The Island of Sea Women - by Lisa See - August 3, 2020

 

 

Who would think that during this COVID era that good things would arise?

The first blessing for me is that I've been able to join our Neary Book Club meetings after missing 5 years. Via Zoom and Maureen's help, we met to discuss a new Lisa See book: The Island of Sea Women, on August 3. The author is not unfamiliar to us, as we've read Shanghai Girls, Dreams of Joy, and The Tea Girl foHummingbird Lane, all wonderful stories. 

The Island of Sea Women is about the lifelong friendship of two haenyeo women. The Haenyeo are part of sea diving collectives on Jeju Island off South Korea, which had a matrifocal society where women were the wage earners. There are still Haenyeo women today, but they are mostly seniors since younger women seek less dangerous work. This historical fiction novel revolves around women's relationships, with the backdrop of constant war either with China, Japan, North Korean, and even U.S. involvement. Their hardships were unbearable, and yet some survived. The theme of forgiveness is central to the story, and very well done.

Our second blessing is that Lisa See, the author, was able to join our meeting! Since she can't do book tours during this pandemic, she has the time to meet with book clubs! Having her present was such an honor! And she is so down to earth, wise, and humble. She told us that Bob Dylan's music helps to inspire her with his words. She told us about how she went about her research on Jeju Island. She interviewed many women, ate their food, and tried to go diving herself. She did an immense research on the history of Korea, as is apparent in her story.

She's already written her next book, though not in print yet. It's on the pandemic of 1918. I so look forward to it! And I look forward to meeting with our bookworms as long as I can...bittersweet times! Stay safe! 

Love,

Lourdes L.