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A review by debbiewakefield10
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
5.0
My mom recommended this book to me and it seemed interesting so I gave it a try. From the way she described the book, I was picturing an easy going read about mermaid like women working together on an island. The book sort of starts out this way but that’s absolutely not what this book is. Pretty early on, a character has an accident and that seems to start the snowball of misfortunes. This book is gut wrenching, heart breaking, unbelievable historical fiction. The story follows the main character from childhood to almost death, focusing on her friendship and later hatred toward her close friend. It also tells how her life and her island evolve over the years.
I listened to this as an audiobook while cross stitching and driving. Several parts had me almost crying, gasping out loud and talking to the narrator. The book pulls you in.
I don’t know anything about Asian history besides what little was covered in high school world history classes. I knew very little about Japan and Korea. So I was pretty disturbed that this was historical fiction and not fiction.
It’s a long read and very heavy but a powerful story nonetheless. I’m glad I read it.
Words from Rahna Reiko Rizzuto that I echo, from a much better review than mine:
“The Island of Sea Women uses the impact of war on women and children to enable the reader to experience the ways in which colonialism, empire-building, and nationalism destroy communities and countries, but the deeper story is about how hatred is manufactured, and how fear can turn otherwise compassionate people against each other when their own lives are threatened. “
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-impact-of-war-lisa-sees-the-sea-island-of-women/
I listened to this as an audiobook while cross stitching and driving. Several parts had me almost crying, gasping out loud and talking to the narrator. The book pulls you in.
I don’t know anything about Asian history besides what little was covered in high school world history classes. I knew very little about Japan and Korea. So I was pretty disturbed that this was historical fiction and not fiction.
It’s a long read and very heavy but a powerful story nonetheless. I’m glad I read it.
Words from Rahna Reiko Rizzuto that I echo, from a much better review than mine:
“The Island of Sea Women uses the impact of war on women and children to enable the reader to experience the ways in which colonialism, empire-building, and nationalism destroy communities and countries, but the deeper story is about how hatred is manufactured, and how fear can turn otherwise compassionate people against each other when their own lives are threatened. “
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-impact-of-war-lisa-sees-the-sea-island-of-women/