the island of sea women a novel book review

However, I could not emotionally connect to the story for the first third of the book. In addition, I liked how See explained the various historical events that impacted Korea and tied them into the story. They would continue to work even when they are pregnant.

For example, it was interesting to learn about the working habits of the haenyeo. The information that I learned while reading this book was very fascinating. Forces outside of their control ultimately push their friendship beyond the breaking point, and it is up to one of them to forgive the other.ĭon’t get me the wrong. Their friendship is tested throughout many decades starting in the Japanese colonialism period in the 1930s and 1940s up until 2008. Despite their differences, they become best friends as they dive together as part of their village’s haenyeo collective. The Island of Sea Women is about the friendship between Young-sook, who is from a long line of haenyeo (female divers), and Mi-ja, who is the daughter of a wealthy Japanese collaborator, on the Korean island of Jeju – a place where the women are the primary breadwinners, and the men stay at home. While I liked reading See’s follow-up The Island of Sea Women, I could not get into the story as much as I should have due to the over emphasis on facts. Not only would this alienate readers, but it would also cause them to not bond with the story as much.

For a brief bit, I also discussed that if the author focuses on the facts too much, then it would start sounding like a Master’s Thesis. In my review of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See, I mentioned the concept of how fiction can help connect readers to the facts.

The island of sea women a novel book review