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Summary: The Hungry Ocean: A Fisherman's Battle by Linda Greenlaw
Review: The Hungry Ocean is a beautiful book for what it says about the love of the sea. A 30-day sword fishing voyage, Linda Greenlaw provides the details of one memorable event searching for big game fish in the waters off Newfoundland. What I admire about this book is that The Hungry Ocean gives an informative look at the typical routine of a successful fishing voyage, unlike so many other accounts that tell of disasters of the sea. This book is complete with a variety of heart pounding moments that will keep you from setting it aside. Linda and her Crew must battle the savage weather that comes upon them, equipment failure, too few fish, and many sharks! Best of all Linda brings life to her characters by including their arguments and jokes they play on one another. "They are so colorful they could have been ripped from the pages of Moby Dick"(summary behind the book). The excitement starts fast so don't misjudge this thrilling page-turner for what you have seen so far. Come right on the deck of the Hannah Boden and learn more about the fishermen in this book, which you will encounter in the "Mug Ups" pages. Reading this will not only allow you to gain the experience the journey has to offer, it'll have you to realize a women succeeding at the highest level in one of the most dangerous professions there are. Finishing this book enables fishermen like myself to dream of being in that adventure, and it helped me to be more determined in life regarding difficult situations I must go through. Read this book and see how Linda contends with her difficult obstacles in life, and in the treacherous sea.
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Summary: Captivating Tale of one's love for the sea
Review: The Hungry Ocean is a fascinating account of "fisherman" Linda Greenlaw's month long journey as swordfish captain of the Hannah Boden, fishing in the Grand Banks. Linda sates, "I have taken life and living from the sea, and have given the same back, I suppose. .." The Hannah Boden was sister ship to the ill-fated Andrea Gail, the subject of Sebastian Junger's book, The Perfect Strom.I find Linda's chosen profession remarkable and her writing reflects her passion and her deep love of the sea. Linda's poetic musings will surely gain her numerous fans. Her bravery, knowledge, and tenacity combine to help Linda succeed where others have failed. I found her musings of past voyages insightful and often funny, if not incredibly real and down to earth. She describes her crew and the hours of toil it takes to make a living from the sea, but I glimmered her respect of the power upon which she traveled. "The ocean which gives so much takes back what it needs, commanding respect and getting if form those who have seen and understand the hunger." I thoroughly recommend this book, even if one is NOT into fishing! But if you love the sea in any which way, like I do, I guarantee that you will be awed and come away with a new found respect of fishmen - I know that I did. I lived in Gloucester, the homeport of the Hannah Boden, but never understood the life of a fisherman - now I do. Wonderful book - now on to read The Perfect Storm!
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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I actually could not put this book down--I read it in one day. It provides a vicarious experience of a truly unique profession. Totally engrossing.
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Summary: A story of fishing
Review: Linda Greenlaw has written a book because of her adulatory inclusion in the best selling book, THE PERFECT STORM by Sebastian Junger. But we shouldn't criticize her for taking advantage of her fifteen minutes of fame. Nor should we criticize her for writing an uninteresting book. Because she didn't. Life aboard a swordfishing boat sailing on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland is not everyones' cup of tea (or reading material) but to those enamored of life at sea it is fascinating. Greenlaw may be the only female swordboat captain, but according to Junger she is the best captain. Her account is simply the story of an average month-long fishing trip out into the Atlantic. But the details of the crew members' quirks and personalities are fascinating. The technical stuff related to the handling of the boat and the swordfishing is also interesting. Surprisingly, the fact that the captain is a female is no big deal to the men. (Although they do call her "ma.") An interesting facet is the ethical dilemma caused by the fact that the boat is catching a good crop of fish and she decides to conceal that fact from the other swordfishing boats in the area. The captains of the other boats are her friends. Do you deceive your friends? Apparently you do if you're a swordboat captain. Greenlaw, surprisingly, is a good writer. Or perhaps she has a good editor (the reader of a book never knows.) For those interested in life at sea, this is a must-read book.
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Summary: Step into the boots (or waders) of a swordfish captain
Review: I decided to read this book after catching a news segment about Linda Greenlaw. During the 2-3 minutes of the segment, Linda spoke of her experiences being a swordfish boat captain, having her own lobster boat, writing a book and looking for love. She struck me as a fascinating woman and I eagerly dove into her book. Linda indicated on the news segment (and in the preface of the book) that writing is hard work and she didn't like it much. I admire her for putting her story on paper so we landlubbers can get a small taste of a month at sea fishing for swordfish. The book is nicely done, giving detail of procedures and daily tasks of a swordfishing trip. It also gives the reader an idea of what fishermen are like. (Linda is adament she's a "fisherman" not a "lady fisherman" or a "fisherwoman.") The details of stringing line with hooks/bait and setting it with beacons and lights is a bit confusing without visual aids. This book would have been more complete with a few diagrams and photographs. Because of this lack of visual enhancement, I recommend readers see the movie "The Perfect Storm", which shows the actual preparation/fishing, before reading this book.
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Summary: Swordfishing is like Waiting For Godot
Review: Is it possible to feel trapped by a book? Linda Greenlaw, as an author, has done a terrific job of making the reader feel he is on this swordfishing journey that has no end. It's not a great ride, though. Like the crew who aches to get home, we also feel imprisoned on this voyage of tedium mixed with what must be spirit breaking hard work. After reading about a month in the life of a swordfisherman at sea, most of us will better appreciate our "normal" jobs. In another light, the author has confirmed what I have felt all along. That the commercial fishing industry today is hell-bent on depleting the ocean, one species at a time. The fishing industry must plan this, since they have depleted so many fish stocks before with the same greed and overfishing they have employed in the past, while they point the finger at some other cause for their dwindling catch. It reminds me of looting during a riot. A lawless mob of desperate people grabbing what they can before the other desperate people get it first. I read this after The Perfect Storm, almost out of duty to that lost crew. It is a very good companion book and despite my political feelings on the industry it is a worthwhile read. I just won't eat swordfish again.
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Summary: Well written description of longline fishing and leadership
Review: Longline fishing remains a controversial subject. The author touches on slightly the issue of over fishing but simply states that the USA has the best managed fishing regulations in the world and it's all those pesky foreigners that cause the problems. The issue of longline fishing itself and the havoc it causes to sea life not associated with the catch is not addressed in the book. Ms Greenlaw, however gives a very well written and detailed and fascinating exposition of the organisation, equipment, and techniques that go into a single voyage which she peppers with individual anecdotes of incidents at sea. But, it is also an exemplary study of leadership and those who fly our planes, drive our buses and trucks, steer our ferries, or manage work sites of any kind might read this book and see how they measure up. As my idea of a sea adventure is to catch the Manly Ferry from Manly to Circular Quay, across Sydney Harbour Australia, THE HUNGRY OCEAN also gives a real feel of the beauty and power of that beast.
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Summary: Hungry or not -- this is the Perfect Ocean story
Review: There are few stories better than this. "In my experience, very few men are willing to pull their own teeth," Greenlaw writes near the end of the book. She's not bragging or complaining, simply stating a fact that by then is very obvious and logical. Deep sea fishing isn't easy, it's one of the toughest and most hazardous jobs available; but she has a love for it, and this book is her tribute to a way of life that is beyond the experience of most 9 to 5 wage slaves. Read this book, and you'll understand why there's nothing smart women can't accomplish. It's not a whine and moan session about women's rights or affirmative action; it's simply a superb account about how a talented and dedicated person can find success in anything they set out to do, based on talent, energy and dedication. "Alden once told me that his father, also a fisherman, told him that anyone who chooses to make fishing his occupation solely for the money is in the wrong business. If no thrill is experienced in catching fish, no satisfaction in going to sea and returning to shore, no pride in exclaiming 'I am a fisherman,' then a life on the water will be unfulfilling, perhaps even unbearable," Greenlaw writes. Her book is a wonderful story of why this is true. It's true for any job. If you don't like your work, then half or more of your life is misery. Greenlaw vividly explains why long-line fishermen will work 20-hour days for two or more weeks, spending a month at sea for every two days in port. It's insanity, pure and simple and wonderful; by the end of this book, every reader will wish they shared some of the same madness. She's a superb writer. This isn't simply about catching some fish; she writes about fishing with the same articulate skill as Patrick O'Brian does in his masterful stories of life under sail in the Napoleonic era. Greenlaw writes with humor, heartbreak and heroics; she even manages, in describing a month at sea when many other boats were catching few fish, to instill a palpable sense of suspense as to whether or not she and her crew will have a "slammer" of a trip or come home with nothing to show for a month's risk, work, pain and hardship. She's tough. As she admits, "Making unpopular decisions is part of being the captain." It's a habit modern managers should learn, instead of indulging their childish desires to be pals instead of professional. Greenlaw could handle any executive position in business, because she places more importance on integrity which generates personal and professional respect instead of feel-good excuses, slipshod results and indifferent quality. She's also kind and considerate, with a wonderful sense of humour. It's a superb book, some of the best writing I've read in years. Every reader will share the delight of people who love their work, and are good at it, plus an author who presents a fascinating accountg of what is otherwise an almost invisible career. Buy it. Read it. Perhaps, if there is any sense of quality left in Hollywood, someone will realize it has the content, quality and story line to make a superb film. After all, one of O'Brian's books is due out as a movie in late 2003, and the film of 'The Perfect Storm' about the loss of the Andrea Gail was released some time ago. Greenlaw weathered the same storm as the Andrea Gail, some 400 miles distant, then helped search for survivors. Her story is more impressive because she is real, she succeeds and she understands the pride that leads men to face such risks. Buy it. This is one of the most impressive books you'll ever read.
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Summary: Forget Carly Fiorina, Anne Mulcahy, and Meg Whitman!
Review: Here's a woman who exemplifies a great manager. Linda Greenlaw is not only a seasoned leader of men, but she writes compellingly...without a ghost writer! Cap'n Greenlaw commands the Hannah Boden (sister ship to the Andrea Gail of Sebastian Junger's Perfect Storm) and a crew of five hardy fishermen, and takes us on one of her month long voyages to the middle of the North Atlantic in pursuit of swordfish. Not only does she take on a traditionally male oriented world, she wallops it, taking home "the golden horseshoe" as the best swordboat captain on the Grand Banks. But don't think hers is a book extolling feminism. Quite the contrary, she insists on being called a 'fisherman'. "People, women in particular, are generally disappointed when they learn that I have not suffered unduly from being the only woman in what they perceive to be a man's world. I might be thick-skinned - or just too damn busy working to worry what others might think of me." She beats the boys because her "slammer" trips aren't a fluke: she employs sophisticated strategy, meticulous attention to detail, and stretches the playing rules to the max. She is unafraid to make unpopular decisions, and to push her crew beyond their limits. Fans of Larry Bossidy's popular management text 'Execution' will appreciate how Ms. Greenlaw baits and sets her hooks. Her precision, even in the face of grueling conditions, sets her apart. She is hands-on, with an eye always to the next horizon. In short, a textbook executive. Her portraits of her crew members (Ringo, Charlie, Kenny, Peter and the tempestuous Carl,) and various fishing comrades are rich, - and in the cases of Jethro, the rookie fisherman, and dear old Uncle Patty - hilarious. Anyone with a tough boss will immediately recognize the love-hate relationship she endures with her boat's owner, Bob Brown. If you agree that people who take non-traditional routes through life are interesting to read about, choose this 258 page non-fictional account of Colby College graduate Linda Greenlaw and her choice to sail the seas for seventeen seasons of swordfishing. This book is a "slammer."
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Summary: Good Description of Life of a Fisherman
Review: an easy read, that lets land-lovers get a feeling for what it's like to be in close quarters with a small crew for 30 days and having to battle boredom, hard work, personalities, and the ocean while worrying about family, the future, and staying alive.
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