Review: The Mermaid from Jeju
The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Combining historical fiction and mysticism/magical realism, The Mermaid of Jeju is a polished debut by Sumi Hahn. Telling the story of Junja, an 18-year-old haenyeo who lives on the Korean island of Jeju, a region affected by alternating Japanese and American occupation and the growing divide among the Korean people at the end of World War II. Haenyeos are deep-sea divers and Junja's family is associated with the sea. Curious about the mountainous regions of Jeju, Junja offers to run an errand for her mother to Hallasan, to trade abalone for a pig. There she meets a young man named Suwol and the axis of her life changes course. When she returns not long after to her village along the seashore she finds her mother dead and is confused by what has occurred. As the Japanese disappear and violence and arrests increase, Junja eventually leaves Jeju with Dr. Moon, her eventual husband. Following her sudden death in 2001, Dr. Moon is plagued with confusing dreams and returns to Jeju seeking answers about the fate of those he and Junja knew, including Suwol.
This is a beautiful novel of historical fiction capturing a dangerous period in Korean history in which many were caught on the wrong side of political ideologies and occupying forces. It's made me seek out more information about Jeju and order Lisa See's Island of Sea Women to read more historical fiction set on Jeju.
The audiobook, narrated by Cindy Kay and Raymond J. Lee was beautifully produced. An affecting story...
I received a digital audiobook of this novel from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Combining historical fiction and mysticism/magical realism, The Mermaid of Jeju is a polished debut by Sumi Hahn. Telling the story of Junja, an 18-year-old haenyeo who lives on the Korean island of Jeju, a region affected by alternating Japanese and American occupation and the growing divide among the Korean people at the end of World War II. Haenyeos are deep-sea divers and Junja's family is associated with the sea. Curious about the mountainous regions of Jeju, Junja offers to run an errand for her mother to Hallasan, to trade abalone for a pig. There she meets a young man named Suwol and the axis of her life changes course. When she returns not long after to her village along the seashore she finds her mother dead and is confused by what has occurred. As the Japanese disappear and violence and arrests increase, Junja eventually leaves Jeju with Dr. Moon, her eventual husband. Following her sudden death in 2001, Dr. Moon is plagued with confusing dreams and returns to Jeju seeking answers about the fate of those he and Junja knew, including Suwol.
This is a beautiful novel of historical fiction capturing a dangerous period in Korean history in which many were caught on the wrong side of political ideologies and occupying forces. It's made me seek out more information about Jeju and order Lisa See's Island of Sea Women to read more historical fiction set on Jeju.
The audiobook, narrated by Cindy Kay and Raymond J. Lee was beautifully produced. An affecting story...
I received a digital audiobook of this novel from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
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