Today is World Book Day. It has made me reflect on my love of reading and my pride in achieving one of my lifelong goals - becoming a published author.
It has been almost three years since I wrote How To Catch A Lobster In Down East Maine. My life has been so consumed by my career and motherhood in the years since that I often forget there is a book sitting on my bookshelf with my name running down the spine.
That book now sits alongside many other wonderful books on Maine lobster fishing which were an inspiration and an invaluable resource to me during the writing process. In honor of World Book Day, here are ten books which offer an authentic look at the iconic world of lobstering.
The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier. A great cultural history of Maine, providing an interesting, in depth account of how Maine was settled and how Maine lobster fishing evolved into the thriving business it is today. It also offers some great insight into why Mainers are such rugged, stoic characters. A beautiful and insightful read.
The Lobster Chronicles: Life On a Very Small Island. A laugh-out-loud story of lobster fishing on a small island in Maine, written by a native.
The Lobster Gangs of Maine. A fascinating sociological study of Maine fishermen, written several decades ago but still referenced today. If you're interested in learning about 'trap wars' (also referred to as 'lobster wars'), this book is for you.
How to Catch a Lobster in Down East Maine. My book, more of a primer than a memoir, provides a comprehensive, insider’s account of what it's like to be a Maine lobster fishermen. It focuses on lobster fishing along the Downeast coast and covers everything from the lingo used by lobster fishermen and what happens during a day on the boat to the unwritten rules of lobster fishing, lobster conservation and lobster recipes.
The Lobstering Life. A beautiful, photographic journey through the daily lives of Maine lobster fishermen.
There are also some great children's books that bring Maine and lobster fishing to life for little ones. My favorites are as follows:
Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man. An adventurous tale with beautiful illustrations by Robert Mccloskey. Great for kids aged three to eight.
One Morning in Maine. Another Mccloskey classic, about the adventures of an island family in Maine. Good for four to eight-year-olds.
Lobsterman. Chosen as one of Yankee Magazine's Top 100 Classic Children's Books, it tells the story of a day in the life of a lobsterman's son, working alongside his father. For ages 4 and up.
Counting Our Way to Maine. I read this book to my daughter before bed every night when she was about two years old. She loved it and when we would get to the lobster fishing page she would point to the fisherman in his boat and exclaim 'Gramp!'
Going Lobstering. A simple picture book about a day out on the boat. Great for little ones, six months old and up.
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| A bookshelf stocked with Maine lobster books, including my own. |
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