A review by cassiebartelme
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

I selected this book for a reading challenge prompt of “Book set on the Beach” because I knew that it was about haenyeo (female deep sea divers). Yes you learn about the fascinating culture of Jeju’s haenyeo but it is also a book about friendship, motherhood and adapting in a modern world. This is a tough book- the political climate of the world is a huge part of this story from Japanese Colonialism, through WWII and the Korean War into the 2000s so there is a lot to follow outside of Young-sook and Mi-ja’s story. If politics and history are not in your reading wheelhouse don’t pick this one up. 
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