Una inmersión meticulosa en una cultura fascinante en vías de
desaparición.
Conocidas por su espíritu independiente y su tenaz voluntad, las haenyeo
--mujeres buceadoras de la isla surcoreana de Jeju-- constituyen uno de
los principales símbolos culturales de este país asiático. Fascinada por
esta sociedad matriarcal, Lisa See nos brinda una hermosa y reflexiva
novela sobre los lazos de amistad de dos jóvenes haenyeo --Kim
Young-sook y Han Mi-ja-- y las poderosas fuerzas, tanto naturales como
históricas, que las rodean: una historia de amistad que continúa durante
cincuenta años, en los que la vida de las dos jóvenes se verá envuelta
en acontecimientos tan trágicos y extraordinarios como la Segunda Guerra
Mundial, la Guerra de Corea, la irrupción de los teléfonos móviles y
otros avances que traerán nuevas políticas y nuevas ideas a la isla.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"A mesmerizing new historical novel" (O, The Oprah Magazine) from
Lisa See, the bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane,
about female friendship and devastating family secrets on a small Korean
island.
Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls living on the Korean island of Jeju, are
best friends who come from very different backgrounds. When they are old
enough, they begin working in the sea with their village's all-female
diving collective, led by Young-sook's mother. As the girls take up
their positions as baby divers, they know they are beginning a life of
excitement and responsibility--but also danger.
Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook find it
impossible to ignore their differences. The Island of Sea Women takes
place over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese
colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean
War, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for the women divers.
Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught
between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese
collaborator. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will
inherit her mother's position leading the divers in their village.
Little do the two friends know that forces outside their control will
push their friendship to the breaking point.
"This vivid...thoughtful and empathetic" novel (The New York Times Book
Review) illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are
in charge and the men take care of the children. "A wonderful ode to a
truly singular group of women" (Publishers Weekly), The Island of Sea
Women is a "beautiful story...about the endurance of friendship when
it's pushed to its limits, and you...will love it" (Cosmopolitan).
