|
By: GISB 016
|
2025-06-30 10:21:18 |
|
|
This read was well researched and a cultural insight into this sub culture. A view of colonisation made personal through Lisa's writing. A story of strength, resilience and survival. |
|
|
By: PUKEKO 001
|
2025-05-22 22:01:07 |
|
|
We enjoyed this study of a lifestyle so different from our own. The island women were fascinating. We realized how little we know about Korean society and were motivated to learn more. |
|
|
By: WELL 228
|
2025-03-10 12:38:21 |
|
|
|
Really enjoyable read. Group commented on how little they knew about Korea previously. Popular selection - all glad we read it. |
|
|
By: MORRI 001
|
2024-12-12 09:50:57 |
|
|
Our group loved this book, and picked it as favourite of the year. We were fascinated by the life of the 'hanyeo', and the story is set against the backdrop of the Korean War. |
|
|
By: MOTUE 006
|
2024-08-07 13:06:38 |
|
|
|
Despite being a grim hard read emotionally we found this a good book! A lot of research went into writing this interesting and educational novel about the matriarchal society of women divers of Jeju, South Korea. Also how the war separated the North from the South, and the impacts of that. Highly recommended by us. |
|
|
By: TAUR 004
|
2024-06-17 10:10:22 |
|
|
|
An insight into a unique culture and history. So well researched. Beautifully written but a heart-wrenching story. So many years of violent history that we weren't aware of. So many threads brought together in a very readable book. |
|
|
By: WELL 074
|
2024-06-17 10:06:20 |
|
|
|
Some gave it 3.5, others a 4. A very challenging read but informative in its descriptions of the life. |
|
|
By: CROMW 004
|
2024-06-06 10:29:50 |
|
|
|
Not completely read by all of the group, but appreciated by those of us who did. An era of history that none of us knew much of, if anything. Enlightening. Wonderful portrayal of relationships, difficulties in accepting that traditions are no longer respected by the young. Lessons for us all. |
|
|
By: MARTO 001
|
2024-04-29 11:18:17 |
|
|
|
We all found this story fascinating. None of us knew anything about the Korean war, and we all learnt such a lot. We had a great discussion about many aspects of the story and rated it highly. |
|
|
By: CHCH 509
|
2024-04-15 21:26:17 |
|
|
|
We loved this book - a fascinating read. |
|
|
By: CHCH 494
|
2024-03-06 11:32:13 |
|
|
|
An absorbing read. It spans an interesting period in Korean history. The island of Jeju had obviously been strategic right through Korean history. The story clearly conveys the strength and amazing skills of the women of Jeju. The underlying themes of guilt, blame, and later forgiveness, were expertly handled. A complex and well crafted story. |
|
|
By: MATAM 002
|
2023-11-28 11:54:57 |
|
|
|
Favourite book of the year. So informative and moving. |
|
|
By: NELS 043
|
2023-11-01 14:59:30 |
|
|
|
All 12 members found 'Island of Sea Women' fascinating and multi-layered, a thoroughly good read! |
|
|
By: MAST 004
|
2023-09-25 14:00:02 |
|
|
|
Beautifully written. A social history of a previously unknown part of the world. We loved it. |
|
|
By: NELS 071
|
2023-09-14 13:23:32 |
|
|
|
Everyone loved this book. We had a very lively discussion about the sad history of Korea/Jeju, and the amazing work of these women divers. |
|
|
By: CHCH 558
|
2023-09-03 15:17:02 |
|
|
|
We've all enjoyed this book. It is an impactful and informative read, with a good mix of facts and fiction. A page turner! |
|
|
By: WHAKA 017
|
2023-07-26 12:13:24 |
|
|
We all found 'The Island of Sea Women' very interesting and enjoyable. We learnt a lot about Jeju Island which no-one had known of before reading this book. Some found parts of the story very emotional. The author wove the story together very well with the main characters and the history of the island. Overall it was an excellent read which drew the reader right into the life of the lovely strong 'haenyeo' women and the tough life they led. We would definitely recommend. |
|
|
By: WHITBY 002
|
2023-07-17 07:55:46 |
|
|
|
This is one pf the best books we have read! The characters are convincing and we learnt so much about Korean history as well as their social and cultural life. The author wove an absorbing story around historical events and although this made for grim reading in parts, was a very satisfying read and definitely recommended. |
|
|
By: NELS 065
|
2023-07-10 09:29:19 |
|
|
|
An engaging book from the start, we learnt about a fascinating side to Korean culture and time in history. |
|
|
By: CHCH 298
|
2023-05-01 14:03:09 |
|
|
|
All agreed it was an amazing book. A great discussion and very in depth thoughts. One of our best books. |
|
|
By: WELL 042
|
2023-04-17 13:14:12 |
|
|
|
We all enjoyed the book - it was great to learn about the amazing lives of these women, and to understand the conditions under which they lived. |
|
|
By: TEAWA 001
|
2023-03-30 14:50:43 |
|
|
|
All learnt a lot about the state of continual wars over a long period of time. Story dragged at times. The life of the women was fascinating. |
|
|
By: WELL 082
|
2023-03-27 14:16:04 |
|
|
|
A wonderful book. |
|
|
By: WANAK 022
|
2023-03-13 11:46:36 |
|
|
|
Everyone enjoyed this book. Learnt a lot through this fictionalised history of Korea. The story of the 'haenyo' was fascinating. |
|
|
By: AUCK 071
|
2023-03-13 10:00:52 |
|
|
|
This is a fascinating book about a way of life and a country we all knew very little about. All very glad to have read it despite some very sad scenes of brutality and terrible loss. |
|
|
By: OTAKI 001
|
2023-02-25 13:49:54 |
|
|
|
A novel of resilience, survival, hope, love, loss, loneliness, prejudice, determination, strength but mostly the theme of forgiveness. We rated it 5/5 as it engendered a great deal of discussion. Well-written and incredibly well researched. |
|
|
By: MATUA 001
|
2023-01-09 11:31:50 |
|
|
|
We all really enjoyed this book and found it really interesting. |
|
|
By: WELL 213
|
2022-12-21 12:25:39 |
|
|
|
The book rated consistently highly across our group - well researched, well-written, fascinating subject matter which has generated interest in learning more about Korea. |
|
|
By: WHANG 030
|
2022-11-23 14:07:50 |
|
|
|
Had a big emotional impact on some members - stirring up personal losses. Engendered a range of emotions - frustration at the haenyeos' acceptance of their subjugation, admiration of their strength and courage, and very importantly, their certainty of their value. Everyone enjoyed the book and wept over the cruelty. |
|
|
By: INVER 001
|
2022-11-16 13:21:25 |
|
|
|
Tragic, informative and very well-written. Culturally and historically very interesting. The power of female relationships was fascinating. |
|
|
By: MOTUE 008
|
2022-10-21 12:00:50 |
|
|
|
The book generated a lively discussion about gender roles, and the politics, culture and history of Korea, as well as trying to understand the decisions the characters had made. Some found this quite a grim read. |
|
|
By: RAGLAN 002
|
2022-09-21 11:46:11 |
|
|
|
Everyone read it! |
|
|
By: THAM 005
|
2022-08-31 10:19:19 |
|
|
|
A well-researched and captivating novel. We learnt a lot about Korean history and culture. The characters were engaging and believable. |
|
|
By: WELL 120
|
2022-06-29 11:34:18 |
|
|
|
We liked the mixture of history and story. |
|
|
By: RIVER 001
|
2022-06-15 12:29:48 |
|
|
|
A fascinating story that everyone enjoyed reading. A lively discussion. |
|
|
By: TAUP 004
|
2022-06-13 11:16:55 |
|
|
|
Fascinating, informative, gripping - though political material was confusing. "I enjoyed learning about the 'haenyae'", "I loved the book", "Some amazing descriptions", "So many different layers", "Convoluted but believable". "Things happen in this book that remind you of other things". |
|
| |
