The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island

Greenlaw’s first memoir described a typical 30-day swordfishing trip on the 6-person boat that she captained. Several years later, Greenlaw has returned to her native Isle au Haut, Maine and exchanged swordfishing for lobster fishing. Her second memoir describes a season of setting and hauling in traps with her father on her boat, the Mattie Belle. Greenlaw doesn’t seem to find lobster fishing as fulfilling as swordfishing, and she’s more interested in telling stories about the island’s history, her extended family, and other island residents (both year-round and summer), resulting in a disjointed narrative. Greenlaw’s irritability made it hard to empathize with her, and I almost stopped reading when she revealed her antipathy show more toward dogs. show less

I loved this memoir that gives us a bit of everything - small town life & politics, personal quandaries, family relationships, and the adventure of the sea. I still don't empathize with the appeal of living like that, though - it really does take a special kind of person, and maybe independent lobstermen should be allowed to pass on the way that the proverbial buggy-whip makers did.

I really enjoyed this 2nd book by Greenlaw. Her love and respect for her family and the small town where she lives come through in every chapter. As an educated, 40ish woman who sometimes wonders about the paths I didn't take, I sympathized with Greenlaw's longings for what she doesn't have. She doesn't really solve any of the world's problem; but she reminds me that we all make choices and it's up to us what we do with the results.

Don’t ask me why I picked this book off the Half Price Books clearance shelf years ago. I couldn’t tell you. All I can say is that something about the book’s premise — living off the land (or sea, really) on a tiny island in the Northeast — appealed to me.

The Lobster Chronicles didn’t disappoint in that regard. It’s not a long volume, but it manages to touch on all kinds of things: the island and its residents (both summer and year-round), the lobstering industry (from the gear to the politics and beyond), a bit of the island’s history, some of the realities of life on an island reachable only by boat, Greenlaw’s own history (both personal and familial), and even — briefly — the reproductive habits of lobsters. show more Greenlaw paints her chosen pictures well, drawing the reader into this tiny, isolated, yet beautiful and rich world.

It’s in the execution that I started finding little flaws in The Lobster Chronicles. For starters, I wasn’t quite sure why Greenlaw chose to spend her time on the specific anecdotes she does. Further, though the book covers a broad range of topics, the way in which those topics come together isn’t always clear. I also felt like the way Greenlaw herself came across shifted throughout the book, like her voice didn’t align with the actual thoughts and feelings she records having.

Full review is posted on Erin Reads. show less

A well-written true story of what is involved in lobstering and living on a small island.

Linda Greenlaw was a deep sea fisherman. She is the woman sea captain in the movie "The Perfect Storm." In her late 30's, she decides to give up fishing, return to her home on Isle Au Haute Maine and take up lobstering. With her father as her sternman, she takes us through an entire year's cycle of painting buoys, cleaning traps, launching boats, laying traps, and then harvesting (or hoping to harvest) lobsters. It's the story of folks who live without a resident doctor, without a movie theater, or big modern grocery store, whose mail comes by boat. The relationship of the towns people with summer people provides some amusing anecdotes, while the show more story of local lobsterman protecting their fishing grounds against outsides gives us a true picture of the uncertainties of making a living from the sea.

It's extemely readable and presents a charming but realistic story of this difficult way of life. show less

After years of swordboat fishing offshore, Greenlaw went back home to a small New England island, to become a "lobsterman". The island is so tiny it only has some forty year-round inhabitants. I was fascinated by the accounts of trapping lobsters, but even more enthralled with Greenlaw's stories of her neighbors and friends. There's so many fascinating characters, intrigues, small-town politics, and the spirit of community pride and solidarity. It's really interesting and quite funny at times. Mostly, I would say this book is about life, with all its ups and downs. And, of course, fishing.

Read the entire review at Dog Ear Diary

An odd little book. After years spent as a swordfish boat captain (part inspiration for The Perfect Storm) she returns home to a small island in Maine to settle down, too find romance and begin lobster fishing.

Greenlaw is a witty and endearing and manages to depict life on a tiny island with aplomb. Memorable characters mix family anecdotes and fishing tales which was interesting but ends up feeling disjointed. There needed to be more of the link between stories. It is also a brutally honest book, by the end her complete loneliness and the sadness of her journey left me feeling slightly uncomfortable. However looking at her bibliography it looks like she has found a new direction and I hope happiness.