity" is a great stand alone novella (it just picks up shortly after CFTS). It's part adventure, part meditation on family, and while it tackles some "deep thoughts" it's always a fast, fun read.

I read it on my iPad's Kindle app.

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense.

Being true to yourself, living life to the fullest. Wonderful story.
While reading this book, remembered the book I read and the movie I saw more than thirty five years ago. Was so surprised when author mentioned and was reading the book again in this story. Like this great book "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" should be read too.

[Katherine Pepper · Rating 1 out of 5]

No means adventure book more like a disjointed love story

Did not like the book to many broken disjointed themes
and was not to my standards as a Adventure book

[Brian Nutsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this better than Crazy For the Storm, it was lighthearted but serious and I enjoyed imagining the little town

[Heath Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved his first book, and while reading it, I had questions that this book answered or spoke to.

I cant wait for his fiction to come out as well.