“An elegant memoir as well as a transformative coming-of-age tale. When he leaves his father’s limp body behind on the icy plateau―giving it a final kiss and caress as it’s claimed by the snow―Ollestad takes his first perilous steps not just into survival, but into adulthood.” (New York Post)
“Cinematic and personal . . . Ollestad’s insights into growing up in a broken home and adolescence in southern California are as engrossing as the story of his trip down the mountain.” (Chicago Tribune)
“Riveting.” (Entertainment Weekly)
“Breathtaking…A portrait of a father’s consuming love for his son, Crazy for the Storm will keep you up late into the night.” (Washington Post Book World)
“Tragic and exotic …[with] short, punchy chapters and…nonstop emphasis on adrenaline-fueled excitement.” (Janet Maslin, New York Times)
“The memoir is as much about a father-son relationship as it is a survival story…Ollestad says his father’s life philosophy about surfing and skiing – ‘knowing there’s always a place to go and find peace, clear your mind’ – got him down the mountain and through life.” (USA Today)
“A page-turning adventure tale . . . and a meditation on manhood.” (Los Angeles Magazine)
“At times beautiful, at times heart-wrenching, Crazy for the Storm is a commanding read–a tale that proves the power of the human spirit can rise against any challenge, and a father’s legacy can be more than he imagines. (BookPage)
“Crazy for the Storm is an absolutely compelling book which I read in one long sitting. The fact that it’s true made me shudder, but then Norman Ollestad is a fine writer and every detail is convincing.” (Jim Harrison)
“Extraordinary―an adventure story with a rich psychological foundation from an enormously talented author. Crazy for the Storm is a powerful book. It deserves to be a bestseller.” (Pulitzer Prize–winner Lucinda Franks, author of My Father’s Secret War)
