Rating: 
Summary: Not as interesting as I'd hoped
Review: Greenlaw's latest narrative sounded like an interesting read: doesn't the rustic tale of lobster fishing seem appealing in comparison with our ordinary, suburban lives?Not really, I guess. Linda should have waited another year or two so that we could get more than a picturesque snapshot of Maine. Giving the author more time to "round out" some of the personal stories could have gone a long ways toward engaging the reader. The Lobster Chronicles offers a pleasant glimpse into small-island life but didn't really live up to its full story-telling potential.
Rating: 
Summary: Life on a small island
Review: I was going to Maine for a long week-end, culminating in a lobster bake on the beach, so I thought that this would be a good book to accompany me. If I'm going to eat lobster, I decided, it might be a good idea to get some understanding of how they came from the water to my plate. The book answers that question very well, in addition to revealing the tedious and difficult work life of the small time lobster fisherman. Additionally, we are given glimpses of how life is on a very small island, inhabited by a very small number of year-round residents. The writing is uniformly good, and the story moves well through chapters of just the right length for casual reading. Every reader will learn something interesting from this well-written book, and I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: She's Been There
Review: Linda and Joe Upton (Joe, in odd coincidence, lives on another Penobscot Bay island within sight of Isle au Haut) are, in the opinion of this ex-fisherman, the best of fishing's writers. They've both been there and each manages to capture the essence of lives spent underway. Linda, will you marry me?
Rating: 
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: There aren't very many women who operate commercial lobstering operations and even fewer who can make the enterprise seem fascinating to landlubbers like myself but Linda Greenlaw is definitely one of them. This is not the kind of book that would appeal to everybody but if you like maritime-themed true adverture stories, then I think you'll enjoy this. Definitely not as exciting a tale as The Perfect Storm but what is? I really enjoyed this book.
Rating:
Summary: Of warps, buoys and traps
Review: You may remember Linda Greenlaw as a supporting character (played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) in George Clooney's THE PERFECT STORM. Following that film, the real-life Greenlaw described her experience as the captain of a North Atlantic swordfishing boat in the riveting best seller, THE HUNGRY OCEAN. Now, in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, Linda has returned to her home island, Isle au Haut, Maine, to run a lobster boat. Fishing for lobster isn't as potentially dangerous or dramatic as chasing swordfish. And it's more of a 9 to 5 job where you get to sleep at night under a roof in your own bed. So, while Greenlaw shares enough knowledge about lobstering for the reader to get a feel for it, the bulk of the book is about related (or unrelated) people and events: the effort by a town committee to acquire the local lighthouse from the government, the state of emergency medicine on the isolated Isle au Haut, the prospect of a turf war with mainland lobstermen, her mother's battle with cancer, friends lost at sea, her father (who serves as sternman on her lobster boat), the scarcity of eligible bachelors, her culinary ineptitude, and her dislike of dogs. THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES is a pleasant but lesser sequel to THE HUNGRY OCEAN. Linda's self-effacing humor is perhaps the volume's major strong point, as well as the book's charm as a description of contemporary Americana. Some of Linda's prose is striking, as her description of the waves parading north as seen from the window of her home: "Some of the officers on horseback nodded shocks of white hair while masses of lower-rank sailors kept eyes forward and sternly marched in the most rehearsed fashion to the wind ... The trees lining the shore waved like spectators ..." By the book's end, I was saddened by Linda's undertone of unhappiness. She doesn't seem to like lobstering much. And she's fretful of the fact that, at 40, she remains unmarried and without children. Her loneliness is uncomfortably evident. ("I have spent much time waiting for Mr. Right, who does not appear to be looking for me.") Sail on Linda, and persevere. I wish you well.
Rating:
Summary: Homarus Americanus, The BUG,
Review: THE BUG, this Book Is so well written thaty It puts you In this small towns Life style as well as Kepps you Reading and Not wanting to Put It down. Being a Diver as well as Diving for the BUG In California and Looking at the East Cast BUG, Under watr they are something to see and tsete Even better when you catch them Your self But with this Book and the Trans istion form Cod to bugs as they Cycle Is very Intresting and the Long Lineing Is a world Of Its Own and Is one that take a Serious Fiserman Or Woman .. A Must read for any one that has lived On the Ocean and Loves to be Under It as well as On top fishing.
A true 5 STAR book to me.
Rating:
Summary: A farmer would like this book too.
Review: Ms. Greenlaw does a good job in this book. She provides enough technical information for the reader to understand how lobster fishing works, both the actual catching process, and the business side as well. She also provides a vivid portrayal of life in a small and remote community. In her particular case it's an island fishing community in Maine. But the issues presented would be well understood by anyone in say, a small rural farming community. Beyond that Ms. Greenlaw also explains how the context of her small community relates to her personal life. A fairly brave thing to do really. And shows her to be a thoughtfull and compelling author. America is a big country, and people have a lot of interesting stories to tell. This book is one of them.
Rating:
Summary: Fishing for Lobster
Review: The story, as the title suggests, is a lobster fisherman's life on a small island off Maine. He is fishing for lobster and shows it as hard, dirty, backbreaking work, but families like this have been doing it for generations. As she tells the story of one year's catch, she also shows a dying lifestyle and the efforts of the locals to preserve a fragile way of life. There is some crude language scattered throughout. Not bad.
Rating:
Summary: Nice Surprise
Review: I received this book as a present and it was a pleasant surprise. Greenlaw's story of lobstering and life on the Island is fascinating. She puts a lot of herself into the book too, which makes it even more endearing. Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Linda is two for two
Review: My only question for Linda is, when is your next book due out? I lost count of the times I "laughed out loud" reading Lobster C's. Thank you.
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