Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

73 reviews

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was recommended by two friends and I’m grateful I read it 🥹

We flit between Young-sook’s perspective as an old haenyeo ‘thriving’ in Jeju (2008) then her and the haenyeo community and the traumas they had to endure (1930’s onwards). This was difficult for me to get used to, so there were some moments where I wanted to put the book down. However, this book helped me learn so much about haenyeo and I did go back for more. 

Young-sook and Mi-ja’s friendship was so deep, I could only imagine the horrific hurt they both experienced 😫

I absolutely adored the ending though, Janet and Clara revealing their persimmon-dyed diving clothes got me all teary ❤️

3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Colonisation

honeymoonleo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit

brittonmc1221's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Miscarriage, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

mmorice's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wonderful book with an interesting insight in Korean history from a woman's perspective. Loved reading about the matriarchical culture of diving in Jeju. Very intense scenes describing the war repercussions on their island.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Colonisation, and War

banannabaker's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a very good book, the characters are intricate and complicated, the history is fascinating and the place and culture are described in beautiful detail.

However, overall I did not enjoy reading it.

The cover and the blurb are misleading - describing a story about the haenyeo of Jeju and female friendship. The book is about those things, but also (and increasingly so as it progresses) about the very worst things humankind are capable of. Some parts are the kind of horrifying that makes your bones cold, and other parts are so sad it's hard to shake the scenes off when you put the book down. I read this on holiday and was relieved and exhausted when I finished it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Colonisation

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Police brutality, Murder, and Sexual harassment

kimberlynpeterson50's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An amazingly detailed glimpse into a culture, country, and era I knew almost nothing about. See’s physical descriptions made me feel like I were walking through the villages myself, and I felt her characters’ depth of emotion viscerally. Friendship, family, and tradition are wrapped up in an immensely readable package.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

belletex's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

Very grim historical events from a personal pov. Goes from slow to very intense. I wish it had a happier ending because it leaves you feeling sad. Great book on the hole but not something I enjoyed reading or would pick up again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

cloudpine's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War

skyebird16's review against another edition

dark informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape and Colonisation

Minor: Animal death and Alcohol

franzicalzelunghe's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexual assault, Grief, Colonisation, and War