Reviews tagging 'War'

La isla de las mujeres del mar by Lisa See

93 reviews

zoegg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

my goodness this story. i actually dropped this book previously because i really struggled with the pacing and the lack of connection i felt to the characters in the first third of the book, but i am SO GLAD i decided to give it another chance.

this story so beautifully depicts the ebbing of trauma not just on an individual level, but across a whole community. i was so heartbroken for jeju as a whole, and for young-sook and mi-ja — it felt like there was always too much time (for more hurt) and never enough (to learn to overcome it). watching young-sook grow from a teenager to eventually be a grandma was spectacular, and i felt so connected to her at the end that i could not believe that her story ended with this book. 

if the pacing was a bit better, this would be an easy 4 (if not 4.5), but i am still so so glad to have finished this and highly recommend others give it a try :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Death, Grief, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

inkdrinkermal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I learned a lot and it was a captivating story, but it was so horrific and upsetting, and pointlessly so in many ways. I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed it, even though it was well written and educational and held my attention. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child death, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

There are several depcitions of rape and a child is brutally murdered on page. There is also a drowning that occurs on page.

aharv9's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Great book, especially in relation to the complexities of female friendships. Sometimes heavy & sad. (Check content warnings.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child death, and Domestic abuse

kanderson246's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Death, Genocide, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, Toxic relationship, and War

smstevens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Pregnancy, War, Grief, Child death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

lngoldstein's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Gun violence, War, and Rape

effortlessly_uncool's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Violence and Rape

entropyseeker's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

There's so much loss and grief in this book, but to be able to read about what happened on Jeju through the lens of haenyeo was touching, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Definitely read the tw though 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, War, Child abuse, Murder, Colonisation, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Sexual violence, and Torture

caitlinriach's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Colonisation, Rape, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Emotional abuse

nevermindmp3's review against another edition

4.0

Beautiful. I’ve been interested in haenyeo for a while now, as a female diver myself. Learning about their history and their customs through this beautifully narrated fictional story was great. Learning about Korea’s gruesome history through the Japanese occupation and the Civil War was also incredibly valuable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Child death

Minor: Rape