Don't let the title mislead. This book is about surfing and the people who lived the surfing experience in Australia in the 1970s and, through flashbacks, to as early as the 1950s. The title refers to the dilemma of the lead character, Alexander Scott. He is trapped by family circumstances in a place that can never satisfy his needs. He loses his father at a young age and is brought unwillingly out of a very sheltered upbringing. Though his stepfather cares for him, he is unable to provide the father figure Alex needs.
Surfing provides the escape, but it also puts him in conflict with his family. When his mother passes away, his stepfather remarries, and Alex is left with two stepparents and a family to whom he cannot relate emotionally. His stepsister provides a partial bridge, but in reality, they are worlds apart. She is a product of the wealthy Sydney society while Alex prefers his surfing companions. When Alex meets Julianne Cameron, there is an instant rapport. She becomes the love of his life, and he sees a way to find the emotional peace he seeks. But Julianne is cruelly taken from him in an accident that leaves Alex with injuries from which he can never recover.
