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cmfricano's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
varenyasreddy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
5.0
The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
The book is beautifully written. I found myself trembling with the emotions the descriptions in this book threw at me. Some of my favourite lines:
"How do we fall in love? ... How different it is with friendship. 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 moment. 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."
"On land, you will be a mother. In the sea, you can be a grieving widow. Your tears will be added to the oceans of salty tears that wash in great waves across our planet."
"At the beginning of October, the hillsides climbing Grandmother Seolmundae went aflame not with another village being burned but with the fiery colors of the season. This was a reminder to us that whatever was happening between men would pass, and nature would endure with her cycles and beauty."
"We all suffered from memories. Nor could any of us forget the throat-choking smell of blood or the crows that had swarmed in great clouds over the dead."
"To understand everything is to forgive."
The book is beautifully written. I found myself trembling with the emotions the descriptions in this book threw at me. Some of my favourite lines:
"How do we fall in love? ... How different it is with friendship. 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 moment. 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."
"On land, you will be a mother. In the sea, you can be a grieving widow. Your tears will be added to the oceans of salty tears that wash in great waves across our planet."
"At the beginning of October, the hillsides climbing Grandmother Seolmundae went aflame not with another village being burned but with the fiery colors of the season. This was a reminder to us that whatever was happening between men would pass, and nature would endure with her cycles and beauty."
"We all suffered from memories. Nor could any of us forget the throat-choking smell of blood or the crows that had swarmed in great clouds over the dead."
"To understand everything is to forgive."
stephyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Grief, Gore, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, Toxic friendship, Child death, Excrement, and Genocide
Moderate: Colonisation and Rape
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
uglycovers's review against another edition
5.0
This was absolutely stunning. I read the majority of this while taking various buses in Jeju and I think the sentimenality of it added another element to it.
Regardless of that, this was clearly a highly researched book that managed to balance the facts and history of the island without it ever becoming disconnected from the plot. What really drove this book was the characterisation. I smiled, I cried, I gasped; this book was an emotional rollercoaster with each character remaining lovable in spite of some questionable actions which is certainly a difficult outcome to achieve.
I highly recommend this book even if you know nothing about the background of it.
Regardless of that, this was clearly a highly researched book that managed to balance the facts and history of the island without it ever becoming disconnected from the plot. What really drove this book was the characterisation. I smiled, I cried, I gasped; this book was an emotional rollercoaster with each character remaining lovable in spite of some questionable actions which is certainly a difficult outcome to achieve.
I highly recommend this book even if you know nothing about the background of it.
missyjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story. I enjoyed learning about the haenyeo and Jeju Island. I previously was unaware of both. Getting a bit more information on the history of the area during WWII and the Korean war was good. I had a good sense of what happened with Joon-lee a bit too early on and anticipated a good bit of the end of the book. I have enjoyed Lisa See books but was a little disappointed in this one. The parts where Young-sook was younger and remembering/recalling/retelling did not always flow well and seemed a bit choppy.
mzstarr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.25
erinbrook's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 rounded up. I could've done without the predictable and slightly cheesy ending but ooooomg this was so good. It reminded me a lot of The Nightingale. Somewhat slow to get into, but about 40% of the way into it, I was so hooked. There was so much that took place that I've never heard of. Ive been deep diving online to learn more since I finished it last night.