The Great Floodgates of the Wonderworld: A Memoir

I got sucked into reading this book for a couple reasons. I love Moby Dick. I'm a surfer and a writer. I love New York and always thought that being a surfing living in New York as a struggling writer would be a crazy life worthy of a story.Well Justin seems to want us to think that he's had an interesting life but save yourself the time a money - it's not worth a memoir. He barely talks about the surfing experience. And I'm not talking about wave by wave breakdowns - he doesn't ever get into the meaning of surfing and why he's doing it. I honestly don't know why it is even in the book - never does surfing connect to ANYTHING that changes in his life to move the story forward. Except for a little bit about how in shape he has become.Also, how does this all connect with a classic book about chasing a whale?Like maybe the mania that a surfer finds themselves in searching for the best wave is similar to Ahab hunting the white whale? Not in the book. Because he always surfs the same spot and never seems to talk about how surfing is helping him, driving him. I honestly don't know how they connect.Also - the struggling writer part is pretty ridiculous. He is there living off of his first book, which he got published, then the big dilemma for him in the middle of the book is his "Selling out to the man" job - when he gets a job at a publishing company in New York!? He is READING for a living! If you have to pay the bills and you are a writer!? I can think of a lot worse jobs. He even says his boss is a great guy! But I guess it didn't sound as romantic as Melville never being recognized for Moby Dick so he had to drum up some drama.The worst part about this book is how self centered the thing is. I understand that it is a memoir, so by it's very nature it IS self centered - but there is a difference and I'll give some examples.I can not tell you about one other character in this book besides Justin. He refers to some people who come in and out of the story, but they are never more than ghosts of characters. I don't know if he was scared to write anything honest about people and maybe be disliked by these people but he never fleshes out ANY character to any degree so that we learn anything from them or him. Or see how they affected him. The finial turning point is when Justin is trying to decide what to do (an endless theme in this book) and finally the way he figures it out? A friend of his sits him down to a meal and says: "We're going to eat this meal in silence, and then you'll know." The the friend sits him in front of some altar to ask some questions about his life and it all comes to him in a flash.So no only is his friend - who I have no idea which one he was - telling him to please stop talking about this and just eat - Justin also discovers the next step in his life all by himself!Early on we learn he is struggling to get over his recent breakup rom his past girlfriend, who is only described vaguely (as is everyone else) but he never even clarifies WHY they broke up, except that it had to do with her moving and him "not ready" - but he never fully explores what the hell any of that means.1/4 of the way through the book he joins a "Mens Group" like AA but for men in co-dependent relationships - I didn't know that existed but OK, sounds interesting - It's not. Why? Because Justin never truly gets to figure out what it is with him and looking for those type of destructive relationships in the first place.I don't know if I've ever written a review on here before - but this book just pissed me off so much I had to finish it just so I could write a review and save you some time.The whole book can be summed up by the epilog. I'm not giving anything away here, because you'll never remember any of the characters even if you do decide to read this book. In the epilog Justin talks about learning of the death of one of his closest friends, someone who guided him through so much in his life in New York and was a big influence on him. I couldn't remember who he was talking about. Justin is living in Portland at this time and there is a memorial planned back in New York. Justin has just finished talking about how important this person is to him and then in the next paragraph says that he was not able to afford to come back to the memorial service because he was planning a surfing trip with his new girlfriend.I understand that he might be strapped for cash. I understand you want to go surfing with your girl. Do it, buddy. I don't judge you.What I judge is when you claim to be so connected to this person, who affected you and the world so deeply who dies and then you turn around and say you are bailing to go on your own surf trip?"It's what he would have wanted" is literally in the book. - Convenient.Only things I did enjoy were the historical bits about Melville. Why they are there? I do not know. Don't connect to his life.This "Memoir" is really just a series of bragging and supposed self discovery.Narcissistic dribble.

Wow.Having just finished Justin Hocking's memoir about his obsession with surfing and Moby Dick, and his struggles to find direction in his life and overcome his addiction to being in relationships, I feel much like I'd imagine one does after a good round of surfing—breathless and exhilarated, simultaneously.Justin Hocking was a West Coast kid, outdoorsy, constantly obsessed with motion, an obsession he fed first through break dancing and finally through skateboarding. He became obsessed with Herman Melville's classic novel and really felt it spoke to him, both about his own struggles and the struggles of the world around him. He did painstaking research into Melville's life and career, and read everything he could get his hands on that has been written about the book. (He also has a list of others obsessed with the book, including Jackson Pollock and Laurie Anderson.)When Hocking moved to New York, he was struggling with the inevitable end of a long-distance relationship and trying to figure out what to do with his life when he spotted someone on the subway holding a surfboard. Shortly thereafter he became obsessed with surfing anywhere and anytime he could, and found himself among a rapidly growing circle of friends who all shared the same love for the sport and the feelings it provoked. As his life grew more and more chaotic and confusing, Hocking could only find peace amidst the waves.But surfing wasn't enough to make him content. As he started to wonder whether he'd ever find true love, and then began realizing that perhaps he had problems with being in romantic relationships, his life became more emotionally anguished. And on top of that, he grew increasingly unhappy with his job and with much of the culture of New York City, yet found himself incapable of making a decision whether to move to Portland, Oregon, or stay in New York, where he can surf whenever he wants to. On a visit to his family, a violent encounter throws him even more in turmoil, and he equates his struggles and the feelings they cause with those of Captain Ahab.This is a meticulously researched, emotionally poignant, fascinating, and sometimes humorous book, populated with a tremendously memorable and endearing cast of characters. While at times the book veers off into strange tangents involving Hocking's family (in an effort to illustrate that his obsession with the water may very well be genetic), and he does rant a bit about George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, I was completely compelled by Hocking's memoir. Considering I know nothing about surfing or skateboarding, and have only read Moby Dick once, I was surprised how utterly hooked I was by this book. I think Hocking would be a fascinating person to talk with, and I would love to watch some of the people he wrote with, even from afar, just to see if their reality matched what I saw in my head.I don't read a lot of memoirs; it takes a compelling subject and a talented writer to reel me in. The Great Floodgates of the Wonderworld succeeds in both categories. It's unlike anything I've read, which means it will stay in my head even more than it would on its literary merits alone.

Unsure of what to think about this book before reading it. Enjoyed it greatly. this book is a bit off the beaten track, but I related to so much of what Mr. Hocking had to say, surfed and lived locations in his memoir, so I had an easy time making the connection to his story.Well written and the format/sequence of the chapters/stories would seem haphazard, but all work/fit nicely. Though I doubt I'll rush out to read "Moby Dick," it was nice to see how that book impacted his life.Certainly worth reading, especially if you want to take a divergent path to seeing someone else's personal truths and discoveries.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. He is in the league with Ursula Leguin and Tamora Pierce. It is an exciting, thorough, reflective and excellent read. I would suggest that anyone with an interest in introspection and rationalization of self, read this book as part of their personal research. He provides several fine tools of reflection and uses a writing style that is simply put, beyond the ability of 98% of young writers. He would not call himself a young writer because he has many years of experience and several fine pieces already to his credit, I however am 66 so I take that privilege.

I went to college with the author. Lost contact with him for the past 14 years but found this book through another mutual friend. Amazing to read Justin's journey and to see many of my own struggles in the story since we last spoke. This story will resonate with anyone that has spent time skateboarding, surfing and pursuing their creative dreams.

This book is quietly brilliant. Justin Hocking writes in a style that's disarmingly genuine and honest. He takes you on an effortless ride, brimming with life scenery most everyone can relate to, even if you've never stepped on a surfboard, or taken the time to wade through Moby Dick(!). Really, it's a story about coming of age. But it does coming of age one step better; it somehow it reminds you that coming of age - seeking answers, meeting and failing challenges, and finding peace where you are - is endless, in the best of all possible ways.