Lisa See’s ‘The Island of Sea women’ – inspired by the Korean Haenyeo, is a historical fiction based in Jeju, Korea, when it was a Japanese Colony. Haenyeo are female divers who represent the semi-matriarchal society of Jeju . It is a world I didn’t know had existed with Women going out to dive in the ocean and bringing home gathered food, while the Men stayed back and watched the kids. Yes!This was a reality in Jeju!! A woman’s strength and the full potential of her abilities are portrayed brilliantly in this story.

This book is set around the friendship of two Haenyeos ,Mi-ja and Young-sook , and the narrative transitions between the present and past timelines gracefully.

The story travels through their childhood experiences and adolescent adventures and then plunges into their journey as Wives and Mothers .Their friendship matures and also takes hits along the way.

The description of the 1949 Jeju Massacre in See’s writing makes a lasting impact.💫💫

This book left me with  – “To understand everything  is to forgive”