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leahcatreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
nlindskog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
siaeme12's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Well researched and informative, in a highly respectful manner, both in regards to the history of the haenyeo and the history of Jeju/Korea. Heartbreaking and yet full of strength, healing and intergenerational growth, this book detailed intense friendships and community ties amid deeply traumatic events (both things they could control and things they couldn't). I couldn't look away
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
kharlan3's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
zezeki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
thatsssorachael's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism and Sexual content
davschi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Rape, and Blood
halkid2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
It’s a novel about deep human themes like anger and forgiveness, love and loss, and the enduring strength of a matriarchal society on the small island of Jeju, off the southern coast of Korea.
The book spans the 70 years between 1938, when Japan occupied Korea, to 2008, — focusing on the relationship between two friends across the decades. Mi-ja and Young-sook meet as children. As close as sisters, they weather all kinds of hardship including World War II, the Korean War, the 4.3 Incident and the loss of many of the traditional ways of Korean life they respect and honor. Along the way readers discover the country’s internal struggle for independence, a not very flattering picture of post World War II United States control of South Korea, and the mysteries of the revered but outlawed practices of Shamanism.
Both Mi-ja and Young-sook are also members of an elite group known as haenyeo, revered women divers who risk danger and extreme cold to free dive for octopus, sea urchin, and abalone. Exploring their closeness, training, and skill behind this group was a revelation. It’s a story with lots of drama.
Lisa See’s deep and thorough research (detailed in the end Acknowledgments) is skillfully woven throughout the novel. And I found THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN held together well despite the disparate topics and events covered. Highly recommended.
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Violence
kmetzing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Pregnancy
bessadams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape
Minor: Cancer and Suicidal thoughts