Lobstering Women of Maine (adult nonfiction)

Tourist season is in full swing in coastal Maine. And a lot of people have a lobster feast on their vacation agenda. Few of them have a clue about the arduous labor that goes into procuring their favorite vacation treat.
And if asked to draw a lobster harvester few if any would draw a women…
…unless they'd had the great good fortune of reading Susan Tobey White's Lobstering Women of Maine. White, a Maine artist, captures a diverse group of these women in oils and words. Some juggle lobstering with classes and homework; others with parenting. Some come from families with a long tradition on the water; some are first generation. They hail from different parts of the state and are motivated by a wide range of reasons. But they all are fascinating.
*Norah (10) has a junior lobstering license and a boat named Old Memories in honor of the grandfather she inherited it from. Her business is titled The Lobster Peddler.
*For two terms Genevieve juggled lobstering with public service as a member of the Maine House of Representatives. She was the first woman appointed to the Maine Department of Marine Resources Lobster Advisory Council. She led a successful campaign to get foul weather gear designed for women.
*Ruthie came to lobstering later in life after retiring from teaching.
*Stefanie took over captaining her husband's boat when he injured his shoulder and they needed the income. She liked the experience so much she bought her own boat , becoming the first female captain on her island.'
*Virginia (obviously my favorite) is, at 101, Maine's oldest licensed lobsterman. She fishes 200 traps with her son and has no intentions of quitting. She is a true inspiration.
And they are only a few of the sheroes portrayed in this lavishly illustrated volume. If you like reading about strong, unconventional women put Lobstering Women of Maine on your beach read list.
On a purrrsonal note, Saturday started out raining. Eugene and I went for a ride. We saw two deer, a red fox, and some turkeys. We got lunch at MacDonalds. By then it had cleared up so we went back to camp. I got in another afternoon and evening of outdoor reading in the company of a cute little red squirrel. Sunday we went home.
Jules Hathaway