Breath - Tim Winton

This was some of Winton's best material in my opinion (I'm comparing to Cloudstreet and The Riders).  Some deft story telling.

The entire novel is basically a flashback to the narrator's childhood in a West Australian surfing town. It follows Bruce 'Pikelet' Pike's relationship (and subsequent disintegration of that friendship) with his childhood friend Loon, and his idol Sando. The three being surfers who continuously test the limits of courage and bravery. Later on, the story follow's Pikelet's relationship with Sando's wife, Eva.

Breath is a theme explored in a number of different ways in the book, from the obvious dangers of asphyxiation underwater, to the undercurrent of danger in the games of asphyxiation played by Pike and Eva, to Pike's eventual career as a paramedic. It also explores the need for balance, and the brokenness of age being traced back to it's youthful roots (a common Winton literary theme it seems).

Great read. 8/10.