All Fishermen Are Liars: True Tales from the Dry Dock Bar

by Linda Greenlaw

Just before Christmas, Linda meets up with her best friend and fellow fisherman Alden Leeman for lunch and a drink at the Dry Dock, a well-worn watering hole in Portland, Maine. Alden, the captain of Linda's first fishing expedition, has seen his share of mishaps and adventures at sea. When Linda shares memories of navigating her ship through one of the craziest storms she's ever seen, Alden quickly follows up with his own tales. Then other fishermen, who are sitting on the periphery attentively listening, decide to weigh in with yarns of their own.

All Fishermen Are Liars brims with true stories of the most eccentric crew member, the funniest episode, the biggest fish, and the wildest night at sea. Denizens of the Dry Dock drift in and out as the bar begins to swell with rounds of drinks and tales that increase in drama. Here are some of the greatest fishing stories ever--all relayed by Linda Greenlaw in her inimitable style.

All Fishermen Are Liars will give readers what they have come to love and expect from Linda Greenlaw--luminous descriptions and edge-of-the-seat thrills. It's the perfect book for anyone who loves fishing and the sea.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays, Maritime, Adventure, Humor, Short Stories

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Linda Greenlaw's three bestselling books about life as a commercial fisherman -- THE HUNGRY OCEAN (1999), THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES (2002) and ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS (2004) -- have climbed as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She is the winner of the U.S. Maritime Literature Award in 2003, and the New England Book Award for nonfiction in 2004. Time Magazine called her 2005 RECIPES FROM A VERY SMALL ISLAND, co-authored with her mother Martha Greenlaw, a "must-have cookbook".

Before becoming a writer, Linda Greenlaw was the captain of a sword boat, the career that earned her a prominent role in Sebastian Junger's THE PERFECT STORM and a portrayal in the subsequent film. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Today, CBS Sunday Morning, The Martha Stewart Show, and National Public Radio. She now lives on Isle au Haut, Maine, where she captains a lobster boat.

When Linda Greenlaw confessed a desire to write fiction, readers responded with an enthusiastic "Please do!" At last, she satisfies their hunger with SLIPKNOT, a sharp-witted, compulsively readable mystery, the first in a series featuring marine investigator Jane Bunker. As she proved in THE HUNGRY OCEAN, no one knows the sea like Linda Greenlaw. And as she proved in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, no one has a better way with the telling details of Maine village life. SLIPKNOT delivers everything readers want: a great setting, wonderful characters, an authentic and original detective -- and a story that will keep them on the edge of their seats. (from the author's website)

Series:
* Jane Bunker Mystery

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the details I like about December is having the chance to read a few of those books I meant to get to earlier during the year. GR friend Ladiibbug and I swapped a few books (was it really back in 2015?!) and I have finally been able to read them. LB, sorry I took so long, but many many thanks for the wonderful book!

All Fisherman Are Liars takes us to the Dry Dock bar for a lunchtime discussion between the author and her best friend Alden. She wants to tell him to slow down and give up fishing because of his poor health, but is not sure how to bring up the subject. It does come up eventually, but meanwhile we get to hear stories. Of storms, of weird mishaps, of more storms, of inspiring survivals after freak (and/or storm-caused) accidents, of a delightful little fishing trip by the author's brother and his two very young sons.

This was not the first book Greenlaw wrote, but it is the first of hers I have read. I love reading about the sea. I would never be able to be any kind of sailor, but I love the idea of life on the ocean. This book gave me a glimpse at what happens when the people who go out to catch the fish that feed the rest of us say goodbye to loved ones and leave the docks. I liked the writing style: very straightforward and friendly. And I liked the way she connected all the stories into her concern for her friend. This made the whole book much more meaningful than it would have been if she had just baldly related the stories she wanted to share.

I have already started on the second Greenlaw book Ladiibbug sent me, The Hungry Ocean. I will get to see how she became who she was in All Fishermen, and I am looking forward to the voyage!

[Michael J. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda swaps fishing stories with her long-time friend over a very long "lunch." This book was well organized and flowed like a smooth, calm and beautiful ride on the gulf stream. A true page turner: I wish this book was twice as long. Very creative prose and interesting tales.

[ChrissiesPurpleLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️fun time! It did make me wonder how many of these stories or true or exaggerated 💜💜🤣

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book purely for fun. With graduate school starting I wanted one last shot to read something out of my genre before "the games" began. To enjoy exciting fishing adventures vicariously through Linda Greenlaw seemed like a perfect denouement to the summer holidays.

There are some interesting, entertaining tales in this collection. All stories revolve around two old friends and fishers, one trying to persuade the other to retire for health reasons. The tales and anecdotes they share over copious drinks unfold a glimpse of the life, the perils and ideals, the skills and camaraderie that take place on the high seas. All Fishermen Are Liars offers insight from a seasoned fisher in an accessible story format. I'm happy I picked it up.

[Mary Louise DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

After visiting the enchanting state of Maine, I became obsessed with everything and everyone connected to it. Luckily, I was working for a bookstore at the time and could borrow copies of books in which I was interested before purchasing them. In this case, I could've purchased this book right away and not have wasted a penny. Ms. Greenlaw did a wonderful job in relaying the many tales she's gathered from personal experiences as well as those of her fellow fishermen. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading non-fiction.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Linda's books has become a nightly tradition in my home. My husband and I love her tales of the sea and all of her fishing adventures. Having spent all of my childhood summers on the east coast I relate to her descriptions of the weather, people, and sense of place. I love that through her writing I can escape to a longliner boat and feel like I'm earning my keep as a greenhorn, feeling so small and insignificant on the big blue black sea.

[Mark Alan Lovewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Greenlaw is a star.
She is a storyteller. God bless her for sharing the inner workings of the commercial fishermen. They are a precious group.... almost as endangered as some of the species in the ocean.

We want fishermen to do okay!
Great read.

[Heather]

One of Linda Greenlaw's earlier books about stories she heard over one long night in a bar. A collection of the greatest hits of fisherman tales told over much liquor. She begins by meeting her best friend and former boss Alden. Alden is an old guy of 65, Linda might be in her 40's somewhere. She is increasingly concerned about his health as he is apparently quite overweight and single and doesn't really ever take good care of his eating and drinking habits. Picturing Alden one sees a fairly unkempt and grizzly kind of old fisherman with a red face, whiskers and flannel shirts / tshirt that have all seen better days.

They are joined by other fishermen throughout the night in a story fest of "I can top that dangerous or awe inspiring or shocking story" involving boats that are not seaworthy or having mechanical failure. Fish that fail to show up, or show up aplenty.

It's a good book, though not my favorite book of Greenlaw's. She has plenty of writing talent and crafting of stories so I will generally read all her books as providing education and entertainment always.

[Lisa Corathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda is an excellent writer! Her stories make an occasional recreational scuba diver who is prone to MUCH seasickness--a.k.a. me, whether in the water or on a boat--truly appreciate the ocean and those who make a living off it. It was a very good thing that I recognized my "End for Ending" at the start of my college education when I did not become a marine geologist as I had intended. (Did I mention I suffer from MUCH seasickness? And thank goodness for geology on terra firma!) I am so grateful for Linda that I can live vicariously through her fabulous real-life tales of working on the sea.

[Bev Emerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Linda Greenlaw is a good writer. I found this to be a very entertaining read. Being from southern Maine, I'm familiar with the Dry Dock bar, as well as a couple of the fishermen mentioned in this book. During the 70s, I managed a now obsolete, ship-to-shore radiotelephone service and would sometimes talk with the skippers of these fishing vessels, if they were unable to reach their customary operator based in Camden. It was an interesting time.

[Destini Petitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. I enjoyed how it was set up in a sequence of small stories. The author did a great job of describing her relationship with the sea and other fishermen. It is a really good read if you're into any kind of fishing or ocean adventures. The characters are great and author helps you feel like you're part of the inner circle.

[Dan Mildbrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nail biter! Several stories of horrific storms and the captains that braved them. Also contains a lot of funny stories and lore related to the commercial fishing industry. A recommended read for boaters and fishermen.

[John Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dry dock bar is the backdrop for this memory-filled story with many strange characters attached in some way to the sea. Greenlaw’s style is easy and the tales are interesting but repetitive. It felt as if she was holding back or confined by a restrictive editor’s guidelines.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 2 out of 5]

All Fishermen Are Liars: True Tales from the Dry Dock Bar. This is my first book written by the author. I will admit that I came into this book with preconceived notions. I watched the movie A Perfect Storm a few times over the years. This book was not as expected. I was a little disappointed.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! It was well written, and the author told each story so that the reader could vividly picture the happenings and characters.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but I must say that this was not one of Linda's best. I really enjoyed her other fishing tales and hope that there will be more in the future.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

[Elaine Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Greenlaw has the storytelling gift. Enjoyed this one especially, makes a great gift for the fishermen you might know.

[Rhica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite my cup of tea, but still interesting.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick book of fisherman's tales and hijinks on the open seas.

[Anna]

Not as funny as I was hoping...

[Keith A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tales! You meet these people that she introduces in her stories and you really feel like you know them. Her books are well worth it for anyone interested in learning more about those who make their livelihood from the sea.

[Michal Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I gave this book 4 Stars instead of 5 if only because I know that the author is capable of much better work (a.la The Hungry Ocean) and I can imagine her spinning this story by a fire (or bar) in her homeland of Maine.
* I was first introduced to Capt. Greenlaw through Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea and then through her aboved named book Hungry Ocean & The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island.
* I'm sure she had at least as much fun writing this tale as I had reading it, and my perfect arena to read this volume would probably be on one of my trans-oceanic flights after the in-flight movies have ended. There, captive in a huge ship at 40,000ft, I'd be able to drift off too the Dry Dock, enjoy a Rum with Alden and watch the 4 main protagonists first hand. It's a fascinating tale that, from noon to last call, takes the reader into the lives (and imagination) of those that feed the world.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know next-to-nothing about commercial fishing, navigation, piloting a large motorized vessel, or recruiting manpower for a month-long quest for swordfish, so I was a little out of my comfort zone with this book. But Greenlaw does a pretty good job of explaining the lingo, even though sometimes even the explanation didn't quite make things clear to me. The stories collected here are sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, but all interesting, in part because they are so far from my own experiences. Greenlaw breaks up the stories with little snippets she calls "Bar Snacks"; a list of different nautical slang terms for being drunk, for instance. I listened to the audiobook, with Greenlaw reading her own words. A professional voice actor would have done a more polished job, but I suspect that's why they went with the author herself - to give the stories a more authentic voice. What I learned: I could never, ever be a commercial fisherman. There was not one thing about the job that I find in the least bit appealing.

[Susy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first 'met' Linda Greenlaw as the luckier captain of a sword fishing boat caught in The Perfect Storm. As captain of the Hannah Boden, she desperately tried to help the Andrea Gale find safe harbor. She's a good fisherman - yes, that's how she refers to herself and a good writer. Still, this book felt a little forced. Rather than her telling stories of her experiences, she weaves together a collection of fishing stories she's collected over the years as an attempt to get a mentor to consider retirement. Allegedly told over a very lengthy lunch, the stories are intersting but not necessarily memorable. What I learned is that open water fishing is not something I have any interest in experiencing. I'll continue to visualize myself a catch & release gal although even that experience will likely just be in my dreams.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda Greenlaw’s third book tells “true tales from the Dry Dock Bar” – a collection of “fish tales” that tell of everything from storms at sea to a family fishing outing with her nephews. The occasion for telling these tales is a lunch meeting with an old friend, Alden, who has had heart trouble, with Linda trying to convince him that he ought to retire from fishing. As others at the bar join their table to listen to their stories, the afternoon grows into evening, and the stories still come. The tales contain some coarse language, but it is in context with what is going on in the book and doesn’t intrude. Linda Greenlaw writes with humor and some clever turns of phrase. I look forward to more of her adventures. Alden did not retire, and his health has improved so all ended well.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda Greenlaw has met her best friend for lunch to talk to him about his failing health and to gently prod him toward retirement and certainly to warn him about going out on his fishing boat alone. However, it's a winter's afternoon at the Dry Dock bar in Portland, Maine and the since the bar is full of professional fishermen, the talk turns to stories about the sea. Linda relates the story of her "perfect storm" and then the other fishermen chime in with their best sea tales--largest fish, highest seas, most eccentric crew menber, etc. Recommended for those who love the scent of salt water and are happiest by or on the sea.

[gwen g · Rating 4 out of 5]

My love for Linda Greenlaw continues unchecked. The subject of this book -- fishermen's tall tales -- wasn't quite as compelling as her previous books' topics, and it didn't flow terribly well, but I love her clear writing style and her ability to immerse you in a world you've never known. Also, she reads the book herself, and there's something endearing about it; she's clearly a writer and a fisherman/woman, not an actor, and she hurries through the text like she can't wait to be finished. But hearing her real voice definitely adds something.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

All Fishermen Are Liars: True Tales From the Drydock Bar by Linda Greenlaw (Hyperion 2004) (799.16). Linda Greenlaw first came to public attention when the book The Perfect Storm pegged her as a hero that saved lives during one of the worst commercial fishing disasters ever on the Grand Banks. She is still a successful fishing captain, and she has parlayed her notoriety into a successful career as an author and story teller. This is a series of her tales. My rating: 6.5/10, finished 2007.
'

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Fisherman are Liars by Linda Greenlaw
Dry dock bar is located in Portland, Maine. This book is about tales from others and her own from this bar and others along the coast.
We learn of her fishing career with Captain Alden and how over time they are BFF's. Life lessons are learned with nothing but open sea around you.
Excuses are listed at the beginning of each chapter as the subject changes.
Many trips and what happened are told and thoughts they did the best they could with what they had..