The Island of the Sea Women

I love to learn things from the books I read, and this book taught me so much—not only about the South Korean island Jeju, its matrifocal society of haenyeo (women divers), and its culture and traditions, but also about friendship, the horrors of war, loyalty, and grief. The Island of Sea Women is vividly imagined and deeply researched, which is apparent as we follow “sisters of the heart” Young-sook and Mi-ja from their girlhood in the 1930s to present day 2008 through the dramatic events—both personal and historical—that shape their lives and test their relationship. The story is at turns beautiful, brutal, absorbing, and raw. Females are strong as hell.