Island of Sea Women (Discussion Questions)

1. The story begins with Young-sook as an old woman, gathering algae on the beach. What secrets or clues about the past and the present are revealed in the scenes that take place in 2008? Why do we only understand the beginning of the novel only after we have finished it? 2. When Young-sook and Mi-ja are fifteen, Young-sook’s mother says to them: "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" (p. 13). How are these words of warning? The friendship between Young-sook and Mi-ja is just one of many examples of powerful female relationships in the novel. Discuss the ways in which female relationships are depicted and the important role they play on Jeju. 3. On page 17, Young-sook’s mother recites a traditional haenyeo aphorism: Every woman who enters the sea carries a coffin on her back. But she also says that the sea is like a mother (p. 22). Then, on page 71, Grandmother says, "The ocean is better than your natal mother. The sea is forever." How do these contradictory ideas play out in the novel? What do they say about the dangerous work of the haenyeo? 4. In many ways, the novel is about blame, guilt, and forgiveness. In the first full chapter, Yu-ri has her encounter with the octopus. What effect does this incident have on various characters moving forward: Mother, Young-sook, Mi-ja, Do-saeng, Gu-ja, Gu-sun, and Jun-bu? Young-sook is also involved in the tragic death of her mother. To what extent is she responsible for these sad events? Is her sense of guilt justified? 5. Later, on page 314, Clara recites a proverb attributed to Buddha: To understand everything is to forgive. Considering the novel as a whole, do you think this is true? Young-sook’s mother must forgive herself for Yu-ri’s accident, Young-sook must forgive herself for her mother’s death, Gu-sun forgives Gu-ja for Wan-soon’s death. On a societal level, the people of Jeju also needed to find ways to forgive each other. While not everyone on Jeju has found forgiveness, how and why do you think those communities, neighbors, and families have been able to forgive?

Do you think anything can be forgiven eventually? Should it? Does Young-sook take too long to forgive given what she witnessed? 6. Mi-ja carries the burden of being the daughter of a Japanese collaborator. Is there an inevitability to her destiny just as there’s an inevitability to Young-sook’s? Another way of considering this aspect of the story is, are we responsible for the sins of our fathers (or mothers)? Later in the novel, Young-sook will reflect on all the times Mi-ja showed she was the daughter of a collaborator. She also blames Yo-chan for being Mi-ja’s son, as well as the grandson of a Japanese collaborator. Was Young-sook being fair, or had her eyes and heart been too clouded? 7. The haenyeo are respected for having a matrifocal culture—a society focused on women. They work hard, have many responsibilities and freedoms, and earn money for their households, but how much independence and power within their families and their cultures do they really have? Are there examples from the story that illustrate the independence of women but also their subservience? 8. What is life like for men married to haenyeo? Compare Young-sook’s father, Mi-ja’s husband, and Young-sook’s husband. 9. On page 189, there is mention of haenyeo from a different village rowing by Young-sook’s collective to share gossip. How fast did information travel around the island and from the mainland? Was the five-day market a good source of gossip or were there other places that were better? On page 201, Jun-bu mentions his concern about believing information broadcast on the radio, "but can we trust anything we hear?" Were there specific instances when information from the radio was misleading or false? What affects how people hear and interpret the news? 10. Confucianism has traditionally played a lesser role on Jeju than elsewhere in Korea, while Shamanism is quite strong. What practical applications did Shamanism have for the haenyeo? Do the traditions and rituals help the haenyeo conquer the fears and anxieties they have about their dangerous work? Does it bring comfort during illness, death, and other tragedies? Does Young-sook ever question her beliefs, and why? 11. On page 39, Young-sook’s mother recites the aphorism If you plant red beans, then you will harvest red beans. Jun-bu repeats the phrase on page 199. How do

these two characters interpret the saying? How does this saying play out for various characters? 12. At first it would seem that the visit of the scientists to the island is a digression. What important consequences does the visit have for Young-sook and the other haenyeo? 13. The aphorism "Deep roots remain tangled underground," is used to describe Young-sook’s and Mi-ja’s friendship, and it becomes especially true when it’s revealed that their children, Joon-lee and Yo-chan, are getting married. How else does this aphorism manifest itself on Jeju, especially in the context of the islanders’ suffering and shared trauma? Do you think it’s true that we cannot remove ourselves from the connections of our pasts? 14. On page 120, Young-sook’s mother-in-law, Do-Saeng, says, "There's modern, and then there's tradition." How does daily life on Jeju change between 1938 and 2008? Discuss architecture, the arrival of the scientists and the studies they conduct, the introduction of wet suits and television and other changes. How does Young-sook reconcile her traditional haenyeo way of life with the encroaching modern world? Do you think it’s possible to modernize without sacrificing important traditional values? 15. The characters have lived through Japanese colonialism, the Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the Korean War, the 4.3 Incident, and the Vietnam War. How do these larger historic events affect the characters and island life? 16. Mi-ja's rubbings are critical to the novel. How do they illustrate the friendship between Mi-ja and Young-sook? How do they help Young-sook in her process of healing?

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Island of Sea Women (About the Author)

• Birth—February 18, 1955 ​ • Where—, France ​ • Education—B.A., Loyola Marymount University ​ • Currently—lives in , California ​

Lisa See is an American writer and novelist. Her Chinese-American family (See has one Chinese great-grandparent) has had a great impact on her life and work. Her books include : The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My ​ Chinese-American Family (1995) and the novels (1997), ​ ​ ​ ​ (1999), (2003), Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2005), Peony in ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Love (2007), (2009), which made it to the 2010 New York Times ​ ​ ​ ​ bestseller list, and (2014). ​ ​ Flower Net, The Interior, and Dragon Bones make up the Red Princess mystery ​ ​ ​ series. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and focus on the lives of ​ ​ ​ ​ Chinese women in the 19th and 17th centuries respectively. Shanghai Girls ​ chronicles the lives of two sisters who come to Los Angeles in arranged marriages and face, among other things, the pressures put on Chinese-Americans during the anti-Communist mania of the 1950s. See published a sequel titled . ​ ​ Writing under the pen name Monica Highland, See, her mother , and John Espey, published three novels: Lotus Land (1983), 110 Shanghai Road (1986), ​ ​ ​ ​ and Greetings from Southern California (1988). ​ ​ Biography was born in Paris but has spent many years in Los Angeles, especially Los Angeles Chinatown. Her mother, Carolyn See, is also a writer and novelist. Her autobiography provides insight into her daughter's life. Lisa See graduated with a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University in 1979.

See was West Coast correspondent for Publishers Weekly (1983–1996); has ​ ​ written articles for Vogue, Self, and More; has written the libretto for the opera based on On Gold Mountain, and has helped develop the Family Discovery Gallery ​ ​ for the Autry Museum, which depicts 1930s Los Angeles from the perspective of her father as a seven-year-old boy. Her exhibition On Gold Mountain: A Chinese ​ American Experience was featured in the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, and ​ the Smithsonian. See is also a public speaker. She has written for and led in many cultural events emphasizing the importance of Los Angeles and Chinatown. Among her awards and recognitions are the Organization of Chinese Americans Women's 2001 award as National Woman of the Year and the 2003 History Makers Award presented by the Chinese American Museum. See has served as a Los Angeles City Commissioner.

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Island of Sea Women (Reviews)

“Vivid ... thoughtful and empathetic ... necessary." New York Times Book Review “Lisa See’s mesmerizing new historical novel celebrates women’s … strengths—and the strength of their friendships.” O, The Oprah Magazine "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. It’s 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 "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 it's pushed to its limits, and you (+ your BFF, when you lend it to her) will love it." Cosmopolitan, 15 Best Books of March 2019 ​

“Painstakingly researched deft a powerful and essential story of humanity.” … … The Los Angeles Review of Books “A stupendous multigenerational family saga, See’s 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. See's 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, See’s 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 See's (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

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Island of Sea Women (Enhancements)

The Island of Sea Women tells the story of 80 years of female friendship. Lisa ​ See’s new book introduces us to two young girls, Young-sook and Mi-ja, living on the island of Jeju in Korea. They become best friends as they train and join an ancient collective of all-female divers called the haenyeo. But as the years go on, Young-sook and Mi-ja must face the harsh realities of their respective lives, which draw them both closer together and further apart. The story behind “Sea Women” ​ The haenyeo, “sea women” in Korean, are real people who have provided for ​ ​ their families for millennia by diving to catch seafood they can sell. Though diving ​ up to 30 feet deep, they don’t use underwater breathing aids. They dig up sea creatures from the ocean floor by hand and bring them to the surface. This incredible practice has been going on for thousands of years, and the diving ​ ​ tradition of the haenyeo continues to be passed down to new generations of ​ ​ women. See conducted hands-on research to learn more about the haenyeo, including ​ ​ visiting Jeju and meeting the women themselves. Impressed by the extraordinary ​ individuals she met, See told Korea Joongang Daily: “I was surprised to see ​ ​ haenyeo diving way deeper than I expected. I was inspired by their tolerant and sacrificing spirit, which led them to dive into the sea in spite of the great risk, just to feed their families.”

The sea women of Jeju For centuries, female divers on a South Korean island have made their living by harvesting seaweed. The women, some in their eighties, talk about a tradition that could soon be consigned to the past. Traditionally a job handed down from mother to daughter, haenyeo life has been shunned in recent decades by nearly all the girls born in Jeju’s seaside villages, who have tended to favour more comfortable lives in the island’s two cities or on the mainland. From more than 14,000 in the 1970s, the number of haenyeo has dwindled to fewer than 4,500 today. The vast majority are aged over 50, with the oldest in their nineties. But, despite their age, they continue to perform feats beyond most women in their twenties — diving to depths of up to 20m, holding their breath for as long as two minutes at a time. “These could be the last of the haenyeo,” says Kim Hong-chul, who manages a diving association in the village of Jongdal-ri. “The haenyeo you see today had no education, no choice but to do that job. But now the young women want to do different things. It’s a real problem for our community.” The haenyeo have become emblematic of a distinctive culture of which islanders are fiercely proud — and which is acknowledged by mainlanders, who commonly complain that the strong Jeju dialect is virtually another language. The complex relationship between the two reached a horrific low point between 1948 and 1954, when Seoul’s ruthless response to a leftwing rebellion on Jeju wiped out about a tenth of the island’s population.

https://www.bookbub.com/blog/lisa-see-new-book-the-island-of-sea-women https://www.ft.com/content/e1ec5434-50f8-11e5-b029-b9d50a74fd14