A tropical surf escape turns catastrophic when a tsunami hits, stranding four best friends in a fight for survival. Injured, disoriented, and cut off from the world, they face a brutal test no one could have prepared for.
Written in first-person, ‘Carried Away’ tells the tale of a young man named Cole, who joins a group of six friends on a surfing holiday in Indonesia. In the water on the fourth day of the trip, Cole notices the ocean seemingly taking on a life of its own, swirling and rising unexpectedly below him. Following this brief introduction, which foreshadows the perils to come, the narrative delves into the backstory leading up to a natural disaster experienced firsthand. Throughout the novel, Cole experiences physical danger, powerful emotional connections, and personal torment that transform his life.
Early on, Cole meets a woman named Kendal, and soon enough, they become lovers and confidants. Along with their friends – Logan, Fern, Kavi, Carissa, and Hunter – the group grows closer as they explore the resorts and nightlife in the idyllic tropical environs.
Later, Cole, Logan, Fern, and Kavi embark on a surfing adventure in Sumatra that appears tame enough at first, but soon goes off the rails when a series of tsunamis washes over them in succession. They find themselves struggling to survive dangers, both life-threatening or just simply painful and annoying.
Particularly compelling is the unsettling description of floating on the ocean as tsunamis pass by, one after another, until, somewhat shockingly, the water no longer recedes, as if Cole has found himself suddenly perched on the top of a tall building. On a personal note, the night after reading several pages of ‘Carried Away,’ I actually had an unsettling dream about giant walls of water rising in the distance and rushing toward me inexorably, until, happily, I woke up. The novel does a fine job describing the swirling currents, the disturbing winds, and perhaps worst of all, the unnerving calm that manifests periodically – all the while leaving readers and the protagonists wondering what else might be lurking deep down beneath the surface, threatening to reveal itself at any moment.
During the sequence of events, Cole has the opportunity to reflect upon a great many aspects of his existence before venturing to Indonesia, ones that didn’t seem to merit much attention before. Further, he regrets that his unabashed search for adventure may prevent him from ever seeing Kendal again. As is the case with most folks, staring the prospect of death in the face holds the promise of remaking one’s perspective about life itself and the nature of living day-to-day.
Written by T.J. Derry, the visceral prose evokes a realistic portrayal of unrepentant exposure to nature’s harshness, infused with a palpable immediacy. In addition to his literary efforts, Derry has garnered a solid reputation as a cinematographer and photographer in the advertising field. Early in his career, he worked alongside Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dean Cundey, whose projects include “Jurassic Park,” ”Back To The Future,” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” among others. Derry’s departure into the written narrative looks to be similarly successful.
During the ordeal depicted in ‘Carried Away,’ I was reminded of a small independent film called “Open Water” – somewhat underrated and likely unfamiliar to most – which serves up a terrifying story of two divers left behind by their charter boat, the result of a passenger miscount. Both works remind viewers – or readers as the case may be – of the perils hidden within the vast bodies of water covering planet earth, a situation exacerbated by scant hope of rescue. It’s a compelling theme and in this case, a well-executed one as well.
In Bookstores November 11th
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