monikattz 's review for:

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

5.0

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An outstanding novel telling of a world & culture that is quite outside the experience of readers, but the then of friendship, betrayal & forgiveness is universal. The complex story woven around the incredible diving women of Korea has deep cultural, historical & social resonances through the story of the friendship of Young-Sook & Mi-Ja. The story details the culture and commerce of the Koreans who live on Jeju Island, namely the women who make up the collective of haenyeo, women divers who harvest undersea gardens of conch, seaweed, octopus, sea urchins, abalone and more. Diving in frigid waters throughout most of the year, without air tanks, they support their community while the men tend to the babies and children, cook and laze around the village center.