Hardcover, 384 pages
Published Aug. 8, 2019 by Scribner.
Set on the Korean island of Jeju, The Island of Sea Women follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds, as they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective. Over many decades—through the Japanese colonialism of the 1930s and 1940s, World War II, the Korean War, and the era of cellphones and wet suits for the women divers—Mi-ja and Young-sook develop the closest of bonds. Nevertheless, their differences are impossible to ignore: Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, forever marking her, and Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers. After hundreds of dives and years of friendship, forces outside their control will push their relationship to the breaking point.
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a unique and unforgettable culture, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, …
Set on the Korean island of Jeju, The Island of Sea Women follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds, as they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective. Over many decades—through the Japanese colonialism of the 1930s and 1940s, World War II, the Korean War, and the era of cellphones and wet suits for the women divers—Mi-ja and Young-sook develop the closest of bonds. Nevertheless, their differences are impossible to ignore: Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, forever marking her, and Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers. After hundreds of dives and years of friendship, forces outside their control will push their relationship to the breaking point.
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a unique and unforgettable culture, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
An excellent read, which vividly brings to life a fascinating and remarkable culture. But it's not a comfortable read as parts of that history are brutal, and unflinchingly captured.
Trauma and forgiveness, misunderstanding and war. "Your tears will be added to the oceans of salty tears that wash in great waves across our planet."
I usually like her books but could NOT get into this one, despite its interesting premise. Abandoned about 50% in.
This book is fascinating and well-written, but I couldn't finish it because it hurt my heart too much.
An excellent telling of horrific events long hidden from much of the world that occurred on the island of Jeju, a Korean island forty-five by nineteen miles about fifty miles south of the peninsula, in 1948. The point of view is of female divers, long the dominant force on much of the island at a family and economic level.
See clearly did a huge amount of research on this and transferred it well into her story, which is one of forgiveness and understanding. Me being picky makes me wonder why her hard work and getting help from others didn't stop her from having characters purchase and listen to transistor radios over a decade before they were invented. It shouldn't matter, but they are a part of the story—people in a remote part of the island get information from them that would have been impossible to get.
What the hell. That's …
An excellent telling of horrific events long hidden from much of the world that occurred on the island of Jeju, a Korean island forty-five by nineteen miles about fifty miles south of the peninsula, in 1948. The point of view is of female divers, long the dominant force on much of the island at a family and economic level.
See clearly did a huge amount of research on this and transferred it well into her story, which is one of forgiveness and understanding. Me being picky makes me wonder why her hard work and getting help from others didn't stop her from having characters purchase and listen to transistor radios over a decade before they were invented. It shouldn't matter, but they are a part of the story—people in a remote part of the island get information from them that would have been impossible to get.
What the hell. That's minor. Read it.
