My favorite read for November was a The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. A beautifully written tale of female friendship and strength, the book introduced me to facets of Korean history and culture that were new to me. Mi-ja and Young-sook live on the island of Jeju, a matrifocal society where women divers are the providers for their families. Occupied by the Japanese during WWII, then later by American soldiers, the story of the island is tragic. This is not a light, feel-good story, but it is the story of resilience and the power of forgiveness.
This book is perfect for readers who like
… strong female characters.
… complex relationships between characters. (not romantic)
… reading about lesser-known historical events.
… are interested in Korean culture.
… books about tragedies or injustice.