The Island of Sea Women: A Novel by Lisa See (English) Hardcover Book

Description: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See A new novel from Lisa See, the New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, about female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island. 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 villages all-female diving collective, led by Young-sooks 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-sooks differences are impossible to ignore. The Island of Sea Women is an epoch 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 wet suits 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 mothers 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 womens 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. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Shanghai Girls, China Dolls, and Dreams of Joy, which debuted at #1. She is also the author of On Gold Mountain, which tells the story of her Chinese American familys settlement in Los Angeles. See was the recipient of the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Association of Southern California and the Historymakers Award from the Chinese American Museum. She was also named National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Women. Review "Vivid ... thoughtful and empathetic ... necessary." --New York Times Book Review "Lisa Sees mesmerizing new historical novel...celebrates womens strengths--and the strength of their friendships." --O, The Oprah Magazine "Painstakingly researched...deft...a powerful and essential story of humanity." --The Los Angeles Review of Books "Compelling ... takes readers on a journey spanning generations -- in this case 1938 to 2008 -- as moments of cherished friendship, unspeakable tragedy and, in the end, a plot twist worthy of Raymond Chandler unfold." --Associated Press "Lisa See is a New York Times bestselling author, a thorough researcher and a wonderful storyteller. In this novel, she seamlessly weaves history, tradition and culture into a heartfelt story about love and forgiveness. Its an unforgettable read." --Toronto Star "I fell in love with the writing of bestselling and award-winning author Lisa See more than 10 years ago ... This novel introduces readers to the unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives." --Winston-Salem Journal "The most intriguing parts of the book are those that describe the lives of the haenyeo ... See reveals how perilous the work can be: One diver is almost killed by an octopus, and another drowns because of an abalone. Yet the women love the sense of freedom, competence and strength they find in the water." --Tampa Bay Times "Fascinating ... Readers will witness the fortitude of these women to transcend tragedy and find forgiveness." --Christian Science Monitor, The Best Fiction Books of 2019 "In this bittersweet novel that spans more than 50 years, Lisa See tells the story of Mi-ja and Young-sook, two best friends who live in a kind of feminist utopia on a Korean island." --Marie Claire "For centuries on the Korean island of Jeju, Haenyeo women were trained to expand their lungs and go diving on the ocean floor to harvest seafood ... Mi-ja and Young-sook are best friends and Haenyeo divers, set to follow in their mothers footsteps. But as they come of age during a tumultuous period in Koreas history, certain deep-rooted differences may tear them apart." --Refinery29, Best Books of March 2019 "This beautiful story follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, friends from very different backgrounds who are members of an all-female diving group in Korea. Really, though, the book is about the endurance of friendship when its pushed to its limits, and you (+ your BFF, when you lend it to her) will love it." --Cosmopolitan, 15 Best Books of March 2019 "Compelling...[a] story of two best friends who come from very different families, and whose bond will be tested time and time again over the years." --LitHub.com, Most Anticipated Books of 2019 "A stupendous multigenerational family saga, Sees latest also provides an enthralling cultural anthropology highlighting the soon-to-be-lost, matriarchal haenyeo phenomenon and an engrossing history of violently tumultuous twentieth-century Korea. A mesmerizing achievement. Sees accomplishment, acclaim, and readership continue to rise with each book, and interest in this stellar novel will be well stoked." --Booklist, starred review "See perceptively depicts challenges faced by Koreans over the course of the 20th century, particularly homing in on the ways the haenyeo have struggled to maintain their way of life. Exposing the depths of human cruelty and resilience, Sees lush tale is a wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women." --Publishers Weekly "On an island off the South Korean coast, an ancient guild of women divers reckons with the depredations of modernity from 1938 to 2008 in Sees (The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, 2017, etc.) latest novel.... See did extensive research with primary sources to detail not only the haenyeo traditions, but the mass murders on Jeju beginning in 1948, which were covered up for decades by the South Korean government... It is a necessary book." --Kirkus Reviews "Lisa See excels at mining the intersection of family, friendship and history, and in her newest novel, she reaches new depths exploring the matrifocal haenyeo society in Korea, caught between tradition and modernization. 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, New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things "I was spellbound the moment I entered the vivid and little-known world of the diving women of Jeju. Set amid sweeping historical events, The Island of Sea Women is the extraordinary story of Young-sook and Mi-ja, of womens daring, heartbreak, strength, and forgiveness. 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 and The Invention of Wings "I loved The Island of Sea Women from the very first page. Lisa See has created an enthralling, compelling portrait of a unique culture and a turbulent time in history, but whats really remarkable about this novel is the characters--two women whose lifelong friendship is tested during impossibly difficult times. Compelling, heart-wrenching, and beautifully written, The Island of Sea Women will plunge you into a world and a story youve never read before and remind you how powerful women can and must be to survive." --Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone Review Quote "Vivid ... thoughtful and empathetic ... necessary." -- New York Times Book Review "Lisa Sees mesmerizing new historical novel...celebrates womens strengths--and the strength of their friendships." -- O, The Oprah Magazine "Painstakingly researched...deft...a powerful and essential story of humanity." --The Los Angeles Review of Books "Compelling ... takes readers on a journey spanning generations -- in this case 1938 to 2008 -- as moments of cherished friendship, unspeakable tragedy and, in the end, a plot twist worthy of Raymond Chandler unfold." -- Associated Press "Lisa See is a New York Times bestselling author, a thorough researcher and a wonderful storyteller. In this novel, she seamlessly weaves history, tradition and culture into a heartfelt story about love and forgiveness. Its an unforgettable read." --Toronto Star "I fell in love with the writing of bestselling and award-winning author Lisa See more than 10 years ago ... This novel introduces readers to the unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives." -- Winston-Salem Journal "The most intriguing parts of the book are those that describe the lives of the haenyeo ... See reveals how perilous the work can be: One diver is almost killed by an octopus, and another drowns because of an abalone. Yet the women love the sense of freedom, competence and strength they find in the water." --Tampa Bay Times "Fascinating ... Readers will witness the fortitude of these women to transcend tragedy and find forgiveness." --Christian Science Monitor, The Best Fiction Books of 2019 "In this bittersweet novel that spans more than 50 years, Lisa See tells the story of Mi-ja and Young-sook, two best friends who live in a kind of feminist utopia on a Korean island." --Marie Claire "For centuries on the Korean island of Jeju, Haenyeo women were trained to expand their lungs and go diving on the ocean floor to harvest seafood ... Mi-ja and Young-sook are best friends and Haenyeo divers, set to follow in their mothers footsteps. But as they come of age during a tumultuous period in Koreas history, certain deep-rooted differences may tear them apart." -- Refinery29, Best Books of March 2019 "This beautiful story follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, friends from very different backgrounds who are members of an all-female diving group in Korea. Really, though, the book is about the endurance of friendship when its pushed to its limits, and you (+ your BFF, when you lend it to her) will love it." -- Cosmopolitan, 15 Best Books of March 2019 "Compelling...[a] story of two best friends who come from very different families, and whose bond will be tested time and time again over the years." -- LitHub.com, Most Anticipated Books of 2019 "A stupendous multigenerational family saga, Sees latest also provides an enthralling cultural anthropology highlighting the soon-to-be-lost, matriarchal haenyeo phenomenon and an engrossing history of violently tumultuous twentieth-century Korea. A mesmerizing achievement. Sees accomplishment, acclaim, and readership continue to rise with each book, and interest in this stellar novel will be well stoked." -- Booklist , starred review "See perceptively depicts challenges faced by Koreans over the course of the 20th century, particularly homing in on the ways the haenyeo have struggled to maintain their way of life. Exposing the depths of human cruelty and resilience, Sees lush tale is a wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women." -- Publishers Weekly "On an island off the South Korean coast, an ancient guild of women divers reckons with the depredations of modernity from 1938 to 2008 in Sees ( The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane , 2017, etc.) latest novel.... See did extensive research with primary sources to detail not only the haenyeo traditions, but the mass murders on Jeju beginning in 1948, which were covered up for decades by the South Korean government... It is a necessary book." -- Kirkus Reviews "Lisa See excels at mining the intersection of family, friendship and history, and in her newest novel, she reaches new depths exploring the matrifocal haenyeo society in Korea, caught between tradition and modernization. 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, New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things "I was spellbound the moment I entered the vivid and little-known world of the diving women of Jeju. Set amid sweeping historical events, The Island of Sea Women is the extraordinary story of Young-sook and Mi-ja, of womens daring, heartbreak, strength, and forgiveness. 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 and The Invention of Wings "I loved The Island of Sea Women from the very first page. Lisa See has created an enthralling, compelling portrait of a unique culture and a turbulent time in history, but whats really remarkable about this novel is the characters--two women whose lifelong friendship is tested during impossibly difficult times. Compelling, heart-wrenching, and beautifully written, The Island of Sea Women will plunge you into a world and a story youve never read before and remind you how powerful women can and must be to survive." --Kristin Hannah, author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone Excerpt from Book The Island of Sea Women Swallowing Water Breath April 1938 My first day of sea work started hours before sunrise when even the crows were still asleep. I dressed and made my way through the dark to our latrine. I climbed the ladder to the stone structure and positioned myself over the hole in the floor. Below, our pigs gathered, snuffling eagerly. A big stick leaned against the wall in the corner in case one of them became too enthusiastic and tried to leap up. Yesterday Id had to hit one pretty hard. They must have remembered, because this morning they waited for my private business to drop to the ground to fight among themselves for it. I returned to the house, tied my baby brother to my back, and went outside to draw water from the village well. Three round trips, carrying earthenware jugs in my hands, were required to get enough water to satisfy our morning needs. Next, I gathered dung to burn for heating and cooking. This also had to be done early, because I had a lot of competition from other women and girls in the village. My chores done, my baby brother and I headed home. Three generations of my family lived within the same fence--with Mother, Father, and us children in the big house and Grandmother in the little house across the courtyard. Both structures were built from stone and had thatch roofs weighed down with additional stones to keep the island wind from blowing them away. The big house had three rooms: a kitchen, the main room, and a special room for women to use on their wedding nights and after theyd given birth. In the main room, oil lamps flickered and sputtered. Our sleeping mats had already been folded and stacked against the wall. Grandmother was awake, dressed, and drinking hot water. Her hair was covered by a scarf. Her face and hands were bony and the color of chestnuts. My first and second brothers, twelve and ten years old, sat cross-legged on the floor, knees touching. Across from them, Third Brother squirmed as only a seven-year-old boy can. My little sister, six years younger than I was, helped our mother pack three baskets. Mothers face was set in concentration as she checked and double-checked that she had everything, while Little Sister tried to show she was already training to be a good haenyeo. Father ladled the thin millet soup that hed prepared into bowls. I loved him. He had Grandmothers narrow face. His long, tapered hands were soft. His eyes were deep and warm. His callused feet were almost always bare. He wore his favorite dog-fur hat pulled down over his ears and many layers of clothes, which helped to disguise how he sacrificed food, so his children could eat more. Mother, never wasting a moment, joined us on the floor and nursed my baby brother as she ate. As soon as she was done with her soup and the feeding, she handed the baby to my father. Like all haenyeo husbands, he would spend the rest of the day under the village tree in Hados central square with other fathers. Together, theyd look after infants and young children. Satisfied that Fourth Brother was content in Fathers arms, Mother motioned for me to hurry. Anxiety rattled through me. I so hoped to prove myself today. The sky was just beginning to turn pink when Mother, Grandmother, and I stepped outside. Now that it was light, I could see my steamy breath billowing then dissipating in the cold air. Grandmother moved slowly, but Mother had efficiency in every step and gesture. Her legs and arms were strong. Her basket was on her back, and she helped me with mine, securing the straps. Here I was, going to work, helping to feed and care for my family, and becoming a part of the long tradition of haenyeo. Suddenly I felt like a woman. Mother hoisted the third basket, holding it before her, and together we stepped through the opening in the stone wall that protected our small piece of property from prying eyes and the relentless wind. We wended our way through the olle--one of thousands of stone-walled pathways that ran between houses and also gave us routes to crisscross the island. We stayed alert for Japanese soldiers. Korea had now been a Japanese colony for twenty-eight years. We hated the Japanese, and they hated us. They were cruel. They stole food. Inland, they rustled livestock. They took and took and took. Theyd killed Grandmothers parents, and she called them chokpari--cloven-footed ones. Mother always said that if I was ever alone and saw colonists, whether soldiers or civilians, I should run and hide, because theyd ruined many girls on Jeju. We came around a corner and into a long straightaway. Ahead in the distance, my friend Mi-ja danced from foot to foot, to keep warm, from excitement. Her skin was perfect, and the morning light glowed on her cheeks. Id grown up in the Gul-dong section of Hado, while Mi-ja lived in the Sut-dong section, and the two of us always met in this spot. Even before we reached her, she bowed deeply to show her gratitude and humility to my mother, who bent at her waist just enough to acknowledge Mi-jas deference. Then Mother wordlessly strapped the third basket to Mi-jas back. "You girls learned to swim together," Mother said. "Youve watched and learned as apprentices. You, Mi-ja, have worked especially hard." I didnt mind that Mother singled out Mi-ja. Shed earned it. "I can never thank you enough." Mi-jas voice was as delicate as flower petals. "You have been a mother to me, and I will always be grateful." "You are another daughter to me," Mother replied. "Today, Halmang Samseungs job is done. As the goddess who oversees pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a child to the age of fifteen, she is now fully released from her duties. Many girls have friends, but the two of you are closer than friends. You are like sisters, and I expect you to take care of each other today and every day as those tied by blood would do." It was as much a blessing as a warning. Mi-ja was the first to voice her fears. "I understand about swallowing water breath before going beneath the waves. I must hold as much air within me as possible. But what if I dont know when to come up? What if I cant make a good sumbisori?" Swallowing water breath is the process all haenyeo use to gather enough air in their lungs to sustain them as they submerge. The sumbisori is the special sound--like a whistle or a dolphins call--a haenyeo makes as she breaches the surface of the sea and releases the air shes held in her lungs, followed by a deep intake of breath. "Sucking in air shouldnt be troublesome," Mother said. "You breathe in every day as you walk about the earth." "But what if I run out of it in the watery depths?" Mi-ja asked. "Breathing in, breathing out. Every beginning haenyeo worries about this," Grandmother blurted before my mother could answer. She could be impatient with Mi-ja. "Your body will know what to do," Mother said reassuringly. "And even if it doesnt, I will be there with you. Im responsible for every womans safe return to shore. I listen for the sumbisori of all women in our collective. Together our sumbisori create a song of the air and wind on Jeju. Our sumbisori is the innermost sound of the world. It connects us to the future and the past. Our sumbisori allows us first to serve our parents and then our children." I found this comforting, but I also became aware of Mi-ja staring at me expectantly. Yesterday wed agreed to tell my mother of our worries. Mi-ja had volunteered hers, but I was hesitant about revealing mine. There were many ways to die in the sea, and I was scared. My mother may have said that Mi-ja was like a daughter--and I loved her for loving my friend--but I was an actual daughter, and I didnt want her to see me as less than Mi-ja. I was saved from having to say anything when Mother started walking. Mi-ja and I trailed after her, with Grandmother following us. We passed house after house--all made of stone with thatch roofs. The main square was deserted except for women, who were being pulled to the sea by the scent of salt air and the sound of waves. Just before reaching the beach, we stopped to pick a handful of leaves from a bank of wild mugwort, which we tucked into our baskets. We turned another corner and reached the shore. We stepped over sharp rocks, making our way to the bulteok--the fire space. It was a round, roofless structure made of stacked lava rocks. Instead of a door, two curved walls overlapped to prevent those outside from seeing in. A similar structure sat in the shallows. This was where people bathed and washed their clothes. And just offshore, where the water reached no higher than our knees, was an area walled with stone. Here, anchovies washed in at high tide, were trapped at low tide, and then we waded through with nets to catch them. We had seven bulteoks in Hado--one for each neighborhoods diving collective. Our group had thirty members. Logic would say that the entrance should face the sea, since haenyeo go back and forth from it all day, but having the entrance at the back gave an added barrier against the constant winds blowing in from the water. Above the crash of waves, we could hear womens voices--teasing, laughing, and shouting well-worn gibes back and forth. As we entered, the gathered women turned to see whod arrived. They all wore padded jackets and trousers. Mi-ja set down her basket and hurried to the fire. "No need for you to worry about tending the fire now," Yang Do-saeng called out goo Description for Library This latest work by New York Times best-selling See after The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane takes place on Koreas Jeju Island, known for women divers called the Haenyeo, who risk their lives doing hard physical labor while the men stay home and tend the children. Here, two fledgling divers become fast friends despite obvious contrasts-Young-sooks mother is the lead diver, while Mi-ja is diminished in others eyes because her father collaborated with the Japanese. But then something big happens to test their friendship. With a 200,000-copy first printing and a ten-city tour. Details ISBN1501154850 Author Lisa See Pages 384 Language English Year 2019 ISBN-10 1501154850 ISBN-13 9781501154850 Format Hardcover Publication Date 2019-03-05 Short Title The Island of Sea Women Subtitle A Novel AU Release Date 2019-03-31 DEWEY 813.54 Audience General Publisher Simon & Schuster Imprint Simon & Schuster Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States US Release Date 2019-03-05 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:137597637;

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