The book covers his childhood with his demanding but charismatic father amid the surf cultures of malibu and mexico in the 1970s. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad clocks in as an. From the age of three, norman ollestad was thrust into the world of surfing and competitive downhill skiing by the intense, charismatic father he both idolized and resented. Skateboarding with the guys, watch tv, and trading baseball cards, etc. The book covers his childhood with his demanding but charismatic father amid the.
The book crazy for the storm is norman s account of his life up until the moment of the crash, his efforts at surviving on the snowy mountainside, and the aftermath of the accident. The memoir crazy for the storm talks about the growing process of the author, norman ollestad, supervised by his strict dad, who asks him to surf, ski, and play hockey at his very young age. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad clocks in as an exceptional memoir of a father and son. Normans dad lives off the coast of california with his girlfriend sandra. Growing up on topanga beach before the government stripped the shack houses from the surfers and the locals, ollestad was the son of a former child actor turned fbi agent turned whistleblower, who was also a fan of extreme sports. He died on february 19, 1979 in san bernardino county, california. This book is a memoir of the life of norman ollestad, however, very little has to do with his surviving a plane crash. His father, norman snr, was a former child actor who subsequently became a lawyer. Set amid the wild uninhibited surf culture of malibu and mexico in the late 1970s, crazy for the storm is a fascinating memoir that was hard to put down. The crash killed the pilot and normans father instantly.
Apr 14, 2009 from the age of three, norman ollestad was thrust into the world of surfing and competitive downhill skiing by the intense, charismatic father he both idolized and resented. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad clocks in as an exceptional. Crazy for the storm is an absolutely compelling book which i read in one long sitting. A memoir of survival by norman ollestad because it was a story about an 11 year old boy who beat incredible odds to survive a plane crash in the mountains he was the only survivor. Norman resented this at first, and describes his father as reckless, yet after the air crash, he realized how much his dad loved him. Sadly, his father, who called norman boy wonder because of his sons accomplishments at skiing, hockey, and surfing, perished in the wreckage. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad is a autobiography. In fact, little norman, as hes called in the book, went surfing with his father when he was just a baby. Whats the story the story centers on norman ollestads lovehate relationship with his charismatic father, who thrust him into extreme sports pursuits at age 3, and pressed him to excel in the world of surfing and competitive skiing which immersed them in the southern california surf culture of the 1970s.
His subsequent book, french girl with mother, a novel, came out in october 2016. Anton, austria where, as a boy, i spent a lot of time skiing with my father, and where, for the first time as a young man, i finally faced the pain of losing him. The film is based on a memoir by ollestads son, also called norman. Norman olsteads new york times bestselling memoir crazy for the storm is the story of the harrowing plane crash the author miraculously survived at age eleven, framed by the moving tale of his complicated relationship with his charismatic, adrenalineaddicted father. Crazy for the storm a memoir of survival by norman ollestad set amid the spontaneous, uninhibited surf culture of malibu and mexico in the late 1970s, this riveting book, written in crisp hemingwayesque prose, recalls ollestads childhood and the magnetic man whose determination and love infuriated and inspired him and also taught him to overcome the. Norman ollestad born may 30, 1967 is an american author. Author norman ollestad on crazy for the storm treehugger.
From the age of three, norman ollestad was thrust into the world of surfing and competitive downhill. Ollestads father also named norman ill call him norm was a child actor turned lawyer. Breathtaking crazy for the storm will keep you up late into the night. Hire norman ollestad to speak at events professional. Listen to crazy for the storm audiobook by norman ollestad. This post contains affiliate links which help support moms plans. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading crazy for the storm. While his friends were riding bikes, playing ball, and going to birthday parties, young norman was whisked away in pursuit of wild and demanding adventures. The onetime child actor, fbi agent and attorney, and firstclass thrill seeker pushes first himself. In the winter of 1979, the 11yearold ollestad survived a plane crash in which his father and his fathers girlfriend were killed. Norman ollestad september 7, 1935 february 19, 1979.
The chapters alternate between his time on the mountain after the plane crash and his life leading up to that point. Author norman ollestad on crazy for the storm norman ollestad was eleven when the plane carrying him and three others, his father among them, collided with a blizzardenshrouded mountain. John preston on, crazy for the storm, norman ollestads moving. An engrossing story of adventure, survival and psychological exploration. Ollestad was an elevenyear old boy when his plane crashed in the san gabriel mountains in 1979, losing his father in the crash and the book. Exclusive interview with crazy for the storm author. Breathtakingcrazy for the storm will keep you up late into the night. First in line for crazy for the storm is josh brolin, as surf and ski guru norman ollestad sr. He wrote about it in his 2009 bestseller crazy for the storm. A memoir of survival kindle edition by ollestad, norman. His subsequent book, french girl with mother, a novel, came out in october. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad book read online scribd. Crazy for the storm, a memoir of survival norman ollestad.
Jim harrison extraordinaryan adventure story with a rich psychological foundation from an enormously talented author. He was an actor, known for the george burns and gracie allen show 1950, the loretta young show 1953 and borrowed trouble 1948. Jun 02, 2009 listen to crazy for the storm audiobook by norman ollestad. If norman ollestads book was just a survival memoir, it would still be.
Norman lives with his mother and her abusive husband nick. Jun 30, 2009 norman ollestad was 11 years old when the plane he was in crashed ollestads father died and ollestad climbed down the mountain for nine hours experience is present in book crazy for the storm. In crazy for the storm, author norman ollestad tells of surviving a plane crash as a child, but also reflects on his fathers passion for surfing and skiing and competitive sports. Ollestad, 41, was thrust into the world of surfing and competi. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad houston chronicle. Norman ollestad is the author of the 2009 bestseller crazy for the storm. Crazy for the storm is a compelling memoir that reads just like a novel. Tucked into a canvas papoose on his fathers back, tiny arms and legs clinging to dads torso, norman ollestad surfed californias topanga beach at the tender age of 1. Lucinda franks, pulitzer prize winning author as much a thriller as a memoir gorgeously written, perfectly controlled. Surfing just outside the front door, naked people on the beach, a cluster of simple houses on the sand now long gone, bulldozed to make way for moviestar mansions. Ollestad sketches life at topanga as nearly idyllic. A sons memoir about his adventureseeking father is the latest starbucks book pick. Crazy for the storm by norman ollestad at home with books. Washington post book world crazy for the storm is an absolutely compelling book which i read in one long sitting.
Norman ollestad recounts his unusual upbringing and how he had to rely on his earlier experiences and lessons taught by his dad in order to survive on the mountain. Ollestad hits several notes that should make his memoir irresistible to those looking for pageturning but thoughtprovoking summer reading along the lines of jon krakauers into thin air 1997. Learn how to hire norman ollestad or research availability and pricing for booking norman ollestad to speak at a corporate event, fundraiser, private party, social media campaign, fair or festival, tradeshow or conference, endorsement project. At the age of eleven, he was the only survivor of a plane crash that claimed the life of his father. A memoir of survival norman ollestad, 2009 harpercollins 288 pp. Crazy for the storm opens with a photo of his father taking norman surfing, in a baby carrier. Inside each turbulence there is a calm a sliver of light buried in the darkness. Aug 16, 2009 crazy for the storm by norman ollestad. A companion piece to crazy for the storm, writing gravity was a lifechanging book for me. Norman ollestad quotes author of crazy for the storm. The fact that its true made me shudder, but then norman ollestad is a. He appeared in such films and tv shows as cheaper by the dozen, sky king, father knows best and high school confidential.
The fact that its true made me shudder, but then norman ollestad is a fine writer and every detail is convincing. While i thought the book would be mainly about ollestads crash and. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. However, he has a father that pushes him for much more. Ollestads writing has received extraordinary praise from the new york times to entertainment weekly, and has won admiration from esteemed voices including russell banks, jim harrison, susan cheever, and carolyn see, and invited comparisons to tobias wolff. But its the way that norman ollestad tells his tale that makes crazy for the storm a memoir that will last. It explores my return to the dangerous peaks of st. Read crazy for the storm by norman ollestad for free with a 30 day free trial. Everything you need to know about crazy for the storm. Listen to crazy for the storm by norman ollestad at.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Carolyn see a heartstopping story beautifully told norman ollestad has written a book that may well be read for generations. Norman ollestad was 11 years old when the plane he was in crashed ollestads father died and ollestad climbed down the mountain for nine hours experience is present in book crazy for the storm. In crazy for the storm, his debut effort, norman ollestad combines idyllic imagery with spare, deeply passionate prose in capturing an 11yearolds recollection of the most pivotal year of his life the year before the fateful plane crash that would change everything. Exclusive interview with crazy for the storm author norman. Ollestad was an elevenyear old boy when his plane crashed in the san gabriel mountains in 1979, losing his father in the crash and the book is not only riveting tale of his survival, but of his own special relationship with his father. Ollestad s writing has received extraordinary praise from the new york times to entertainment weekly, and has won admiration from esteemed voices including russell banks, jim harrison, susan cheever, and carolyn see, and invited comparisons to tobias wolff and jon krakauer. One of the best books of the past few years was crazy for the storm. Crazy for the storm a memoir of survival by norman ollestad set amid the spontaneous, uninhibited surf culture of malibu and mexico in the late.