The Island of Sea Women
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The Island of Sea Women
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Narrated by:
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Jennifer Lim
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By:
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Lisa See
About this listen
The beautiful novel of female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are best friends that come from very different backgrounds. When they are old enough, they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective, led by Young-sook’s mother. As the girls take up their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of excitement and responsibility but also danger.
Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook’s differences are impossible to ignore. The Island of Sea Women is an epic set over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War and its aftermath, through the era of cell phones and wetsuits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, and she will forever be marked by this association. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village. Little do the two friends know that after surviving hundreds of dives and developing the closest of bonds, forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point.
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
‘For centuries, women on Korea’s Jeju island have been free-diving into the sea, a practice explored through this fictionalized story of two friends who struggle to stay close amid war, family rivalries, and a shifting cultural landscape. It’s riveting, historical, and heartbreaking all at once’ Marie Claire
‘Lisa See excels at mining the intersection of family, friendship and history... This novel spans wars and generations, but at its heart is a beautifully rendered story of two women whose individual choices become inextricably tangled’ Jodi Picoult, author of A Spark of Light
‘I was spellbound the moment I entered the vivid and little-known world of the diving women of Jeju… No one writes about female friendship… with more insight and depth than Lisa See’ Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees
Critic Reviews
What listeners say about The Island of Sea Women
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sue.g
- 05-01-2022
B E A U T I F U L 🧜🏽♀️
Beautifully written,
beautifully narrated,
beautifully honest,
A Beautiful memoir.
So much respect for the Jeju haenyeo
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- PalomaLLama
- 03-03-2020
Saga Story
Good history story. Good narrator. Story a bit sappy st times. Overall, makes history come alive. Thumbs up!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrea Palermo
- 06-01-2024
Epic tale of tragedy, triumph, tradition and evolution
I find Lisa’s books build as the story and characters unfold. I’ve read three now and they have me hooked by the end every time. They are carefully crafted with lots of detail and gripping storyline’s. I’m thoroughly enjoying learning about the different cultures, traditions and history of the countries she writes about.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alberto Y Veloso
- 05-11-2023
Harrowing and beautifully human
A touching human story of some incredible women which weaves the history of the Korean War and its atrocities. It not only were these women affected by country policies and war but also by modernism and their is also a theme of change and grief within the background of this important historical novel. Highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-12-2023
Be immersed in the fascinating and terrible times in the lives of the Korean women sea divers.
It’s incredible to think this all took place during my lifetime. The speed of narration was too fast for me but at 0.8 to 0.9 of normal speed it was spot on.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 20-12-2020
Harrowing tale of friendship and war
Jennifer Lim does narrates this so well. This is a good book for those that like historical fiction. It’s quite eye opening to life on Jeju, Korea before, during and after the Korean War. This story contains quite a lot of atrocities. It’s not easy to hear it all but it’s also a story of strong women and how our own biases can get in the way of true connection.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-06-2022
Extremely interesting and satisfying read
One of those books that you never want to end. Started off as a slow burn, but became increasingly engrossing. Historical novel that gently examines many moral issues that confront us to this day. Highly recommend this book. Beautiful narration.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jo Casey
- 21-06-2022
so beautiful I cried at the end
this historical novel is so beautiful! it was written with rich details the listener is transported in time and place. When then ending came I was surprised by the truth of all the pain. This made me look at my own inability to forgive and listen to my sisters who have hurt me deeply. Every person carries reasons why they do things. Its not always explained until it is too late. I sympathise with the characters pain and I admire the strength the women had in running their village and looking after each other.
there are many lessons in this book. I might have to have a second listen to get it in my head! I'm very hard headed and justify my own anger and hurt. Do we have to wait until we are old to transform. I hope not.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Luisa Moore
- 30-10-2024
Lisa See does it again!
This was harrowing at times but also wonderful. A tale of deep friendship, trauma, loss, devastation, joy and forgiveness. Unforgettable
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ben h.
- 12-05-2021
Incredible on all levels
So incredibly remarkable story.... Couldn't leave it alone. A MUST read for any age. Heartbreaking friendship and such unconceivable loss, make sure you have tissues handy.
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