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bites_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Something that stands out from the start is that this is a matrifocal society, this means that the women are the providers for their families while the husbands and sons stay home cooking and caring for their children. The bonds that all the women have in their diving collective are unique and stronger than some blood-relations.
The story of Young-Sook and Mi-ja, her best friend, is set against the background of the political turmoil caused by the Japanese colonialists as well as by WWII and the Korean war. I learned a lot about the history of Korea from the perspective of the people in Jeju island. They suffered famine, terrible violence, deep trauma while seeing people die all around them, all while trying to continue their traditions and sustaining their families.
I'm amazed at the amount of research that had to go into this book and how, even though there was a lot of detail, things still moved forward at a great pace. The slowest parts for me were when trying to understand the political interactions between the citizens of Jeju, the Japanese colonialists, the American soldiers, and the various Korean groups that all contributed to what happened in the island.
I was taken by surprise when about 250 pages in I was just weeping because of what was happening in the book. I mean, I slowly but surely grew to love these characters but also the whole community of Jeju island and I didn't quite realize it!
I'd recommend this book because it is so well written, so well researched, and the world really needs to know about this beautiful community of women divers of Jeju island. Do be prepared for difficult and violent events and to just fall in love with the characters and the island as a whole.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
elliedeg's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
agnesg's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship
kasey_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death and Colonisation
alayamorning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Cancer
nkoedyker's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Colonisation, and War
wackly93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
pavonini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
bwwilhelm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
This book talks about the horrors of war, REPEATEDLY. Do with that information what you will. Specific trigger stuff in spoiler text.horizonous's review against another edition
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Colonisation