The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

Our book club met at Surinder’s  lovely home to discuss our October book  –  The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, the book was universally liked by all the attendees. Everyone agreed it was an interesting and multi-layered story, even if a few of us thought it could have been a little shorter!

The novel follows two women from Jeju Island in Korea, part of the community of haenyeo – female divers who risk their lives harvesting from the sea to provide for their families.  It was the first time for some of us to be introduced to the word matrifocal, which means that women are at the center of family and community life, even if men still hold positions of outward authority.

Lisa See brought this world vividly to life through her descriptions of the sights and sounds beneath the sea, and of the daily rhythm of the diving women. Some members who have diving experience said these details were portrayed very realistically.

Beyond its fascinating setting, the book is a powerful story about friendship, loyalty, and the ways history tests both. The relationship between Mi-ja and Young-sook is the novel’s main theme. Their bond shifts from deep trust in their childhood, to heartbreak and betrayal, then ultimately to understanding. The story unfolds during the turbulence of Japanese occupation, war, and modernization, which force them to make impossible choices between love, duty, and survival.

Themes of resilience and forgiveness run throughout the novel. The haenyeo women embody strength, endurance, and quiet defiance, challenging traditional gender roles while remaining deeply rooted in community. Through their eyes, See explores how trauma can fracture families and friendships – but also how memory and compassion can begin to heal those wounds.

All in all , a very interesting morning followed by a delicious Diwali lunch! 

Review with many thanks to Charlotte Sullivan