The Island of Sea Women : A Novel
Book - 2020
"A mesmerizing new historical novel" ( O, The Oprah Magazine ) from Lisa See, the bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane , about female friendship and devastating family secrets on a small Korean island.
Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends who come from very different backgrounds. When they are old enough, they begin working in the sea with their village's all-female diving collective, led by Young-sook's mother. As the girls take up their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of excitement and responsibility--but also danger.
Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook find it impossible to ignore their differences. The Island of Sea Women takes place over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother's position leading the divers in their village. Little do the two friends know that forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point.
"This vivid...thoughtful and empathetic" novel ( The New York Times Book Review ) illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge and the men take care of the children. "A wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women" ( Publishers Weekly ), The Island of Sea Women is a "beautiful story...about the endurance of friendship when it's pushed to its limits, and you...will love it" ( Cosmopolitan ).
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Opinion
From Library Staff
From Library Staff
A mesmerizing new historical novel about female friendship and devastating family secrets on a small Korean island. Explores how culture survives and morphs in this story of a Korean female diving collective.
From the critics
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Quotes
Add a QuoteIf eighty-five years have taught her anything, it's that governments come and go and that whoever and whatever comes next will eventually become rotten.' -p.171
“The sea, it is said, is like a mother. The salt water, the pulse and surges of the current, the magnified beat of your heart, and the muffled sounds reverberating through the water together recall the womb.” - p. 22
“No one picks a friend for us; we come together by choice. We are not tied together through ceremony or the responsibility to create a son; we tie ourselves together through moments. The spark when we first meet. Laughter and tears shared. Secrets packed away to be treasured, hoarded, and protected. The wonder that someone can be so different from you and yet still understand your heart in a way no one else ever will.” - p. 36
Comment
Add a CommentI listened to this, and I'm glad I did. There were many unfamiliar words (unfamiliar to me, that is) and I wouldn't have known how to pronounce them if I'd read the book. It's a beautiful story.
Enjoyable read. A bit slow. Endearing characters and well plotted. There is quite a bit of history that I knew nothing about, so very enlightening. An excellent book club selection.
recommended by Soyon
Modern Mrs Darcy
An interesting historical account, not so interesting from a diving/ocean perspective, which I feel is the real weakness of the book. It's too bad it wasn't written by someone who actually dives....scuba/free/snorkel.. there is next to no detail on the actual diving experience. I've come away not having any idea of what the ocean was like other than what they were diving for - sea urchins, abalone, octopus. The best part is the pig latrines - didn't enjoy the interpersonal "saga" so much.
As a Korean born/ US raised child of the 70s, I know very little of my birthplace. This wonderful book seamlessly weaves history, culture and human experiences into a highly entertaining read set in a UNESCO world heritage site.
This is one of the best books I've read in 2020. Lisa See is truly a gifted storyteller.
This was an interesting book. I listened to it which I was glad to have done, because there were many Korean words in it that I would have tripped on if I had read it. The story is very educational about Korean history, the sea women, and interwoven with a story of friendship and the difficulty of forgiveness.
A powerful family saga about growing up in a Matriarchal society on the remote Korean island of Jeju during the Japanese occupation. This is a well written piece of historical fiction about the amazing Sea Women of Korea. Captivating and heart-wrenching all at once.
a surprise matriarchal society -
Full of strong women characters and describes the rich history of the area. Enjoyed the learning about the unique culture of the island.