Dear Ms. Greenlaw, get over yourself.

Seaworthy: a swordboat captain returns to the sea

Linda Greenlaw

Dear Ms. Greenlaw, get over yourself. Love, Nicole

After 10 years away from sword-fishing - 10 years spent lobstering on Isle au Haut - Linda has decided to jump back into the fray and captain the Seahawk with a hand-picked crew of four men who vary in their high seas experience. Understandably, she is nervous that she won't live up to the high standards and expectations she set when she captained for 19 years before retiring to land, but excited to see if she still has what it takes to bring aboard one of the most elusive and beautiful creatures of the ocean.

I was so excited to see a new autobiography by Linda Greenlaw; The Hungry Ocean continues to be one of my favorite books and her newest foray into nautical-themed crime fiction appears to have been a flop - why not return to her roots? I am so sad to report that this books lacks all of the charm, humility, and humor of her first two books and instead was like listening to a friend wax poetic on life and why they rock at it. Not only did she not catch fish, Greenlaw failed to do what she used to excel at - tell a heartwarming story that made you feel like you were there. I got so tired of reading how this trip was different from her career 10 years ago; how she "excels at", is "well known for", and "is one of the best at" any number of fishing skills; and the fishing details took a leading role when they should have been reduced to supporting cast. Less than a handful of short flashes of her prior warmth are the only things that saved this book from the dreaded 1 star rating.

If you are interested in a really good autobiography on fishing, definitely check out something by Greenlaw - but stick to The Hungry Ocean or The Lobster Chronicles and leave this one on the shelf.