Abandoned at page 75.
I really can't stick with this book a minute longer. I get it, this is a fascinating subject, and one that would be well-worth reading about. But ... how I wish Lisa See had written it as a straight history, rather than as a novel, because as a novel, it's like fingernails on a blackboard for me. (I know from my book club that I'm in the minority here, Hey ho.)
See's writing is clunky: completely uninspired and uninspiring. Short, choppy sentences are, I suspect, meant to convey the honest, down-to-earthedness of the "haenyeo" (the "sea women" of the Jeju island province of Korea). She has never seen a cliche that she doesn't like. Her characters have no inner life, they-- mothers, children, friends -- talk like they're addressing an anthropology lecture, ploddingly telling each other things that they already know.
Perhaps I should give it more credit --I know that many people have read it, and enjoyed it and hopefully come away with a better understanding of the history of these women, and their island, and the recent history of Korea. Sadly, not me ...
I really can't stick with this book a minute longer. I get it, this is a fascinating subject, and one that would be well-worth reading about. But ... how I wish Lisa See had written it as a straight history, rather than as a novel, because as a novel, it's like fingernails on a blackboard for me. (I know from my book club that I'm in the minority here, Hey ho.)
See's writing is clunky: completely uninspired and uninspiring. Short, choppy sentences are, I suspect, meant to convey the honest, down-to-earthedness of the "haenyeo" (the "sea women" of the Jeju island province of Korea). She has never seen a cliche that she doesn't like. Her characters have no inner life, they-- mothers, children, friends -- talk like they're addressing an anthropology lecture, ploddingly telling each other things that they already know.
Perhaps I should give it more credit --I know that many people have read it, and enjoyed it and hopefully come away with a better understanding of the history of these women, and their island, and the recent history of Korea. Sadly, not me ...
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
