On the advice of a sometime sailer / daily co-worker, I read Sebastian Junger's non-fiction "The Perfect Storm" well before it became famous and a movie and enjoyed it, although I know zilch about commercial fishing. A tragic story.

Linda was mentioned in Junger's book, as a fellow Captain fishing the North Atlantic's Grand Banks and I recently went looking for her book. Very well done, also much different.

While Junger's introduced the reader to the general nature of the business, the weather, and the risks, Linda's focuses on the day-to-day of a trip ... the preparation, the on-board work (a lot!), the crew's interpersonal relationships (complex), the captain's role (challenging in ways you've never thought about), the fish, the ice, the other boats, the fishing strategy (more sophisticated than you expect!), the economics of when to head back, the pay, the owner, etc., etc. Linda's clearly very good at her job. Very readable, thoruoghly enjoyable, if you like nature and the outdoors, or especially the ocean, I think you'd enjoy this one!

Linda Greenlaw captained an American sword boat. By itself, this is an accomplishment worthy of respect. More than that, she became one of the most successful captains in the fleet. And as "The Hungry Ocean" attests, she is also an accomplished writer with a fine eye for detail. I don't say things like this often, but this is a woman who "walks the walk", AND "talks the talk." A woman to be admired.

Forced by international law to fish a thousand miles from their home ports, Americans who go after swordfish need to be tough, self-reliant and resourceful. In their business, things like surface water temperature, thermoclines, currents, and the corners formed by the Gulf Stream currents as they meander, can mean the difference between a morning boatful of worthless sharks and two tons of prime swordfish. Each night, thirty miles of carefully positioned line carrying thousands of baited hooks set to just the right depth are set adrift in the warm waters of the stream - only to be hauled back aboard the next morning, foot by foot, hopefully including a good number of fish.

How did Linda Greenlaw come to captain one of these vessels? As she details life aboard a sword boat, she also describes scenes from her childhood and young adult years - little things that eventually let the reader feel as if we know this woman and wish we were friends.

It's the story of one trip aboard her sword boat that carries the read, however, and in her description of these events she is at her best as a writer. In rich detail, life on the fishing grounds is shown; crew problems, mechanical troubles, the potential pitfalls and snarls. There is no time off. The crew works round the clock for as long as three weeks with hardly a moment to rest.

That's the business of working a sword boat, and it is a fascinating picture indeed. I'd recommend this one to everyone who loves the water.

I am listening to this book. Greenlaw has made the mistake of reading it herself. She's a terrible reader. She swallows words and stops in the middle of sentences. Plus her writing ain't the greatest. I don't mean her storytelling, which is good. I mean that her sentence structure is awful and if I hear her say "lay" once more when she means "lie," I'll scream. Where was the editor?

After seeing the movie and reading the book, The Perfect Storm, I became very interested in reading more about the captain of the Hannah Boden, (sister ship of the Andrea Gail) Linda Greenlaw. When I found out she was a writer, I immediately jumped on-line to get one of her books. This book is her first. She writes about a specific fishing trip she commanded and all the trials and tribulations of getting a good catch and bringing it home. Although she down plays the fact that she is a female captain of an ocean fishing boat, I think she is amazing. I have become a big fan! Highly recommend this and I can't wait to read more about her.

Did my slugline suck you into this review of *The Hungry Ocean*? It is not meant to be misleading, even if what I refer to is more subtle reading into things on my part. Linda Greenlaw is a swordboat captain in a definitively man's world of commercial ocean fishing. But, she isn't just any captain, but a good one at that. She turns up in Sebastian Junger's *The Perfect Storm*. But this book isn't about that, nor is it an attempt to capitalize on that book's success; this book is about the essence of commercial fishing - commercial swordfish fishing to be specific - and it's about what it is like for a woman to succeed in a male dominated enterprise. It is also about life in general as well as one's journey to find a meaning and place in life.

That is a lot to place on one book. But intentionally or not, that what Greenlaw takes on. This book is specifically about one fishing trip for Greenlaw's swordboat, the Hannah Boden; but along the way she talks about life in general in her neck of the woods and corner of world - both physically and psychologically. At times Greenlaw paints the picture of a lonely woman searching for something; but I think that is much more than the cliché at its heart. She is searching for meaning and place, not a man to make her complete. And, in the end, she seems to find a new direction to life.

Beyond the personal story of Linda Greenlaw, this book is about the commercial fishing industry. Maybe it doesn't dig deeply into what is right or wrong with it, nor does it over-analyze it on the micro or macro scale, but what we see on this one fishing trip is enough to open the reader's eyes to an industry that is both a way of life on the micro scale for many of the fisherman and also another over consumptive practice on the macro scale. The story is both engrossing and romantic.

But at times the shine is lost and the underbelly exposed. The best single example I can give is waste and litter that is produced when commercial fishing is practiced on this scale. When they let the line out, they place chemical lights - the type that you bend and shake to activate - at regular intervals along the line as an additional lure; these lights are single-use, disposable, and left to sink to the bottom of the world's oceans. This is one single, indicative example of waste on a large scale practiced by our civilization.

What a great book. I am not a huge book reader and she makes me feel like I am on the boat with her and the crew. I highly suggest this book!!!!!
Great Reading

This is a great book. Linda does an excellent job making you feel like you are there. You want to reach out and help as she is challenged day after day. What she has accomplished is amazing. This is a must have for every boat library

Written by a fisherperson for fisherpeople!
She captures the life & passion of the events in her 1st hand dialogue.

"In an instant, the jaws of a Mako shark can latch onto the calf of one whose back is turned. Rows of razor-sharp teeth puncture oil pants, boots, skin, and flesh, and sink into solid bone like nails into balsa wood." This is just one of the dangers faced by the fishermen on the Hannah Boden.

Real life thrills and danger. Not the narcissitic thrill seeker, who bungie jumps or the mountain climber who ascends Mt. Hood knowing a storm is coming, yet tries to beat the squalls to the summit. This is the real life story of Linda Greenlaw, Captain of the Hannah Boden, the 100 ft. swordfishing boat. The story unfolds with the preparation and expectation of returning from a month at sea with 70,000 lbs of fish. All the while trying to maintain a mutually respectfull relationship with her crew and their no where near minor idosyncracies while at sea. Bob Brown, the crusty, pushy owner of the boat goads Ms. Greenlaw into making demands on herself and crew that are akin to miraculous.

Nine to five does not exist. When the lines are cast the crew is punched in for 24 hour days adding up to approximately 700 hours. No benefits, no sick days, no salary. 700 hours of physical labor, in poor conditions, that you might not get paid for. No fish, no pay.

20,000 gallons of fuel, 280 miles of open sea before the fishing even begins, sickness, competition, engine trouble and danger all managed with finesse, firmness, nerves of steel, stamina most men can't comprehend, and motherly love. Linda Greenlaw tells a story you can't put down, from her heart, in a down to earth fashion, making even a land lubber long for the high seas and salty air.

I liked this book. It's very well written, and although the author doesn't want us to see her as a woman, her dessciptions and tale are clearly from a woman's perspective. She keeps an upper hand on her male deckhands and is reluctant to step into the middle of a fight. I found it interesting that there's so much superstition that Greenlaw says goes along with fishing. You'd think such a tough bunch wouldn't be wary of anything. Made me think often of Deadliest Catch on TV, although I'd much prefer a book!

Yes, I did pick up this book because of the movie. It turned out not to be a bad decision at all. Linda Greenlaw speaks of experience the majority of us can only imagine. You can smell the salt air, the fish, the diesel fumes, the crew. She has described it all perfectly and has drawn you into her world and captures your most inner curiosities of the world of swordfishing. So entrapped was I that I could not put this book down when finished, I immediately read her next book The Lobster Chronicles which was just as enthralling. Buy it, read it, cast of the lines of your imagination and ply the open ocean with Linda, you will not be disappointed.

There's a writer, Sebastian Junger whose face is plastered everywhere for his two novels; one of which is a sea novel about the sister ship of Ms. Greenlaw's vessel (name of book; "the perfect storm") which was lost at sea. Linda is one of the best swordfisher captains in the east. The fact that she is a chick makes her take even more interesting. She tells a salty tale of one of her goings to sea. Nothing much ever happens, it just talks about a nice girl who wants a boyfriend who happens to have a really scary job as Captain of a swordfisherman vessel. BTW, she prefers the sobriquet, "fisherman" -stating that it is obvious she is a female: no "fisherwoman" neologisms are needed for her. Cool broad. Cool story.

"The Hungry Ocean" written by Swordfish Captain Linda Greenlaw, details one of her 30 day swordfishing expeditions. Greenlaw describes the preparations she makes before leaving on the trip; the personalities of the men accompanying her on the trip; how she decides where they are going to do the actual fishing; the fishing itself and the equipment used; how she decides when the fishing trip is over; and finally, shows a receipt detailing the money spent on the trip and how much money each fisherman made. Interspersed with the details of this particular trip are chapters called "Mug-Up" with anecdotes of past fishing trips.

"The Hungry Ocean" is a fascinating read. Greenlaw doesn't dwell on the fact that she is a female working in a job dominated by men. She provides detailed explanations of what needs to be done on board to prepare for the fishing, although she sometimes lost me in describing some of the details. I wish pictures had been included of some of the equipment she used. Greenlaw also describes how she deals with the inevitable problems that come up when a number of sleep deprived people are working together in a cramped space for a long period of time.

One of the best parts of the book are the small details Greenlaw includes: how they cook and prepare food on a moving boat, eating off Pyrex pie plates to keep the food from falling off; the practical jokes they play on new fishermen to break the boredom; and the various superstitions fishermen have. For the most part, Greenlaw comes across as likable, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for the fish as she describes their struggle once captured. Still, I don't begrudge the fishermen; it's a tough and dangerous way to make a living.

"The Hungry Ocean" is a very compelling read.

If you're out to sea and someone on your boat dies, don't call the Coast Guard and expect them to come get the guy. Instead, call them and say you have someone who is "in a coma." In that case they will come - otherwise it's your problem.

Dental problems at sea are often handled with needle nose pliers. But only the toughest of the breed do the work themselves.

The author of this book, a female, claims that the only difference between her and the guys at sea is that when she has to relieve herself during stormy weather the facilities can be "a saltwater bidet."

If these kinds of tidbits sound enticing, you will really enjoy this book - as I did.

You get to live at sea for a month with honest to goodness commercial fishermen. You live the roles of captain, and each of the other 5 crew in minute detail. You will learn everything about commercial fishing from how long you have to thaw out the bait to the cranks, pulleys and gizmos that put out the lines and pull them back in.

Not being a boat guy myself I found the book educational, and fascinating, with enough tension about the success of the catch thrown in to make it read almost (well, sort of almost)like a thriller.

Sebastian Junger's book was not only a great adventure tale - it was also a great description of the life of ocean fisherman. It retold the tragedy of the Andrea Gail as well as the effect it had on other fisherman.

One of those other fisherman was Linda Greenlaw. In this book she describes a typical swordfishing trip (if there is such a thing). She writes of preperations, doubts, crew problems, fishing techniques, weather and the fish themselves. Along with this main story she includes chapters entitled "mug ups" that are not directly related to the main story but are every bit as entertaining and informative.

The book is a quick read but well worth the money

Greenlaw's Hungry Ocean rode the wave of the Perfect Storm's immense popularity to best seller lists, but left me hungry for more. No, not a longer book or a sequel, but vision that revealed more about this presumably interesting figure. Greenlaw's account of her experiences as a swordifish captain is filled with potential. I rooted for her- she was afterall a woman winning a man's game.
But ultimately I felt cheated by this tome. I wanted Greenlaw to reveal more. How did she become the top swordfish captain? I sensed she was at once ruthless, incredibly intelligent, and extraordinarily hardworking, but I felt as I filled in the blanks from the too often cursory information provided by the author. Her minimalist style opens the door to the world of deep sea fishing, but I found the water murky.

This is a great summer read. If you are interested in the life of a real fisherman, but don't want to get bogged down in all the details of a book like The Perfect Storm, then this is for you. Greenlaw gives lots of great stories and descriptive narrative that makes you feel like you are on the boat with her crew. From the thrill of a big catch, through the boredom of finding the right place to fish, to the personality conflicts between crew members and captains of other boats, this was an interesting and informative book.

This book isn't life-changing or even inspirational--in a good way. I was hesitant initially because I thought the book might work a 'girl-power' angle as Greenlaw is one of, if not the only, female swordfish captains in the world. Instead, it does a fantastic job of describing a world most of us will never know--the inner workings of a fisherman's (woman's) life: the politics involved in pleasing a demanding boat owner and restless crew, the tedious waiting game where instincts and electronics seek the elusive fish many days away from shore, and the excitment of the non-stop work when the fishing is good. It even gives an account of the finances involved including a breakdown of the market price of fish and how it affects everyone's pay. I had no idea of the immense costs each fishing trip takes in equipment, food, and gas. It is a great look at the day-to-day life. Where it falls short is addressing some grander issues such as the environment and the history and future of fishing. Greenlaw does have a few sentences sprinkled throughout and it's clear that from her viewpoint that the environment hoopla about overfishing is overblown and while these statements do make the reader long for more knowledge on the topic, I guess the authenticity of the book is that we get the raw one-sided opinion of a true fisherman (woman) and not some policy wonk. A very good read.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

One gains genuine admiration for Linda Greenlaw when reading her tale of fishing for sword fish. What a genuinely courageous and strong-willed woman she is! Despite the directional and technical details that are a bit confusing to the average land lubber, Greenlaw's biographical tome relates the amazing facts involved in the dangerous job of commercial fishing. Greenlaw's boat and crew, absolutely modern and up-to-date in all meters and communications, still rely on the ultimate on-site management skills of the captain with the crew, who all stand to sink or swim in their month long fishing trip. There are laughs along the way as Greenlaw relates previous experiences and excitement reigns as she and her crew make each haul. The economics of the operation present some surprising facts and create new appreciation in the reader. Greenlaw's book would make a great parallel text in business management training. Her enthusiasm for her job is inspirational. Her varied crew stands as a microcosim of a larger business operation of any kind.

This is about catching swordfish with linda greenlaw the author great book for a newbie on the subject i believe this by far is her best book. Also has a little bit about her sister boat from the perfect storm another great book (by sebastian junger).

I've read quite a number of Sea Tales and some range from overly dramatic to overly technical, (filled with packing lists and chart courses.) Linda's book rides the delicate balance. Enough detail to demonstrate her skill and hold the seagoing reader's interest and enough anecdote to please the landlubber. As other reviewers have pointed out the Mug-Up chapters are clearly the best in the book.

Linda's imagery is amazingly vivid for a FisherMAN, you can almost smell the salt spray and feel the rock of the boat as she describes some of the more active times on the month-long fishing trip.

I have rated her book just average since each time you start getting truly interested in the action or truly interested in the life of the crew she shifts gears and transitions to another topic. More plot and character development would have been a most welcome additions. As Linda's career as fisherMan declines her career as an author will certainly improve. I look forward to her latest book.

P.S. Really wanted to find out how much she got per pound for her catch!

When a friend lent me this book awhile back I somehow got the impression that it was a re-telling of "The Perfect Storm" from the perspective of someone who was actually there. I still held that perception until I picked up the book to read. A quick perusal of the jacket flap dissuaded me of the notion, as there was barely any mention of the storm. It has almost nothing to do with the Sebastian Junger tale, and that, I came to realize, is not a bad thing at all. In fact, I believe the author went out of her way to let Junger's tale stand on its own.

Authors have been writing about the ocean and life at sea forever, and while the writing won't remind you of Melville or Hemingway (it was obviously not intended to) it is a riveting and alluring look at the lives of commercial fisherman at sea. It is also, whether Linda Greenlaw intended it or not, a peak inside her brain; at who she is and how she sees herself. All and all, a very straight forward and interesting read... enthusiastically recommended.

I read this book after reading Linda's second book "Lobster Chronicles". I enjoyed "The Hungry Ocean", but did not find it to be as much fun as her second release.

This book included much more technical information, rather than focusing on the characters and anecdotal incidents. However, the book was still a great read!

Linda vividly illustrates life on a swordfishing boat. It's dirty, exhausting and dangerous. But, it's also easy to understand why she loves it much. She captures the thrill of the unknown, the beauty of the ocean, and the excitement of steaming home with thousands of dollars worth of fish.

The life described in this book could not be more different than my own. I enjoyed taking a look!

I cannot believe I didn't review this book some time ago when I read it in hardcover soon after it was published. In scrolling through the reviews that are here, it is interesting to see the different perspectives people have. Some view the book as an informational book about sword fishing; others see it as an extension of the story told in The Perfect Storm (Linda Greenlaw was the Captain of the Andrea Gail's sister fishing boat, the Hanna Bowden); some see it as a metaphor about life as a woman in what is essentially a man's business; and some see it as proof that those who go to sea to fish are most responsible for the problems we have with fisheries and the ocean environment. Linda's oldest sister sees the book as a "book length personals ad" (Linda would like to get married). I bought the book thinking that I would be reading more about aspects of The Perfect Storm and instead found a compelling story from a woman who all her life wanted to be doing what she was doing and did it against great odds. Sebastian Junger referred to her as the best swordfish captain in the North Atlantic, or words to that effect, which is high praise for anyone and the zenith of such for a woman. In the book she tells you what it is like to put to sea to go swordfishing and she does it without any cleaning up of the life. She also shares her inner thoughts and makes the story very much a human tale. In the end, you will care about her very much. At least I did. She is brave, vulnerable, stubborn, funny and caring and she communicates those attributes quite well.

Possibly the only female swordfisherman in the world, Linda Greenlaw recounts a typical, 30-day fishing trip in the Grand Banks off off Newfoundland. Greenlaw knew the men of the Andrea Gail, another sword boat whose tale is told in A Perfect Storm, by Sebastian Junger, but doesn't tread on the details of that story. This is a simple slice-of-life tale detailing a typical month in the life of a sword captain, her boat and her crew. There are no harrowing tales of life and death struggle, but a simple telling of the exhaustion, boredom and potential benefit of a swordfishing trip. This makes it an excellent companion to A Perfect Storm. After reading about the struggle and death of the crew of the Andrea Gail, it is enlightening to read about the realities of their lives.

Greenlaw writes in a simple, conversational way. Here story is engaging by its very nature so I found myself unconcerned with her writing style since the story was so compelling. That said, I found her writing straightforward, concise and enjoyable . I completed the book in just under 3 days, another tribute to the quality of the book. I found it difficult to put the book down as I wanted to find out about this woman and her her crew and how they made (or didn't make) their living.

Highly Recommended.

To me, this book isn't great literature, but it's a great read.

Some reviewers have found this book ponderous in its attention to technical detail yet scant on piercing insight into the human condition, but I personally think its straightforward narrative is its strength.

Greenlaw is no Tolstoy, but she's handy with a turn of phrase. She describes a world so alien to most of us, so full of activity, and so completely demanding that I can't help but admire her for making the effort to write this book.

I read a lot, and one of the reasons I read is to look into lives different from my own. This book definitely achieves that.

In the future, I'll never take swordfish steaks for granted.

Who didn�t see the film, (or read the novel) The Perfect Storm? Not many of you, given its status as one of the top-grossing motion pictures of all time. The story made for riveting reading--and with the addition of some very �high-tech� special effects--a dramatic movie. It was a fictionalized account of actual events surrounding the loss of the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing vessel lost at sea with all of its crew during a horrific storm in 1991. One of the characters in that story, Linda Greenlaw, captain of the Andrea Gail�s �sister� ship, the Hannah Boden, has written a fascinating tale of life aboard a swordboat--minus the tragedy. What happens when everything goes �right� is the theme of Greenlaw�s The Hungry Ocean: a Swordboat Captain�s Journey. To most of us, the concept of spending a month or more at sea in smelly, cramped quarters, working torturous 20-hour days and MAYBE getting a paycheck to show for it, (depending on how good the catch is), hardly seems worth the effort. Linda Greenlaw is one of the most successful swordboat captains, and it�s very obvious she loves her work. That she is perhaps the world�s ONLY female swordboat captain is incidental to the story. After reading this book, it would be hard to enjoy a meal of grilled swordfish without reflecting upon just what it took to get it on the plate. Over 12,000 pounds of bait and $4,000 worth of groceries is loaded on board and stuffed into every conceivable nook and cranny prior to heading to sea. On the trip out, thousands of hook-and-leader sets are crafted, which are then attached to the 40-odd miles of line played out every single night--a �set.� With a baited hook every 100 yards or so, they consider themselves fortunate if they haul in 20 or 30 fish per set; typically running about 15 sets per trip. Despite the fact that she is not an author by profession, Greenlaw very competently conveys a picture of life aboard a swordboat. Hungry Ocean is an entertaining and fascinating read! (I bought an additional copy as a gift for my father-in-law, whose late father was also a fisherman out of Gloucester, Mass. HE loved it too!)

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.

This is a great book for everyone who is interested in commercial fishing, The Perfect Storm, and life at sea. Greenlaw holds your attention with a combination of stories about past experiences and a typical outing on the Grand Banks. The book also talks a bit about her experiences with Captain Tyne of the Andrea Gail and his death in the Perfect Storm. Humorous and at times moving this book is a must read.

The literary values of the book are few or non-existent. The reader that could be interested will be probably a commercial fisherman. If you do not understand why a tale of butchery, animal cruelty or brutal exploitation of a disappearing fauna gets published do not buy it or,if it is too late, do not read it.

The author, Linda Greenlaw, captained the "Hannah Boden", a swordfishing boat out of Gloucester, MA. Her vessel, and her command of it, were an element of THE PERFECT STORM book and movie, which told the tale of the sister ship "Andrea Gail", lost in a 1991 tempest off the East Coast.

In THE HUNGRY OCEAN, Linda invites the reader aboard the "Hannah Boden" for a 30-day fishing expedition to the Grand Banks, 1100 miles distant in the North Atlantic, during the month of September sometime in the mid-90s. Interspersed in the narrative of this particular voyage are Linda's memories from her childhood and previous sailings, all of which experiences contribute to make her one of the most successful swordfisherman on the ocean.

This is a memoir that's hard to put down. As I sat reading in the comfort of home with a pet cat in my lap, I was reminded how cushy a 9 to 5 indoor job is. Even if I was 30 years younger, I can't imagine enduring fourteen successive 20-hour days, each one of which is spent setting down, and then hauling-in, the 40-mile fishing line carrying 900 very sharp, baited hooks capable of catching several tons of thrashing swordfish (or unwanted, but dangerous, sharks). Especially if one is struggling to keep from falling overboard (much less stand upright) on a rolling deck in the face of 40-knot (or greater) winds, driving rain, and heaving seas. Just call me a landlubber with a capital "L". Proud of it, too!

Though I wouldn't have otherwise given much thought to the gender distinction, Greenlaw herself points out that being a female swordboat captain is unusual. Her obvious ability to handle a diverse, sometimes difficult, all-male deck gang of five, plus her talent for finding and bringing home the catch, inspires me to snap off a salute and call her "Cap'n" with all due admiration. If I was so inclined to enlist as part of a crew, I'd sail with her to anywhere.

This is a first-rate, salty yarn. Buy it, and you'll enjoy it. Now, where did I put that can of tuna? The cat and I are both hungry.

Simply beautiful book. Keep up Linda. We wangt another one.

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!

Sometimes the books by people who ARE NOT writers by trade are the best, this book fits that standard. As with Bill Bryson's accounts in the great outdoors, Greenlaw has the knack for simple explanations for complicated things, making swordfishing something that the "average Joe" can enjoy. The book is informative but hysterical at times, a real pleasure to read. I have not read "The Perfect Storm" yet, but after seeing the movie I am in better understanding of the workings of the trade. Greenlaw's experiences explained even the simple questions like "what in the world do you need glo-sticks for?" Since we know that the "Andria Gail" in "The Perfect Storm" never makes it back to the dock, the inferences for the book and film had to come from SOMEWHERE. It is quickly obvious that many came from the "Hannah Boden" herself, lending portraits of a swordboat crew right down to the 20 pound lasagna mentioned in the film. I caught myself laughing out loud on many occasions and thoroughly enjoyed this book. One of my favorite segments is about sealore superstitions (ie. pork/pigs, women on boat, the number thirteen, whistling to oneself, and blue or yellow hulls),in which she ends the segment commenting on how she should get a blue boat and name it "Thirteen Whistling Pigs". A great book for those who love the sea and those who would just like to learn more about it. They say that seamen tell the best tales, and I would have to agree in this case.....I highly recommend this easy reading book.

I was very surprised that I liked this book even better than The Perfect Storm.

Where The Perfect Storm describes the harrowing stories of people battling the single greatest storm of the century, The Hungry Ocean describes the harrowing events which swordfish boats and their crews must face on each and every trip they take to the Grand Banks, year in and year out.

I found this book to be absolutely fascinating in its gritty behind the scenes look at the fishing industry as well as in its look inside the minds of the men and women who spend their lives risking everything on the all-or-nothing propositions that professional swordfishing trips often are. Highly recommended.

Special note: my wife, who very rarely reads "adventure"-type books, absolutely ate this one up. In fact, she recommended it to me!

The only redeeming, indeed, interesting part of Linda Greenlaw's book is its title. After that it is pure misery. It is not book quality and does not have enough material of interest to be anything more than an unshared personal journal. It merely drones on and on. Although it does spark emotion in anyone who is concerned about our oceans, or believes that it is not okay to brag about animal cruelty.

It is with fond memory that she recounts the episode of hanging a live 7-foot shark wrapped in lighter fluid soaked rags: "...the shark was slashed at with knives and poked with gaffs like a giant pinata until a single match set it ablaze. Slowly, the thrashing reduced to a writhing..." Gee, now THAT'S something to be proud of! If someone, much less an "adult" were to do this to a pet, it would be considered animal cruelty and abuse. Yet one can picture Greenlaw smiling and cooing with pleasure and pride as she tells this story.

Beyond that, the book is just flat. It has no beginning, middle, or end. It tells no story of any interest - it doesn't really tell ANY story at all. I kept hoping that there would be some sort of redeeming quality to the book - there wasn't. Well, unless you count the fact that the book does actually end and that you will never again be "forced" to suffer through a this book like again. I am somewhat embarrassed, however, that I read as much of the book as I did until I finally proclaimed, "okay!Okay! I'll take the bamboo slivers under my fingernails! Just don't make me read any more of this beast!" In fact the only saving grace is that the book finally does end - mercifully.

Miracles DO exist - I will never have to read this book again!

I never met anyone who didn't like this book--ranging from my brother-in-law who generally reads only technical manuals to my 90 year-old aunt. It was interesting from cover to cover. This is the female swordfish boat captain who appears in the book and movie "The Perfect Storm." She is a first rate author writing about an interesting industry. Her characters are well drawn, and the book reads like an impossible-to-put-down novel. I hope her next book will be about the lobster industry as she is now a lobsterman on Maine.

The details of one specific swordfishing trip nearly 1,000 miles to the Grand Banks by the Hannah Boden. The Hannah Boden was the sister ship to the Andrea Gail from "The Perfect Storm". In fact the author, Linda Greenlaw was skippering the Hanna Boden 600 miles east of the Andrea Gail when the Storm hit and upon returning past Sable Island recovered 55 gallon barrels with AG on the side stenciled on the side.

If you're interested in how people and things work and specifically commercial fishing for swordfish you'll enjoy this book very much. Greenlaw was schooled as a writer but chose for a period the rugged life of a fishing captain. She has the eye and attention to detail necessary find the fish while keeping the crew safe and to make you feel like you are there working nearly around the clock until your actions are more like a zombie than human. This book is similar in many ways to "Working on the Edge". One being about finding and harvesting swordfish and the other about finding and harvesting Alaskan King Crabs. Both lines of work offered the potential for very high rewards but also very long hours, dangerous, and exhausting work.

Perfect Storm readers need this one. Good follow up, but all fishermen to gold miners (man or woman) will relate to this book. Especially skippers, crab pots to seiners, million dollar boats to 16 foot runabouts, you qualify. Your the skipper. Greenlaw tells/writes it for real. Fishing. For those of you that live in a 'pretend world', language etc.,don't read it. If you fish, any kind, for real, read it. Also a lot of fun stuff, like the guy headed for 'Ireland', usually 'China' for us Pacific Ocean people.

Greenlaw writes like she thinks. Refreshing. Example: Other so called authors might say ; "the sun arose slowly bringing with it all the splendid glory of the new day as the flickering rays danced upon the cold and wispy waves hiding the creatures within", etc., etc., etc. NOT GREENLAW, "the sun came up, new day,let's get on". She says it like it was/is.

So, ya gotta be kinda 'fishy' to really like Lindas book, from my view, but even gold miners will find her 'grub lists' very real.

She repeatedly refers to her " MIND'S EYE " (what her brain envisioned) certain things to be, and wrote them. She does the same thing with her " MIND'S THOUGHTS", put them in print. She writes like she thinks. Precisely.

Remember the old saying: 'Women don't think like men', well, I'am not so sure about that anymore. Especially when it comes to fishing. Almost sacred !!

Anyway, forget the woman thing and even if you are a swordfish fisherman, you might learn something.

This book is the perfect companion for those arm-chair fishermen who like to read about the sea. In addition to being a personal memoir this book is a technical description of the techniques that are used in swordfishing from the tackle that is engaged to techniques used to navigate the ocean.

I found the author's description of how you navigate to the fishing grounds an interesting read. This part of the book reminds me of long sections on celestial navigation found in William F. Buckley's books on sailing. In reading both sometimes you have to back up and reread paragraphs so you can make sure you understand the geometry that is explained. It is this mastery of the ebb and flow of the ocean currents, the finer points of navigation, and an understanding of the electronics on board that makes Linda Greenlaw able to find the best fishing spots. And she claims to be the best fisherman in the fleet.

As the author Linda Greenlaw explains she uses transducers and transponders that can measure the water temperature at both the surface and a dozen fathoms beneath the sea. Then she uses doppler radar to calculate how fast currents below the surface are running in relation to the surface itself. She writes down all of this in her journal plus the positions of the other boats in the fleet and the locations of the 40 miles of fishing line each has floating free in the ocean. Then she considers the winds, the stage of the moon, and the rising weather to find a place and a time to set her tackle. Keeping track of all these many variables allows the reader to participate in the strategy, the successes, and the setbacks that accompany the fishing trip.

I wonder if Linda Greenlaw's friends in the swordfishing fleet will be peeved that she gave away so many of their secrets in this book. As she points out there is a gently rivalry between boat captains that cause them to keep secret information on where the fish are located and how to catch them. Armed with the technical minutiae in this book, the ordinary lobster or crab fisherman could travel to the Grand Banks and start catching something more lucrative than crabs or lobsters, namely swordfish.

If you read "The Hungry Ocean" you should also read "Giant Bluefin" by Douglas Whynott. And I also recommend any of the numerous fishing books written by Zane Grey, author of "The Riders of the Purple Sage". Ernest Hemingway's "Islands in the Stream" is about fishing for billfish as well.

This was a very well-written book which did a terrific job of detailing life on a month long swordfishing expedition. The relationships among the crew and between the deckhand and the female captain are vividly portrayed. There are several passages where you can literally smell the oil, fish and salt air. Highly recommended.

This is a terrific book.

In comparison to Perfect Storm, the success of which launched this book, Linda Greenlaw offers a lively, inside view of life on an American fishing boat. You learn about the job, the risks, the hard work, the personal will, and the science of offshore fishing. It's a rough world, with 20 hour days under sun and rain, crampt quarters and lots of dead fish. However Greenlaw loves her world, and makes you appreciate the people who live in it. It's real, it's immediate, it's immense.

You close the book understanding her love of the sea, the world of a fisherman, and how lucky you are to sleep at home at night.

THE GIRL CAN FISH! No doubt about it. I was singularly impressed with Linda's knowledge of the mechanics of fishing. While sometimes it was hard for me to visual the things she was trying to explain, it was clear there is a definite science to the technical aspects of being able to 1) locate fish by knowing how to search based on water temperatures at different depths and 2)knowing and understanding the sea. The writing style is, for the most part, very plain and straight forward. No problem there.

I would have to give the author negative points for her people skills. I give her high points for being so honest about her shortcomings. The problem though, is she clearly does not view these as short comings. There are two major points in the book for which she admits she does not handle well but in the end puts off either making a real decision that comes with the territory of being captain.

There is the racial hatred displayed by one of the young crewman towards the sole black crew member. This hatred is in the form of constant name calling at every opportunity. Ugly words as you can imagine. The person being victimized is not the first to bring it to the attention of the author but one of the other crewmen who is just sick and tired of hearing the ugly insults. She doesn't confront the men and nip it in the bud, they have to find her. First is Peter, the black crewman, who lets her know that he is growing frustrated with the insults and may end up hurting the name caller. She immediately threatens him and tells him no matter what the guy calls him, he is not to lay one hand on the name caller. In other words, just shut up and take it and she will deal with the name caller herself. Well eventually he comes to her and she asks him to stop and he saids he will. But he doesn't. No where in the book does she try to actually put a stop to it. She does, however, occasionally mention the tension between the two and the fact that the black crewman basically has to isolate himself from the rest of them in order to get away from the insults. Abhorrent and totally lacking in humanity. As Captain she should have laid down the law and if the young man couldn't make himself comply make his wages reflect the fact along with his chores. She did absolutely nothing which essentially condoned this horrible behavior.

The second event which identifies total lack of real management skills is when Charlie is truly ill and she does nothing about it. She in fact puts the question to Charlie as to what should she do about his illness. Not one to let the success or failure of the trip rest on his shoulders he bravely tells her yes he is sick but that they should keep fishing. What the real point is that she mentions over and over is her fear of disappointing Bob Brown the owner of the boat. Her insecurities run deep and people connected with her can't count on her for true support or understanding. It's not there. I don't think this is a female or male thing but a lack of development as a person thing.

If you don't want like reading about how to lay lines, how to fish and how to find fish then this book wouldn't be for you.

I have to also comment like some of the other reviewers the author's statement regarding the state of the swordfishing industry. No where in this entire book does she once mention any kind of self policing by the fishing industry yet she makes claim that they know best. Obviously they don't, as they don't have quotas, nor do they have any sort of rule as to how over fished a particular site has become. I thought the comment about "Chef Fancy Pants" was funny and sad. The author is clearly irritated at the attempt by others to stick their noses into her life's work that she doesn't offer one bit of constructive input as how to come to a happy medium. Just to let them manage their own and all the do gooder chefs should just worry about how to cook the fish she catches. If she sounds trite and a little naive it's because I truly don't think she believes that they will eventually fish themselves out of a living.

There isn't a correlation with the writing style of author of the "Perfect Storm" nor the excitement in the story telling. This is just the raw facts about how to catch swordfish, the type of people that do this for a living and some of the folklore surrounding the industry.

Although it's abridged, this two tape set gives the basic story of "The Hungry Ocean". Narrated by the author, I found this a great way to go. I still recommend reading the book also in addition to buying the tapes. I'd like to have it on CD or DVD which might could be enhanced to show some footage at sea, swordfish being caught, crew members and Ms. Greenlaw, etc. I know most of it would have to be retro to 1991.

Bob Brown, the boat owners voice was portrayed in a phone type clip using Ms. Greenlaw's Voice. I think if an effort was made to give the voice a telephone effect, Bob Brown's voice could've been portrayed by a male voice, like, mine :-).

I'd like to also have on the CD or DVD an update on certain issues brought out in the story. How's the crew, what are they doing. to my knowledge. Greenlaw is a lobster trapper now even though as most recent a writer. Is the Hannah Boden still alive? this happened in 1991.

This fueled my desire for more of this kind of stuff. These tapes and book are at the top of my collection. I'll need an autographed copy of the hardback someday.

Buy a book, the tapes, and sign up to be emailed notification of any upcoming books by Greenlaw at this site. This is not however a work for a high minded literary critic who reads for the sake of being a literary critic. It's 5 stars for content. It is very well written as well.

I decided to check into this book after having read Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm and see for myself what everyone was talking about. I was not disappointed. Linda Greenlaw has written a compulsively readable story that is immediately entertaining and informative. You immediately empathize with the individuals of this story as they deal with excrutiatingly long days at sea, personality conflicts and the difficulties of living in a confined space. Greenlaw is able to capture the unique mindset of a crew employed in a dangerous and lonely occupation. On one hand they want nothing more than to bring home a boatload of fish, but on the other, they want desperately to go home. Unlike The Perfect Storm, it places less emphasis on the technical aspects of fishing preferring instead to be a narrative of an extraordinary trip and a wonderfully diverse crew as they struggle through the daily highs and lows of making a living at sea.