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Summary: An accurate and enjoyable portrayal of fishing
Review: As a fisherman with some 20 years experience, I found Linda's book an excellent read. In it she has captured many aspects of running and working aboard a fishing boat that are alien to those who make their livings in a more civilized manner. To the average person making a living today, committing to a job with no guarantee of making money would be a kind of insanity; to a fisherman it is the ONLY sensible occupation ... dangerous work requiring constant attention, but with rewards never experienced by those who work ashore. The feel of a boat at sea dancing with the waves, the sight of an albatross poised on a wingtip as it floats across the wind, the flukes of a sounding whale, the towering gray-backed waves of winter trailing streaks of foam are parts of this world and, in the end, paychecks. And no matter what the size of the check, large or small, the certain knowledge that every penny has been honestly and often painfully earned.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing, flat
Review: I read this book because my 25-year old son is a commercial fisherman. He left school at 17 to go salmon fishing in Alaska. I still remember his descriptions of the glorious sunsets and the thrills he found in the day-to-day exposure to nature at her best and worst. I felt this book was very flat, all the boring day to day details with none of the excitement and special exposure to nature that fishermen are drawn to. Why else would they put up with all the negatives of this lifestyle?
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Summary: Linda Greenlaw is an empowering treasure !
Review: Greenlaw is as empowering to her crew as she is to the reader - Readers of The Perfect Storm got a glimpse of a skilled (female) fisherman, readers of THE HUNGRY OCEAN will be inspired by the passion she brings to life, the peacemaking skills she brings to labor, and the pride she recaptures in the fishing industry -
Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing...a GREAT book
Review: Greenlaw writes so well, I read this book in one sitting. How wonderful that someone who is so skilled as a fisherman turns out to have such a gift for prose; the combination of talents has produced a unique book...it was truly an armchair traveler's trip to sea. But the title is a bit misleading, since the focus of the book is not on the awesome power of the ocean to take, but rather the tenacity of the fishermen who take fish from it. Altogether a wonderful book.
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Summary: I went into this book predisposed to like it. Wrong!
Review: I found this book interesting, especially the "Mug-Ups" until the author describes how crewmates on a previous trip once took revenge on a string of bad catch days. The crew was sick of catching sharks instead of swordfish, so they decided to lift morale by retailating! One offending shark who had the audacity to bite onto a baited long line hook was hung over the water by a noose, knifed and set afire while the crew cheered its thrashing and suffering. Sicko city. The author seems to have little empathy for animals or humans. It was torture to read about the crewmate who was so sick he could not get up, while the author waxes nostalgic about how it was so important to get the boss's praise by filling the hold with fish, whether the crew was sick or not!
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Summary: An excellent primer on longline fishing and a quick read
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely, and perhaps a bit better than Perfect Storm. This is factual and informative and a highly enjoyable read. Give it a shot: you won't be sorry.
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Summary: Disappointing. Where's the story?
Review: After reading this I wondered why a publisher saw fit to make Greenlaw's tale into a book. It would have been better suited as a long magazine article. Sebastian Junger told us all that we really need to know about swordfishing -- and he wrapped his technical details of fishing, weather, and ocenaography around a gripping tale. What Greenlaw needed was a story -- this book is little more than a fluffed up practice in expository writing. It's probably worth the 11.43 or so that Amazon is getting for it, but don't pay full list as I did.
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Summary: A Real Page Turner!
Review: I read Linda Greenlaw's book in 2 DAYS it was THAT good!In fact, her descriptions of a month long fishing trip was easier to understand than "The Perfect Storm". I wish I had read her book first and then "The Perfect Storm" because I would have understood a great deal more of what the crew of the Andrea Gail dealt with on their fishing trip. Don't get me wrong, "The Perfect Storm" was an excellent book to read and in fact, after reading Linda's account of a typical fishing trip, I am going to re-read "The Perfect Storm" so that I can better understand it. Her description of a month long fishing trip takes you with her and her crew, as if you were working right along side them! It was an excellent account of the hard work she and her crew dealt with on a typical fishing trip. I learned a great deal about the commercial fishing industry because Linda's vivid descriptions of her day to day account made it an easy read for any green horn who has never stepped foot on a boat! Her accounts of some of her crew and their "in fighting" was so hilarious, I actually laughted out loud! I recommend reading her book before reading "The Perfect Storm" to get a better idea of the commercial fishing industry. I can't wait for the movie to come out regarding "The Perfect Storm" - I'll be the first one in line on opening night! I hope to one day meet Linda and shake her hand and tell her how proud I am of all that she has accomplished. Thanks, Linda, for an excellent read!
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Summary: Wonderful factual story of long line fishing!
Review: I read this book from start to finish and loved it. Linda writes of the hardships and rewards of long liners. I went to high school with Linda and was interested in hearing about her life at sea. The people and places she wrote about are familiar to me and left me longing for life in Maine. Thanks Linda for delivering a powerful story that I'll enjoy again and again. Gary Baribeau USAF
Rating: 
Summary: This book was informative, and educational
Review: Laura Greenlaw was interviewed on a NPR program in my state of NH, and I was intrigued by her story. I was also prompted to buy the book after reading "The Perfect Storm." I found her reading to be a little too technical, and dry in areas, pertaining to specifics that I felt the reader did not really need to know. I was interested in her perspective being the captain of a ship and being a woman, which she appeared to minimize, much to my dismay. However, I did like parts of this book that related to her adventures on the sea, her relations with her crew, the massive coordination efforts involved in maintaining a ship, and the relationship with other ships that she was competing with for swordfish. I was hoping to get more "bang for my buck," but I still found the book to be informative and interesting to read.
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