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banannabaker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a very good book, the characters are intricate and complicated, the history is fascinating and the place and culture are described in beautiful detail.
However, overall I did not enjoy reading it.
The cover and the blurb are misleading - describing a story about the haenyeo of Jeju and female friendship. The book is about those things, but also (and increasingly so as it progresses) about the very worst things humankind are capable of. Some parts are the kind of horrifying that makes your bones cold, and other parts are so sad it's hard to shake the scenes off when you put the book down. I read this on holiday and was relieved and exhausted when I finished it.
However, overall I did not enjoy reading it.
The cover and the blurb are misleading - describing a story about the haenyeo of Jeju and female friendship. The book is about those things, but also (and increasingly so as it progresses) about the very worst things humankind are capable of. Some parts are the kind of horrifying that makes your bones cold, and other parts are so sad it's hard to shake the scenes off when you put the book down. I read this on holiday and was relieved and exhausted when I finished it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, and Colonisation
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Murder
watermelonexpressions's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
manseau's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
sel21's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
cleothegreat's review against another edition
4.0
‘ And on those days when we walked to the sea and found Mi-ja waiting at her usual spot in the olle, Grandmother recited common sayings in hopes of comforting us two motherless girls. “The ocean is better than your natal mother,” she said. “The sea is forever.” ‘
I didn’t know anything about Japanese colonization/American occupation/aftermath of ww2 in korea prior to reading this book so it’s safe to say that I learned quite a lot. what a heartbreaking and inspiring tale. makes me want to visit jeju. someday maybe I will
I didn’t know anything about Japanese colonization/American occupation/aftermath of ww2 in korea prior to reading this book so it’s safe to say that I learned quite a lot. what a heartbreaking and inspiring tale. makes me want to visit jeju. someday maybe I will
blazieken's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Great read! I wasn't expecting this book to tug on my heartstrings as much as it did. I think the only gripe I had was that it started a bit too slowly for my tastes, but maybe it's because I tend to read horror and thriller novels over drama/historical fiction.
Young-sook is a complex character, and I really enjoyed her point of view. The author did a great amount of research and I learned a lot about haenyeo and their lifestyle.
Young-sook is a complex character, and I really enjoyed her point of view. The author did a great amount of research and I learned a lot about haenyeo and their lifestyle.
scuba888's review against another edition
5.0
Really liked this one. I thought because of the diving women, it would be a fun light summer read, but wasn’t prepared for it to be devastatingly sad, with hard to read scenes of genocide and other horrors. Overall, a good story, and I loved the ocean themes, diving scenes, family history threads, and thought provoking gender roles & spiritual practices from the culture portrayed.
valiendo_barriga's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
kimberlynpeterson50's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An amazingly detailed glimpse into a culture, country, and era I knew almost nothing about. See’s physical descriptions made me feel like I were walking through the villages myself, and I felt her characters’ depth of emotion viscerally. Friendship, family, and tradition are wrapped up in an immensely readable package.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Police brutality, Rape, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, and Genocide
abeth380's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0