An amazing read. This is my favorite type of historical fiction – a book where I get to immerse myself in characters’ lives and the plot, while also learning about a specific time and place in history in a way that provides broader context. (Am I describing all historical fiction? Maybe. But this story was particularly great.)
The book is set primarily on Jeju Island in South Korea, and starts in the early 1900s when Korea was a colony of Japan and subject to cultural and economic suppression by the colonial government. At the end of World War II, Korea was partitioned between the Soviets and the Americans, and the Americans installed an aggressive far-right (anti-Communist) government in South Korea. The new government was a brutal presence on Jeju Island and killed tens of thousands of people – likely supported by the Americans – during what is referred to as the 4.3 Incident.
The main characters are two women who are haenyeo – a group of women-only free divers who harvest shellfish, octopus, and other sea life off the coast of the island. The haenyeo are extremely cool: they train from childhood to dive deep underwater, with no diving gear, and they are the main economic providers for their families. They live through colonialism, the war, and beyond.
I think the book is fundamentally exploring the deep love between these two women who are best friends, even if they are separated for much of their lives. I also really enjoyed their deep connection to the ocean.
