Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

117 reviews

emlee92's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.0

Although it took a while to get used to the language and cultural references, this book showed the truth of friendship, love, loss, forgiveness and grief. I learned a lot about the history of Korea through the characters and their journeys.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

raybudbury's review

Go to review page

dark emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Actually finishes the book club book before the meeting this month damn! 

This one was fine. I got a little emotional by the end as it’s about friendships and forgiveness (or lack thereof) spanning decades though I don’t know much about Jeju Island / much of Korea’s history the writing felt well-researched. I feel like I learned a lot from this book actually. The haenyeo diving and matriarchal culture and the massacre that took place on the island were new information to me. 

The beginning was slow for me personally but started picking up rapidly as the chapters (years) passed. Highly rec if you are looking for historical fiction related to Korea.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

clarke's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

1.0

I spent the vast majority of my time reading this being bored and wishing for it to end. Which I knew would be the case, but it was chosen for this month's book club read, and I'm fuelled by spite. There were some small parts I enjoyed (you can probably guess which), but for the most part every chapter felt like I knew opportunity for it to tell me things I don't care about. The other 1 star reviews have articulated this well enough that I'm not going to elaborate. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

epruta's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

katyps78's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Beautiful epic historical fiction about 2 women/friends/wives/mothers and their lives.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

palejandro's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kenny_knp's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jayneejohnson's review

Go to review page

dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

melbell016's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

This is a sad and heartwrenching story. The atrocities are nausea-inducing. But it is also a beautiful story of friendship, strength despite immense loss, courage, and the difficulty and pain of finding forgiveness. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

artemicc's review

Go to review page

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I learnt so much about Jeju’s /Korea’s history and haenyo culture from this book. really good. 

wow the relationship between youngsook and mija… and how the book was written with the flashbacks and jumping back to the present and how it all comes full circle at the end… so good 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings