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cknight4's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
nikhocharm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
readingphoebe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
jenfinite's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
emilyjanethegray's review against another edition
4.0
Such a beautiful story. I love how Lisa See can really transport her readers into a totally new world. It was so interesting to read about a culture and history that I knew nothing about before. The storyline did drag a bit sometimes (my girl Lisa writes LONG books), but overall I loved it.
the_madd_hatter's review against another edition
Good book, very fascinating. but also quite sad and I was struggling to get into it. Might try it on audiobook a bit later.
zbmorgan's review against another edition
4.0
Here's the problem - I didn't love this book. Why the four stars, you ask? I could acknowledge it was a fantastic book while letting you know it wasn't for me. Was too much misery for my normal reading choices, however, there were some things about it that totally wowed me.
When I read historical fiction, I want to learn something. I was blown away by how much I learned - it felt like an independent study course on Korea in the 20th century. I had no idea they were occupied by the Japanese, what life was like in the forming of the two countries, or about the hanyeo, the women divers who push the boundaries of what any human body can survive. This was all fascinating.
I had been wanting to read more Asian-focused fiction, so having to read this for book club was a nice turn of events.
That said, if you have triggers for...well, anything, this book has rape, death, misery, abuse, and harm to children. It is essentially a book about a Holocaust, of sorts, for the island of Jeju - a Holocaust committed over many years by differing groups of people.
I also wasn't too pleased with the abrupt ending - it raised more questions about the protagonist's mindset than almost anything in the book. But the atmosphere was so good and the research so well done, I may buckle in and read more of See's work.
When I read historical fiction, I want to learn something. I was blown away by how much I learned - it felt like an independent study course on Korea in the 20th century. I had no idea they were occupied by the Japanese, what life was like in the forming of the two countries, or about the hanyeo, the women divers who push the boundaries of what any human body can survive. This was all fascinating.
I had been wanting to read more Asian-focused fiction, so having to read this for book club was a nice turn of events.
That said, if you have triggers for...well, anything, this book has rape, death, misery, abuse, and harm to children. It is essentially a book about a Holocaust, of sorts, for the island of Jeju - a Holocaust committed over many years by differing groups of people.
I also wasn't too pleased with the abrupt ending - it raised more questions about the protagonist's mindset than almost anything in the book. But the atmosphere was so good and the research so well done, I may buckle in and read more of See's work.
proseandpostre's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
nermrlib's review against another edition
5.0
I had the good fortune to read this book at the beach. I highly recommend doing so, if you can. It made the writing come alive in a new way. I had read some information years before about the sea women, but this brought them to life. Also, I learned much more about Korean history at the same time. Highly recommended.
hanna_roseen's review against another edition
5.0
Such an engrossing and heart wrenching read. I enjoyed the complex characters and the way living with the land and seasons was so well and so easily imbedded into the writing. I also learned a lot about Korean history that I was ignorant of, and am thankful for that. I highly recommend that readers supplement their reading about the events that occur in this book and the Haenyeo.
I finished this book shortly after the Israeli and Palestinian conflict began, and while I can completely understand why the Palestinians would turn to violence, and condemn the decades of occupation by Israel (while refusing to buy into any anti-Semitism), some of my first thoughts after reading of the attacks went to this book and the ways everyday people are impacted by violence, the generations of trauma it causes, and impossible decisions people are forced to make.
I finished this book shortly after the Israeli and Palestinian conflict began, and while I can completely understand why the Palestinians would turn to violence, and condemn the decades of occupation by Israel (while refusing to buy into any anti-Semitism), some of my first thoughts after reading of the attacks went to this book and the ways everyday people are impacted by violence, the generations of trauma it causes, and impossible decisions people are forced to make.