The Island of Sea Women

'Beautifully rendered' -Jodi Picoult

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The Island of Sea Women

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Jennifer Lim

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About this listen

A Simon & Schuster audiobook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every listener.

Lisa SeeJennifer LimSimon & Schuster Audio UK

20th Century

Contemporary Fiction

Fiction

Friendship

Genre Fiction

Historical Fiction

Literary Fiction

Relationships

Women's Fiction

Heartfelt

Inspiring

Tear-jerking

Thought-Provoking

Imperial Japan

Village

20th Century Contemporary Fiction Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Relationships Women's Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Imperial Japan Village

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Critic reviews

'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)

'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, the dark and the light of it, with more insight and depth than Lisa See' (Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees)

'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’

Most relevant

I absolutely loved this story. It totally overwhelmed me, with its poetic blend of traditional, conservatism contrasted with the mysterious world of shamanism. I entered an unknown world about female divers. It was beautifully narrated, and opened a window to a now lost word of female friendship, democratic working structure, and female independence..it also highlighted the pride that the haenyo took in their work. I loved the way that the sea was a key part of the background narrative, gently flowing in and out of the entire, narrative; joy and sorrow were depicted authentically, and some passages were extremely poignant. The most important part of this story is the way that friendship, loyalty, and misunderstanding causes deep pain and illustrates emotional frailty, but also remind us that love endures. I highly recommend this book. It really changed my perspective of what life is really about.