Today I have am ecstatic to share with you a review of The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, now available from Scribner! I’m a HUGE fan of this author and have loved every book I’ve read from her.
My Thoughts:
Talk about a fascinating premise, and from Lisa See, one of my favorite authors? The Island of Sea Women is captivating historical fiction at its masterful best.
On the Korean island of Jeju, women do the work of diving, while the men take care of the children. Two girls, Mi-ja and Young-sook, are the best of friends waiting for their time to be old enough to join the diving collective. With their future career comes fun and excitement along with significant danger.
Mi-ja and Young-sook are from disparate backgrounds. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, which will forever leave a mark on her. Young-sook is destined to lead the divers of their village one day when she’s old enough, as her mother and grandmother have done.
This book spans decades, following Japanese colonialism of Korea in the 1930s and 40s, World War II, the Korean War, and the present day.
Forces external to these women will test their friendship. Will their forged bond be enough to keep them from splintering apart?
Who knew these women were living this way on a tiny Korean island? I was instantly enthralled with this story and could not get enough. The characters, in true Lisa See style, are richly developed, as is the alluring setting. The backdrop of events is heartbreaking and haunting.
These women are strong, fiercely so, indomitable of spirit, capable of leading their families through hardship and strife into healing and hope. The Island of Sea Women is truly an unforgettable, indelible read.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
A new novel from Lisa See, the New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, about female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island.
Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends that come from very different backgrounds. When they are old enough, they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective, led by Young-sook’s mother. As the girls take up their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of excitement and responsibility but also danger.
Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook’s differences are impossible to ignore. The Island of Sea Women is an epoch set over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War and its aftermath, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, and she will forever be marked by this association. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village. Little do the two friends know that after surviving hundreds of dives and developing the closest of bonds, forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point.
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
Have you read The Island of Sea Women, or is it on your TBR? Have you read any other books by Lisa See? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Love Lisa See! 👍
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She’s so special, Carol!
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Wonderful review and picture, Jennifer! I read TTGOHL nd loved it. I am excited to read her new book and added it to my tbr list. Happy Monday! ❤️📚🧜🏿♀️
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Thank you, Virginia! You are going to LOVE this book. Can’t wait for you to read it. Hope you had a lovely Monday! ♥️
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I did. Thank you ☺️
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Looking forward to reading this one, Jen! Excellent review. Happy Monday! 😉💖
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It’s SO good, favorite M! I cannot wait for you to read it and tell me what you think! ♥️
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This sounds great! I love learning about different societies and ways of life via fiction – I suspect this one will be sneaking onto my wishlist. 😀 Fab review!
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Thanks, FF! This author has a way of fully immersing you in a little known culture, and I LOVE that. You may also want to try her The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. She can be heavy handed on details at times, but I think it’s because her research is SO GOOD she can’t hold back all she’s learned. I don’t mind it, but I’ve seen that pop up in other reviews.
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She’s an author I haven’t read yet. I know I know! She’s on my list. What’s your favorite Lisa See?
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You are in for a treat, Jaymi! I think The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is still my favorite, but this one is close to the top, too, and I really have loved all I’ve read. I don’t think you can go wrong.
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Popped my name onto the library hold list for this book yesterday. I am so anxious to read it now after having read your glowing review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Marialyce! I’m so anxious for you to read it, too! What a book!
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Brilliant review, Jennifer. I loved The Tea-girl of Hummingbird Lane and this sounds like another wonderful read with great female characters. The story-line sounds so good. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Thanks, Diana! I think you’ll love this one. Lisa See has this way of creating these strong stories of female friendship steeped in fascinating culture. Hope you get a chance to read it too. ♥️
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I love Lisa See and this book is definitely on my radar to read sometime. Thanks for a lovely review!
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Thank you so much, Tammy! I’m so happy to hear you are a fan of hers, too, and I look forward to your thoughts once you get to this one.
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Wonderful review Jen! It’s been a long time since I’ve read this author! I love her too and I need to get caught up on her books!! Stupid life getting in the way of my reading time!😀💜🍪
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Thanks, Sus! I hope you get a chance to read this one and some of her others. They are so nice to escape with. Hope you had a good Monday! Is that a thing? ♥️
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I’ve never heard of this author or this book, but this story sounds so good and super unique to anything I’ve read before!! Def want to read this one. ☺️
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It’s SO good, LP! This author is so consistent and she reveals little known cultures usually with female friendship as the top note. This book is glorious!
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Fantastic review Jennifer. I have only read one book of hers and enjoyed the lyrical prose, but have not read another. I think this might be the next one for me. It sounds wonderful.
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Thank you, Carla! It was SO good. I totally forgot to mention the prose. She writes beautifully, doesn’t she? I hope you get a chance to read this one. It’s so special!
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I really hope I get the chance and the time.
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Lovely review, Jennifer! I’ve heard of these women divers and was amazed at their skills.
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Thanks, Jonetta! Oh, I love that you’ve heard of them! After reading this, I definitely want to know more about them.
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This book is definitely on my TBR, I love Lisa See. My favorites are Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony In Love. Thank you so much or your great review! 🙂
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Aw, thank you, Christina! I’m so happy you are a fan of hers, too. I really need to read Snow Flower. I loved Peony, too!
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Love this author and I cannot wait to get to this, I was going to read it over the weekend but I didn’t want to rush it I want to savor it!🌹
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I hope you enjoy it, Berit!
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Lisa See is an incredible writer. I’m glad that you enjoyed this one.
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Thanks, Chrissi! She truly is! ♥️
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I’ve never read a book by Lisa See, but it seems that I’m missing out! Have you read White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht? It also tells a story about the haenyeo woman of Jeju Island and is set during WWII and the present day, and that was the first time I’d ever heard of them. It was so interesting to learn about! I had to go and research them myself…thank you, Google! I’ll definitely be adding this one. Wonderful review, Jen! Happy Monday. xoxo ♥
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Thanks, Steph! Why, yes! You are indeed missing out! This surprises me! I have White Chrysanthemum on the shelf but have not read it! Now I definitely am eager to! I want to know more about these women, too. How fascinating that both books focus on this topic.
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Crazily, I realized after looking at her on Goodreads that I own both the Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane! I knew her name was familiar, but I have no idea why I’ve not read either yet except they’ve just gotten shuffled into the TBR pile. But I’ll definitely make time to read her sooner vs later. You definitely will like WC. It’s so good. It focuses on the haenyeo women but has another storyline too that’s just so, so sad and one that I’d never heard of either as part of WWII. It really opened my eye to some history.
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Great review! I really enjoyed the book too:) was the first time I read Lisa See!
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Thank you, Anjana! I’m glad you enjoyed it, too! I’ll come check out your review!
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I’ve only read one book by Lisa See but really enjoyed it, I’ve been curious about this one. Great review!
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Thanks, Lisa! This is one of her best I think. So captivating! I can’t believe all the women went through.
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Good to hear it’s one of her best. I’ve added it to my list, hopefully I can get to it soon. 🙂
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This sounds like such a beautiful read!
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It was beautiful, Suzanne!
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Oooh….this sounds beautiful. A very different setting and premise.
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It was gorgeous, Nina, but also very dark and troubling with the events of the war, etc.
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I can imagine…
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Jennifer, I love your review of The Island of Sea Women! I borrowed the audio version from the library, thinking I’d listen to one disc per night right before going to sleep. The narrator is so enthusiastic, she goes out of her way to demonstrate how the older women speak loudly due to hearing loss. I soon concluded that listening to all that yelling at bedtime wasn’t conducive to relaxation. LOL! Now I must find another time of the day to listen to the book.
It is indeed fascinating! I had no idea this was happening on an island in Korea! I had to laugh at how the American tourists were portrayed early in the book.
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So true about the American tourists! Thank you so much for your compliment! I completely understand about the audio, and that gave me a chuckle. No one wants to listen to yelling on their audio! I hope you find a good time to listen to it and you enjoy the rest. I’ll be watching for your thoughts.
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This was the first Lisa See book I read, and I absolutely loved it! Couldn’t stop crying at the end. I get to meet her tomorrow at an author event, too!
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I hope you enjoy meeting her and so happy you enjoyed this book too!
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The Tea Girl is my favorite by far. I read almost to the end of Island of Sea Women and stopped after what felt like hours and hours of war and torture.. it just became too much for me at one point. I rated it only 3 stars and that was because I love Lisa See’s writing so much. Another author who I have just found and love is Laila Ibrahim. She writes very similar to Lisa See. I just read Paper Wife and LOVED IT! I have loved all of her books… Yellow Crocus, Mustard Seed, and Paper Wife. I just found your blog. Love hearing your thoughts!
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I loved hearing yours, too, and I understand about this one. The Tea Girl was SO good and may be my favorite too. That’s a great suggestion for Laila Ibrahim. I have Yellow Crocus and maybe Mustard Seed, too, but I’ve not read them. I will also check out Paper Wife. Thank you for the recs and for stopping by! ♥️
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