by Maggie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful voyage
March 25, 2019
Format: Hardcover
WOW! What a wonderful voyage! A voyage to Jeju Island off Korea, a voyage in time to a Korea I had no knowledge of, a voyage to visit a group of amazing, strong diving women! This is an amazing book, highly recommended!

This is another wonderful read from this successful author. Set on the island of Jeju off the coast of South Korean and spanning many decades, the story revolves around the friendship between two women who are Haenyeo. The Haenyeo are female divers who are harvest food products from the ocean by free diving, even in very cold waters. I particularly love being educated while I am being entertained and this book did such a wonderful job of that. It is certainly worth your time.

Another wonderful novel by Lisa See. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of women’s friendship, trust, secrets and survival. As with every See novel, you learn about something, in this case, women divers. Starting in 1930s, we swim with the baby divers who become best friends, and then not. Choices make changes, families are turned upside down by the war. How much can a bond can stretch, or be repaired.

The short blurb bit: Years ago I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and became enamored with Lisa See’s writing. The Island of Sea Women is a beautiful novel based on the lives of women living on Jeju Island in South Korea.

The descriptive bit: Women feature strongly in this novel. In particular, the friendship between Mi-ja and Young-sook. They grew up together on the island… but were from very different backgrounds. Young-sook is the daughter of a haenyeo and will continue in her mother’s footsteps. The haenyeo and (now world-famous) women who free dive to unusual depths to harvest a variety of creatures and plants from the ocean. On the other hand, Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator.

My thoughts bit: It’s a pleasure to read about such strong and amazing female characters. Steeped in the traditions of their world, Mi-ja and Young-sook grow up strong and independent. They have the remarkable opportunity to grow up in a unique world in which women are the providers and men are the ones who are at home parenting the children. This book follows the intertwined lives of these two women from the time they meet at seven years old for seventy years.

Friendship… love and family are the themes in this book and it’s a remarkable adventure. Interwoven throughout the story are the losses and challenges that we face as we age. In the case of these two women, some may be harsher than what most of us have to deal with.

One of the things that I love about See’s books is how thoroughly she researches her topics. I always feel as though I’m being immersed in history. This book is no exception. I found myself searching out more information about the haenyeo and their amazing abilities.

The warnings bit: Obviously there are parts of this book that are difficult to read. These two women grew up in a time of great turmoil. There is violence, extreme poverty, fear and as there always is in life … loss.

Lisa See combines extensive research into the lives of the haenyeo women of Jeju Island with a fictional story following the lives of two childhood best friends, Mi-Ja and Young-sook. The novel covers the turbulent decades of Japanese occupation in the 1930’s through WWII, the Korean war and American occupation.

Historical fiction is a favourite genre of mine because done well, fictional characters allow the reader to experience the events and eras portrayed . Through the eyes of Young-sook we experience the challenges, dangers and victories these women divers face when they begin their training as haenyeo. I was fascinated by this matriarchal society where the women dive for abalone, conch, octopus and sea cucumbers to sell at the market and provide for their families while the men tend to the children at home. I loved how the women respected their “wet work” and tended to the sea floor with as much care as they tended their “dry work” cultivating sweet potatoes to feed their families. I acknowledged the realities of a life of providing the funds necessary to educate the male children while raising daughters to continue to feed and provide for generations of Jeju islanders. I was unaware of the occupations, conflicts and political cover-ups these people endured, stories which are heartbreaking but necessary to understand a people and their struggles to provide a good life for their families.

Well done.

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

A rich and detailed story of the decades-long friendship of two women set against the backdrop of Jeju, Korea's haenyeo diver community and the nation's struggle for peace and independence. In particular, the portrayal of the hardships and perseverance of the haenyeo women was engaging and compelling. This was the first book I've read by Lisa See, but my enjoyment of it has piqued my interest in her previous titles, as well.

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. Before reading this compelling historical novel, I decided to watch Haenyeo, Sea Women of Korea’s Jeju Island on Youtube to gather an understanding of what these women were all about. I learned that this community of women, some aged in their 80s, still dive for shellfish for a living. Diving was exclusively a male profession but by the 18th century, women divers outnumbered the male divers. Gender roles were reversed. Women were in charge and men took care of the needs of the family and the children.
I opened this new novel with a greater understanding of these strong women and an appreciation for Lisa See’s research into a compelling culture I was not aware of. This book introduces us to generations of female divers’ friendships, training and families and the ugly history that shaped their lives -- these devastating historical events were essentially kept secret for years - Japanese rule, resistance and retaliation.
“The Village of Widows” was a fascinating chapter and helped me focus on the women’s life stories. It was exceptional to learn about a vocal practice the women called “Sumbisori”- a breathing technique used by whales and seals to allow them to dive deeper.
The many formidable political upheavals and the impact on the island people and the women make an emotional and enlightening novel. There is a satisfying ending.
Another classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships, support and anger as well as the external forces that shape them. Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity to read this book.

It was an interesting read but I did not find it as compelling as some of Lisa See's other books. A slow start but got better about half way through.

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See is a story of love, friendship and perseverance. This story follows the life of a woman named Young-sook, a haenyeo living in Jeju, Korea. The story begins in the 1930s and describes her life until she is in her eighties. I had never heard of the haenyeo before I read this novel. Haenyeo are female divers that are known for independence and will. Most families relied soley on the haenyeo for their income, while the men would look after the children and household duties.

I have read a number of novels by Lisa See and she always impresses me with her level detail and her commitment to fully researching her subject. What I love about reading her novels is that I always learn about a topic or event that is new to me. In this novel, she brings describes a horrific time in Jeju’s history. One of the events that Young-sook lives through is the Jeju Uprising, referred to as the 4.3 Uprising in Jeju. During this time, the South Korean army was using brutal tactics to suppress the rebellion that was taking place. According to See’s “Acknowledgements”, it is estimated that 30,000-60,000 were killed during this time with another 80,00 becoming refugees.

I think it is important that fiction writers continue to use real-life events and people as inspiration for their stories. These novels are a starting point for readers to learn more about the world around them and ensure that those who suffered are not forgotten. This novel inspired me to do my own research, learning about the history of Jeju and the haenyeo.

At times, this novel was so emotional that I had to take a break. Young-sook led such a difficult life, yet she always persevered and took care of her family. Lisa See has a gift for making us feel so much as we read her novels. The lives of the haenyeo are fascinating and I look forward to seeing what See has to offer next.

The Haenyo women of Jeju Island, south of Korea, dive and harvest food from the sea. In this matriarchal society, women like Mi-Ja and Young-Look, provide for their families. The choices made by each women through their lives are poignantly and sensitively portrayed by this author in this fine new book. Highly recommended.

I first read and looovved Lisa See's writing after reading her previous book The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. So, imagine how happy I was to get an advanced copy of The Island of Sea Women knowing I'd be meeting the author in a couple of weeks at a book event! So ... freakin' ... excited!

The Island of Sea Woman, begins in the 1930's and 40's during the Japanese occupation of Korea and the island of Jeju. Through the eyes of best friends, Young-Sook and Mi-ja, two young haenyeo, we witness the political upheaval after WWII, the atrocities committed against citizens and their desire and struggle to control their own country without interference from others.

I had never heard of the haenyeo before reading this book. But with her meticulous research, See introduces readers to these well-respected, strong and staunchly independent women and their unique matrilineal society. They are the heads of their families and the sole providers who risk their lives to fish using the methods haenyeo have used for generations while their husbands stay home to watch the kids (and apparently not much else).

While the haenyeo culture and its matrifocal way of life was interesting to witness, the story is a slower read and took me a little while to get into. I wasn't as engrossed in the modern-day story line and much preferred the earlier one and See's detailed descriptions of Korea's history. The historical info felt a little heavy at times, but having that background was important to understand Korea's struggle for independence and how that influenced the haenyeo. While some scenes were hard to read, I respect that See doesn't hold back on her descriptions detailing the horrors inflicted on the people of Jeju as they struggled under Japanese occupation and later when the US got involved.

The Island of Sea Women is a Historical Fiction novel that focuses on the lives of the unique and powerful haenyeo (a culture many people have probably have never heard of), the history of Korea (a history many people may have never learned about in school) and the lives of two friends whose tight sister-like bond is put to the test by family loyalty, hardships, loss and misunderstanding. This is an eye-opening and touching read about culture, friendship and the struggle of a nation to be
autonomous.

Favourite Quotes:

“You are a haenyeo! Never for one moment believe you are unworthy.”

"Fall down eight times, stand up nine. For me, this saying is less about the dead paving the way for future generations than it is for the women of Jeju. We suffer and suffer and suffer, but we also keep getting up. We keep living. You would not be here if you weren't brave. Now you need to be braver still."

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I made myself read 1/3 of this book to make sure I wasn't missing something that would make so many people give this a 5 star review. I just have no desire to continue reading this story. There's a whole lot about diving, mediocre "adventures" abroad (spoiler: they eat an ice cream), and lots of talk about finding husbands and having kids. I understand that I've stopped reading before the war starts, and the story may get more exciting from here, but I don't care for the writing style. Something needs to draw me in and make me want to read more. And that something should really exist somewhere in the first third of a story.
I'm glad so many others have enjoyed this book. It just was not for me.

On the island of Jeju in Korea, haenyeo are women divers who help support their families and communities through what they grow and find underwater. When they are old enough, best friends Young-sook and Mi-ja join the all-female collective for a life of excitement but also responsibility and danger. Beginning during the Japanese occupation in the 1930s and 1940s, the novel travels through time to the present to show how life changes in the community—and how the haenyeo must adapt to hardship. It also shows how Young-sook and Mi-ja's friendship becomes strained by their own pasts and outside forces.

I had no clue that haenyeo existed before this novel. They basically make up what is now called a matrifocal society. It is dependent on the women of the household as the providers of the family; there is one leader of the all-female collective, who is Young-sook's mother at the beginning of the novel. Generations of women divers go underwater daily, caring for their wet fields, making sure they don't take too much else nothing will grow in the next season.

The story is told from the perspective of Young-sook. The story is told from two chronological perspectives. One is the "historical" one, showing Young-sook as she grows up as a teenager in the 1930s and beyond. We learn about her upbringing with her parents and many siblings, and her adventures as a diver. We learn very early the dangers of diving after one accident harms a fellow diver and another results in tragedy. We also see how Young-sook's friendship grows with Mi-ja—and is later strained under terrible circumstances.

The other perspective is the "contemporary" one, which breaks up the "historical" narration occasionally and is told from 2008. Young-sook is in her eighties, still diving in Jeju, when she is approached by the descendants of Mi-ja. She refuses to speak with them, and we are intrigued to learn more about what happened between these two former best friends.

Honestly, this was a really enjoyable novel. It dealt with really complex and difficult historical issues, like the fallout of massacres and wars. There was a lot of research that evidently went into this novel, but it doesn't bog down the story. It was realistic and sometimes painful to read. Being in Young-sook's head for the majority of the novel, I definitely felt for her because she experiences so much trauma and hardship. It was very well-written overall, and I think it's a great historical novel for anyone interested in a lesser known society and a story about loss, betrayal, family relationships, and closure.

"The Island of Sea Women" by Lisa See is an extremely ambitious story about "haenyeo"(sea divers who dives into the coldest water to collect shells and abalone, traditionally in very skimpy clothes) in Jeju Island, South Korea. As a Korean, I am fully aware of the history of Jeju Island and its uniqueness (the power of women, pigs growing on human waste and live octopus eating). The book functions as a wonderful guidebook to its culture and history. However, growing up under the right-wing dictatorship I had not been exposed to the story of the April 3 (4.3) Incident until I went to the university, as the incident was not covered in any school history books. Even in the late 1980s when the democratic movement was arguably its highest point in the Korean History, the details were not publicly known. Thanks to the democratic governments (you might say left governments) in the 1990s and the 2000s, the history has recently been re-written. As not only the Korean Peninsula but also South Korea itself has been and still is struggling with the stigmatized ideas of communism/socialism and capitalism, it has been quite challenging to vie the 4.3 incident objectively. Is it a democratic movement for the Jeju people against foreign power or is it a communist rebels' movement to gain power in the Island?

Therefore, this book gives quite a detailed insight on the events surrounding the 4.3 Incident as the main character Young-sook goes through the tumultuous history of Jeju including the Bukchon massacre where her family got directly affected. Though the main perspective is provided by a Korean woman, it is worth stressing that the book is written by a foreigner. Personally I believe it will be such an emotionally charged task for any Korean writers to write about this incident so the eyes of this foreign writer Lisa See provide somewhat balanced views.

The book also covers the legend of the island, the story of Kim Man-deok, a movement against colonial Japanese occupation, the Korean War, the Industrialization and the New Village Movement in the early 1970s. The main "fictional" line is a relationship between Young-Sook, a daughter of haenyeo chief and Mi-Ja, a daughter of the collaborator for the Japanese and a wife of an opportunist. The intersecting lives between these two women are tough as the fickle sea itself. They navigate through oreum and olle and dive into perilous seas together but they cannot escape the horrible tides of the Korean history.
"The Island of Sea Women" by Lisa See is an extremely ambitious story about "haenyeo"(sea divers who dives into the coldest water to collect shells and abalone, traditionally in very skimpy clothes) in Jeju Island, South Korea. As a Korean, I am fully aware of the history of Jeju Island and its uniqueness (the power of women, pigs growing on human waste and live octopus eating). The book functions as a wonderful guidebook to its culture and history.

However, this book's central event is what drew me to this book and made me do a lot of my own research while reading this book. Growing up under the right-wing dictatorship I had not been exposed to the story of the April 3 (4.3) Incident until I went to the university, as the incident was not covered in any school history books or in any public media. Even in the late 1980s when the democratic movement was arguably its highest point in the Korean History, the details were not publicly known. Thanks to the democratic governments (you might say left governments) in the 1990s and the 2000s, the history has recently been re-written. But back until the 1980s, mentioning the Incident was a risk of getting yourself branded as "Commie". As not only the Korean Peninsula but also South Korea itself has been and still is struggling with the stigmatized ideas of communism/socialism and capitalism, it has been quite challenging to vie the 4.3 incident objectively. Is it a democratic movement for the Jeju people against foreign power or is it a communist rebels' movement to gain power in the Island?

Therefore, this book gives quite a detailed insight on the events surrounding the 4.3 Incident as the main character Young-sook goes through the tumultuous history of Jeju including the Bukchon massacre where her family got directly affected. Though the main perspective is provided by a Korean woman, it is worth stressing that the book is written by a foreigner. Personally I believe it will be such an emotionally charged task for any Korean writers to write about this incident so the eyes of this foreign writer Lisa See provide somewhat balanced views. A Korean short story called "Sun-i Samch'on", bravely dealing with the trauma of the 4.3 Incident was published in 1978, which led the writer to go through police torture. The short story got banned and that tells us how sensitive the topic was in the divided country.

Now the history is reliving in this novel by Lisa See. The main "fictional" line is a relationship between Young-Sook, a daughter of haenyeo chief and Mi-Ja, a daughter of the collaborator for the Japanese and a wife of an opportunist. The intersecting lives between these two women are tough as the fickle sea itself. They navigate through 'oreum' and 'olle' and dive into perilous seas together but they cannot escape the horrible tides of the Korean history.

The book also covers the legend of the island, the story of legendary Kim Man-deok, a movement against colonial Japanese occupation, the Korean War, the Industrialization and the New Village Movement in the early 1970s. It is a well researched. It even depicts a scene of a young daughter who was now studying in Seoul showing up in a miniskirt which was supposedly introduced to South Korea in 1967. Well done!


Personal notes:
This novel contains a lot of Korean aphorisms and some of them are different from what I have known. They might be Jeju variations (or personal variations depending on where the writer garnered from) but a few well known proverbs seem to be changed.

There are two cases of spelling inconsistency that caught my eyes;
1) Tewak needs to be taewak
2) Halmang Juseung needs to be Halmang Jeoseung.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am always impressed when an author writes on a topic or topics and I am so intrigued by the imagery and content that I want to take a break and learn more about the subject matter before continuing the story. This happened for me here both in regards to the lives and lifestyle of the haenyeo women over the years and in the fight for survival and meaning in the people of Korea during a tumultuous and dangerous time in history. I feel like I walked away from this book with a better understanding of the Korean people, culture, practices, and of the time period.

Lisa See has done it once again. She has written a skillful story that draws the reader in and invites them into the homes of the well developed characters. Here we live the stories and feel the emotions of each person as the story travels through time. In addition to a fresh storyline, Lisa See writes about women and their very dear relationships and this over all makes this book extra special.

Thank you to @netgalley, @simonandschuster and @lisasee_writer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.