Journals from the Edge Paperback – February 26, 2015

The title accurately describes the tale told within – the Boyum siblings journey through life. The book explores some of life’s most important aspects – family, a search for meaning to life, and youth - as experienced from the edge. Wonderful and difficult, but always told in an easy, fluid style, the journals focus on the boundaries of family relationships, travel, a search for excitement, and youth.The stories Bill tells of his father are right out of Greek mythology – a dashing fighter pilot known as Smiling Jack, fearlessly defending his country, who, when the mood is wrong, beats the sh*t out of his sons. Somehow, Bill and Mike appear to have been able to view their father on balance without rejecting him. This is something others of us struggle with, and, for me, Journals from the Edge provides an inspirational perspective on accepting people, even important people like a father, despite imperfections.The stories Bill tells of SE Asia in the early 70’s are pure romance. The lure of faraway lands, of exotic cultures, of warm tropical nights, of perfect surf are wonderfully evocative of one of history’s special times and places. But, as in their relationship with Smiling Jack, paradise has its problems – violence, drugs, illness, poverty, and people struggling to find their way in life. And yet, the entirety of special things and problems was clearly something to be celebrated and treasured. Here again, Bill explores and celebrates the complete package.Bill’s style of weaving stories of Mike’s (mis)adventures together with his own, somewhat less unconventional, life felt like a conversation with a longtime friend. I found myself savoring each vignette while looking forward to the next appearance of Mike, the rascal – what would he get up to next?I spent a couple of years in SE Asia in the early 70’s myself and was curious to know how much of my enjoyment of the book came from my having been there at the same time. I asked my wife to read the book and was very pleased to see that she too became totally immersed in the stories and lifestyle.We, as white folks, had a chance to go well beyond any limits possible in California where I grew up. Vastly different cultures, poverty, riches, travelers embracing life as youth seems to be able to do easily. Ah yes, and perfect, uncrowded waves waiting to be discovered (though we all bear scars of bouncing off coral reefs). The vigor of youth coupled with the ancient cultures, and the ever present jungle where nothing ever really dies, provided a heady feeling of immortality. Something less noble that should be pointed out is that we, as white folks, had an artificial protection because, in a pinch, we could buy our way out of any trouble. There are many stories to tell about life in SE Asia during the 70’s.Please, Mr. Bill, tell us some more stories.

Journals from the Edge is without a shadow of a doubt, the best surf book I've ever read or you'll ever read. The way Bill brings you into his world of growing up in that magic time of surfing history when you had to "Go and see" and as a result created the history that created the mystique of a sport that looking back as a surfer see as the Holden Age. Not just of surfing but of travel. Travel that you never knew what was going to happen. Unlike nowadays where you can ready a Lonely Planet guide so detailed that after reading it you don't even need to go. The adventure is gone.Bill let's you in to the dream and the nightmare of loving something and someone so much that it continually upends everyone's lives leaves me astounded at how resilient we are as humans and how happy I am to be reading a survivors first hand account of it all.Yes this book has surfing in it but it's a lot more about what we will do and how far we will go to live the life we dream of and find the happiness we all seek.The rawness of Bill's upbringing makes me really happy that he lived through it to become the person he is today.The travel tales of adventures without money, plans, guidebooks and internet access make me yearn for a simpler time where when you went "away" you went away. When, as my mum put it to me before I left on my snowboarding adventures, "Have fun, if I don't hear from you I'll assume you're fine and I'm in wrong I'm sure the cops will phone".Buy this book and then I'll assume you're fine.

Honest is the first word that comes to mind when I think about "Journals from the Edge." I'd heard rumors of the Boyum Brothers ever since I went to G-Land and stayed at the very same place they started their surf camp. For all the tales I've heard since then, none match the reality of what Mike and Bill went through in this book. Bill has a concise and clear writing style that works well for the journal format and lets you into all the personal trauma of a violent upbringing and the life paths that arose from it. From the Vietnam war to drug smuggling in Afghanistan to being the first to ride some of the best waves in the world, this story covers tumultuous times in a family—and in the world surrounding it. Heartfelt, unflinching and introspective, anyone who feels the personal need to adventure—both in their minds and across the world—should check out this true story.

Oh my God, Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. The historical references intertwined with the story made it especially interesting to me. His descriptions about his early upbringing about his Father made me recall long forgotten memories about my own childhood that I've tried to suppress. When Bill talked about living in Bali it was I was reliving my past. It was like I could smell the pungent clove cigarettes and hear the gamelon music . The book hit a nerve in my subconscious. Many of his feelings he wrote about I share the same experience. The surfing, drug smuggling and rebellious nature of the time especially rang true to me. This book was riveting! I received this book on my 63rd birthday and I didn't stop reading it until I finished it later that evening. Cheers, Bill Boyum