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The Mermaid from Jeju
In the tradition of Yangsze Choo's Night Tiger and Min Jin Lee's Pachinko comes a magical saga that explores what it really means to love.
In the aftermath of World War II, Goh Junja is a girl just coming into her own. She is the latest successful deep sea diver in a family of strong haenyeo. Confident she is a woman now, Junja urges her mother to allow her to make the Goh family's annual trip to Mt. Halla, where they trade abalone and other sea delicacies for pork. Junja, a sea village girl, has never been to the mountains, where it smells like mushrooms and earth, and it is there she falls in love with a mountain boy Yang Suwol, who rescues her after a particularly harrowing journey. But when Junja returns one day later, it is just in time to see her mother take her last breath, beaten by the waves during a dive she was taking in Junja's place.
Spiraling in grief, Junja sees her younger siblings sent to live with their estranged father, Suwol is gone, the ghost of her mother haunts their home--from the meticulously tended herb garden that has now begun to sprout weeds, to the field where their bed sheets are beaten. She has only her grandmother and herself. But the world moves on without Junja.
The political climate is perilous. Still reeling from Japan's forced withdrawal from the peninsula, Korea is forced to accommodate the rapid establishment of US troops, and her grandmother, who lived through the Japanese invasion that led to Korea's occupation understands the signs of danger all too well. When Suwol is arrested for working with and harboring communists, and the perils of post-WWII overtake her homelands, Junja must learn to navigate a tumultuous world unlike anything she's ever known.
In the aftermath of World War II, Goh Junja is a girl just coming into her own. She is the latest successful deep sea diver in a family of strong haenyeo. Confident she is a woman now, Junja urges her mother to allow her to make the Goh family's annual trip to Mt. Halla, where they trade abalone and other sea delicacies for pork. Junja, a sea village girl, has never been to the mountains, where it smells like mushrooms and earth, and it is there she falls in love with a mountain boy Yang Suwol, who rescues her after a particularly harrowing journey. But when Junja returns one day later, it is just in time to see her mother take her last breath, beaten by the waves during a dive she was taking in Junja's place.
Spiraling in grief, Junja sees her younger siblings sent to live with their estranged father, Suwol is gone, the ghost of her mother haunts their home--from the meticulously tended herb garden that has now begun to sprout weeds, to the field where their bed sheets are beaten. She has only her grandmother and herself. But the world moves on without Junja.
The political climate is perilous. Still reeling from Japan's forced withdrawal from the peninsula, Korea is forced to accommodate the rapid establishment of US troops, and her grandmother, who lived through the Japanese invasion that led to Korea's occupation understands the signs of danger all too well. When Suwol is arrested for working with and harboring communists, and the perils of post-WWII overtake her homelands, Junja must learn to navigate a tumultuous world unlike anything she's ever known.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 8, 2020
About the author
Sumi Hahn
2 books97 followersStories are like trees. Some of them hunch, tangled and gnarled, while others stand erect and straight. But all of them reach for the sky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 641 reviews
January 20, 2021
I loved how unique The Mermaid from Jeju is. Junja is a very interesting and complex character. Hahn did a great job expressing Junja’s emotions. The past and present storylines were interesting. The reader learns more about Jeju from the present day through her husband’s perspective when he visits Jeju Island. Junja’s grandmother is a very important character. She is strict and has strong ideals. She also believes in magic and the power of dreams. This was my first book reading about Korea post World War II which was an interesting time period. The Mermaid from Jeju was original and beautifully written.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cindy Kay and Raymond Lee and thought they did a good job.
Thank you Alcove Press, Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media, Libro.fm and NetGalley for The Mermaid from Jeju.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cindy Kay and Raymond Lee and thought they did a good job.
Thank you Alcove Press, Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media, Libro.fm and NetGalley for The Mermaid from Jeju.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
October 14, 2020
Simply stated: The Mermaid from Jeju is down-right magical book. Set part in present day America and part in postwar Korea, it is equal parts history lesson and fairy tale. Beautifully rendered, with language that sweeps you away to the little island of Jeju, you find yourself longing to visit the isle and its naturally rugged beauty of the past.
The book is told in two parts, with Part One being told mostly from the point of view of our leading lady Junja. The reader becomes so absorbed in the rich story telling that when reaching Part Two, which switches gears to Junja’s husband’s point of view, it is almost disorienting. But author Sumi Hahn deftly weaves the two halves of the novel together like fine embroidery, gently looping and back-stitching and connecting each character and piece of the story together into a mesmerizing tapestry.
A rock-solid debut that portends amazing things to come from Ms. Hahn. Highly-recommended, this novel is a great choice for book club readers – a tale so deeply atmospheric that it will linger well after it’s finished, much in the vein David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars.
The Mermaid of Jeju is available December 8th in hardcover or Kindle, and audio CD from Alcove Press, a recently-launched imprint of Crooked Lane Books that specializes in book club fiction.
A big thank you to Sumi Hahn, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
#TheMermaidFromJeju
#AlcovePress
#CrookedLaneBooks
#NetGalley
The book is told in two parts, with Part One being told mostly from the point of view of our leading lady Junja. The reader becomes so absorbed in the rich story telling that when reaching Part Two, which switches gears to Junja’s husband’s point of view, it is almost disorienting. But author Sumi Hahn deftly weaves the two halves of the novel together like fine embroidery, gently looping and back-stitching and connecting each character and piece of the story together into a mesmerizing tapestry.
A rock-solid debut that portends amazing things to come from Ms. Hahn. Highly-recommended, this novel is a great choice for book club readers – a tale so deeply atmospheric that it will linger well after it’s finished, much in the vein David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars.
The Mermaid of Jeju is available December 8th in hardcover or Kindle, and audio CD from Alcove Press, a recently-launched imprint of Crooked Lane Books that specializes in book club fiction.
A big thank you to Sumi Hahn, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
#TheMermaidFromJeju
#AlcovePress
#CrookedLaneBooks
#NetGalley
January 18, 2021
(audio review copy from Libro.fm) I feel like my opinion of this book was completely influenced by my love of the book “The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See. I saw “mermaid” and “Jeju” and wanted to read another book about the haenyeo of Jeju! After reading See’s book I did a major nonfiction deep dive (I’m sorry I couldn’t help it ) into the topic and was so fascinated.
Okay, now to THIS book. I listened to it and liked the female narrator, but not the male. I was all in on the story for the first 75%, despite it not actually being about haenyeo besides as a background item. And then. And then for me it all fell completely apart and I got lost listening and also couldn’t make myself care about any of the ghost and shaman stuff. I just felt like there were two books in the author’s head and they didn’t get meshed together well enough - I want the right ending for the first part of the book! The author’s note tells why she went where she did, but I feel better editing could have brought it all together in a more satisfying and logical way.
There are lots of books out there about Korea, many many more than I’ve ever read and there are many people more suited to recommend them than I am. However, two I enjoyed more than this one are Pachinko and The Island of Sea Women.
Okay, now to THIS book. I listened to it and liked the female narrator, but not the male. I was all in on the story for the first 75%, despite it not actually being about haenyeo besides as a background item. And then. And then for me it all fell completely apart and I got lost listening and also couldn’t make myself care about any of the ghost and shaman stuff. I just felt like there were two books in the author’s head and they didn’t get meshed together well enough - I want the right ending for the first part of the book! The author’s note tells why she went where she did, but I feel better editing could have brought it all together in a more satisfying and logical way.
There are lots of books out there about Korea, many many more than I’ve ever read and there are many people more suited to recommend them than I am. However, two I enjoyed more than this one are Pachinko and The Island of Sea Women.
August 18, 2021
3/5stars
I know a lot of people will (and have) loved this but it wasn't totally my cup of tea. I feel like I'm VERY picky with historical fiction and I honestly have come to hate the trope of "some of it's told in the past and some is present day" - I find it a bit gimmicky at this point. I also expected this to be a bit more magical. But overall it was a bit slow, a bit on the boring side BUT the story was very interesting and unique.
I know a lot of people will (and have) loved this but it wasn't totally my cup of tea. I feel like I'm VERY picky with historical fiction and I honestly have come to hate the trope of "some of it's told in the past and some is present day" - I find it a bit gimmicky at this point. I also expected this to be a bit more magical. But overall it was a bit slow, a bit on the boring side BUT the story was very interesting and unique.
January 19, 2023
this was interesting but also boring at the same time?
November 18, 2021
Arkadya Yayınları'ndan çıkacak olan yeni çevirimin sonuna geldim. :)
Normalde Uzak Doğu kültürü, dizileri, filmleri, şarkıları vs. pek ilgimi çekmez ama bu kitap beni çok derinden etkiledi.
Özellikle ikinci yarısını çevirirken bazı yerlerde ekranı görmekte zorlandığımı söyleyebilirim. 😢
Umarım siz de İkinci Dünya Savaşı sonrasında Jeju Adası'nda geçen, Junja adlı haenyeo'nun aşkla, cesaretle, kayıplarla ve yeni başlangıçlarla dolu bu büyülü hikayesini en az benim kadar seversiniz.
Normalde Uzak Doğu kültürü, dizileri, filmleri, şarkıları vs. pek ilgimi çekmez ama bu kitap beni çok derinden etkiledi.
Özellikle ikinci yarısını çevirirken bazı yerlerde ekranı görmekte zorlandığımı söyleyebilirim. 😢
Umarım siz de İkinci Dünya Savaşı sonrasında Jeju Adası'nda geçen, Junja adlı haenyeo'nun aşkla, cesaretle, kayıplarla ve yeni başlangıçlarla dolu bu büyülü hikayesini en az benim kadar seversiniz.
August 23, 2020
What a journey this book was! This is the story of Junja, a haenyeo (an elite group of female deep sea divers) who lives on the Korean island of Jeju. It has a little of everything - action, suspense, magic, but above all - love. I was sucked in from the first chapter and how wonderful it was to have such a good book in my hands that I was sad when it became too late to finish reading.
I felt for all the characters, especially Peanut. If you enjoy historical fiction, Asian history, Korean culture, or just a great story, check this one out. You won't regret it and you'll even learn some Korean! Now I'm off to go learn more about the haenyeo.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Boss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I felt for all the characters, especially Peanut. If you enjoy historical fiction, Asian history, Korean culture, or just a great story, check this one out. You won't regret it and you'll even learn some Korean! Now I'm off to go learn more about the haenyeo.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Boss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2020
2.5 stars
The first time I saw this beautiful cover on Goodreads, I was instantly curious about this book and when I saw the audiobook on Netgalley, I knew it was the perfect chance to find out what this book was about. In it, you'll follow a girl named Junja after World War II. It's set in the Jeju island off the coast of South Korea. However, this book is set in the past but also in the present.
I wish I could say I fell in love with this story but unfortunately, I feel like I wasn't smart enough for it and that my mind didn't always understood what was going on. I was lost most of the time but it's a me problem and not a book problem... I really wanted to love this one but ultimately, my enjoyment wasn't there.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
The first time I saw this beautiful cover on Goodreads, I was instantly curious about this book and when I saw the audiobook on Netgalley, I knew it was the perfect chance to find out what this book was about. In it, you'll follow a girl named Junja after World War II. It's set in the Jeju island off the coast of South Korea. However, this book is set in the past but also in the present.
I wish I could say I fell in love with this story but unfortunately, I feel like I wasn't smart enough for it and that my mind didn't always understood what was going on. I was lost most of the time but it's a me problem and not a book problem... I really wanted to love this one but ultimately, my enjoyment wasn't there.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
November 10, 2022
tragic but it strikes deep
— 4.0 —
— 4.0 —
October 23, 2020
*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.
The Mermaid from Jeju isn't a fantasy novel. Instead, it's historical fiction, telling the tale of one of the divers from Jeju and her involvement during the aftermath of the war. Interspersed with legends, it follows through dual timelines that have her present as a teenager and her husband reliving his past in the future.
Junja I liked as a character. While she was still young and naive about most of the world around her, she tried to do what was right for her family. Her grandmother too was interesting, and I would dare say a stronger personality than she herself. The other part of the book, from her husband's eyes, was not quite as strong, although he was living in memory, he seemed to be a more timid person throughout his entire life. Really, the standout character was Lee; probably the bravest and cleverest, he and Junja's grandmother's intrigues were what caught my attention in this book.
I admit, I did not like the dual timelines in this one. It made the book disjointed and hard to follow at times, because I was trying to reconcile what I was learning in both with the other. And then there were just a lot of parts left out. like Junja's life in between her diving and her husband's recollections of her in America. I think there was probably a lot of character development there that was missed out on. The ending too, I re-read several times just to understand what was happened and when it merged into legend I was left feeling like I still didn't quite understand the resolution. I don't know that I'm saying this should have been a longer book; but I think there was a lot that was crammed into here and could have been explored further to leave it feeling more complete.
Nice premise, subject matter, and some intriguing characters; but a little too all over the place for me.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
The Mermaid from Jeju isn't a fantasy novel. Instead, it's historical fiction, telling the tale of one of the divers from Jeju and her involvement during the aftermath of the war. Interspersed with legends, it follows through dual timelines that have her present as a teenager and her husband reliving his past in the future.
Junja I liked as a character. While she was still young and naive about most of the world around her, she tried to do what was right for her family. Her grandmother too was interesting, and I would dare say a stronger personality than she herself. The other part of the book, from her husband's eyes, was not quite as strong, although he was living in memory, he seemed to be a more timid person throughout his entire life. Really, the standout character was Lee; probably the bravest and cleverest, he and Junja's grandmother's intrigues were what caught my attention in this book.
I admit, I did not like the dual timelines in this one. It made the book disjointed and hard to follow at times, because I was trying to reconcile what I was learning in both with the other. And then there were just a lot of parts left out. like Junja's life in between her diving and her husband's recollections of her in America. I think there was probably a lot of character development there that was missed out on. The ending too, I re-read several times just to understand what was happened and when it merged into legend I was left feeling like I still didn't quite understand the resolution. I don't know that I'm saying this should have been a longer book; but I think there was a lot that was crammed into here and could have been explored further to leave it feeling more complete.
Nice premise, subject matter, and some intriguing characters; but a little too all over the place for me.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
August 10, 2020
This book had me from beginning to end. The middle and end had me holding my breath and on the edge of my seat. I learned not only some new Korean terms, thanks to the definitions at the back of the book, but also a little history and insight into these amazing Haenyeo women. I had a little knowledge of these amazing divers as a close friend’s mother was one of them, but this book really brought these women to life for me in a new way. It wasn’t just about these women divers, but about their strength to take care of their own and survive. The hardships Korea faced after World War II were stories I don’t know and this book brought them to life. I felt for these characters, even as they are fictional they felt very real. I enjoyed reading about their gods and how they pray, give offerings, and honor their deceased. Korea has so many wonderful stories and the author did a fantastic job weaving them throughout. I was hungry for more books about Haenyeo women, Korean history, and above all kimbop. This wasn’t a funny story but uplifting in a different way. It took me out of my own life and on an adventure somewhere else with different food, scenery, and faith.
October 24, 2020
What a magical post WWII story of bravery, love, loss, and redemption, set among the beautiful landscape of Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea during a very tumultuous time in Jeju’s history. A story of a brave haenyeo girl and a rebel native she meets on Hallasan Mountain.
Having previously loved The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See and being somewhat familiar with this conflict, I was anxious to read this story. I was not disappointed! An amazing 5 stars for this beautifully woven mystic tale!
*Special thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Sumi Hahn for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
Having previously loved The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See and being somewhat familiar with this conflict, I was anxious to read this story. I was not disappointed! An amazing 5 stars for this beautifully woven mystic tale!
*Special thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Sumi Hahn for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
August 18, 2021
Goh Junja is a deep sea diver, like her mother and grandmother. The Korean women are haenyeo and they dive for seaweed and abalone. Her mother sends Junja to the mountains to collect a pig, here she meets a boy called Yang Suwol and life in the mountains is very different to how she lives simply by the sea.
When she returns home the next day her mother is dead, her grandmother tells her died in the sea and this isn’t true she was beaten. Junja younger siblings Jin and Gongjo go to live with their father and she stays behind with her grandmother. Junja feels her mother’s spirit is still with her and she sees her as a ghost. Korea is still getting over the Japanese invasion during WW II and the American army arrive and it’s a time of civil unrest. Suwol’s family’s compound in the mountains is bombed, people are killed and it’s a dangerous time to live in Korea.
Junja escapes Korea, she moves to America, marries Dr Moon and has two daughters. When she passes away, Dr Moon returns to Korea to make peace with his past, find out what happened to Suwol and free Junja's spirit.
The Mermaid From Jeju is a magical tale, it’s made up of ghosts and spirits. Some of the story is set in real life, and to be honest I had trouble following the plot and it didn’t make whole lot of sense to me. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy, I don’t read magical realism and it could be why I struggled with the book and three stars from me.
When she returns home the next day her mother is dead, her grandmother tells her died in the sea and this isn’t true she was beaten. Junja younger siblings Jin and Gongjo go to live with their father and she stays behind with her grandmother. Junja feels her mother’s spirit is still with her and she sees her as a ghost. Korea is still getting over the Japanese invasion during WW II and the American army arrive and it’s a time of civil unrest. Suwol’s family’s compound in the mountains is bombed, people are killed and it’s a dangerous time to live in Korea.
Junja escapes Korea, she moves to America, marries Dr Moon and has two daughters. When she passes away, Dr Moon returns to Korea to make peace with his past, find out what happened to Suwol and free Junja's spirit.
The Mermaid From Jeju is a magical tale, it’s made up of ghosts and spirits. Some of the story is set in real life, and to be honest I had trouble following the plot and it didn’t make whole lot of sense to me. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy, I don’t read magical realism and it could be why I struggled with the book and three stars from me.
August 30, 2020
This riveting, heartfelt tale captures a history often left out of western history books - Korea 1948. Though this is a tale about a mermaid from Jeju, it is not solely focused on the the haeneyo or Jeju mermaids. I was pleasantly surprised to see where Sumi Hahn took the story and I could not put this book down! Great character development and I enjoyed the poetic details of Korea - even adding incredible details about the food and culture that made me feel like I was almost there.
I'm a historical fiction nerd who has spent time traveling Korea so I really appreciated learning more about the history of the area and the realities the people faced post war. This was an incredibly eye opening account of the loyalty and determination of the people of Korea and the power of love spanning decades, oceans, and spiritual worlds.
I really hope to read more poetic tales from Sumi Hahn soon and will be recommending this to all my fellow historical fiction friends.
Thank you for an advance reader's copy.
I'm a historical fiction nerd who has spent time traveling Korea so I really appreciated learning more about the history of the area and the realities the people faced post war. This was an incredibly eye opening account of the loyalty and determination of the people of Korea and the power of love spanning decades, oceans, and spiritual worlds.
I really hope to read more poetic tales from Sumi Hahn soon and will be recommending this to all my fellow historical fiction friends.
Thank you for an advance reader's copy.
December 12, 2020
4.5 stars.
I loved this book. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Pachinko (I personally liked this book better!). This book was a 5-star read until Part 2- definitely weaker than part 1 unfortunately, but still good because Part 1 was spectacular. I absolutely loved the main character Junja and her family, and the island of Jeju was described so beautifully. A really beautiful and sad story highlighting a tragic part of history that more people should know about.
September 18, 2020
This was a great book that mixes war with mermaids. Wondering if a mermaid can fall in love with a human. It was interesting to see how Goh Junja and Yang Suwol relationship unfold in this story.
May 1, 2022
I don't have a lot of bad things to say about this book, but I also don't have a lot of good things to say too.
December 2, 2020
Thank you to Sumi Hahn, the publisher and Edelweiss + for a copy of this book.
A wonderfully told story filled with both the beauty and harshness of the traditional way of life on Jeju Island in the first half of the 20th century and the brutality of the uprising on Jeju in 1948. During the uprising a significant portion of the islands population was killed and many more had to flee in order to survive. The book mostly focuses on Junja's life, relationships, changing circumstances, and her fight to survive and love, it does depict some instances based on the violence of the massacre, so I have to warn of violence. However this book is also about the determination to survive, people willing to risk their own lives to try to save others, love, and the spirits of Jeju. Sumi Hahn has a way with words, weaving a powerful, captivating story with lyrical voice and magic.
I highly recommend this book especially if you were fascinated by the Island of Sea Women by Lisa See!
A wonderfully told story filled with both the beauty and harshness of the traditional way of life on Jeju Island in the first half of the 20th century and the brutality of the uprising on Jeju in 1948. During the uprising a significant portion of the islands population was killed and many more had to flee in order to survive. The book mostly focuses on Junja's life, relationships, changing circumstances, and her fight to survive and love, it does depict some instances based on the violence of the massacre, so I have to warn of violence. However this book is also about the determination to survive, people willing to risk their own lives to try to save others, love, and the spirits of Jeju. Sumi Hahn has a way with words, weaving a powerful, captivating story with lyrical voice and magic.
I highly recommend this book especially if you were fascinated by the Island of Sea Women by Lisa See!
March 29, 2021
Thank you to @Libro.FM for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5/5
Set in the aftermath of WWII and the forced removal of Japanese troops, The Mermaid from Jeju focuses on the island of Jeju. Goh Junja is coming into her own and convinces her mother to let her take their annual trip up the mountain to trade sea delicacies for pork. On top of the mountain she meets Yang Suwol and they have an instant connection. But when Junja returns home the next day, she finds her mother taking her last breath after a diving incident.
Junja succumbs to her grief and sees the ghost of her mother everywhere. Her siblings are sent to their estranged father, Suwol is gone and all Junja has is her grandmother who grows increasingly more aloof. The political climate on the island is constantly changing as new US troops arrive each day.
There was so much going on in this book. And wow was the writing beautiful. I could picture every scene so clearly, as the whole book was incredibly readable. I wish this book had been longer, but there was so much packed into it. I love the culture of the haenyeos and seeing Junja become a strong young lady.
I felt everything in this book. There are so many feels, a lot of them being sad. But ugh this book was amazing. I definitely won't be forgetting this any time soon. I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoyed The Island of Sea Women and vice versa!
4.5/5
Set in the aftermath of WWII and the forced removal of Japanese troops, The Mermaid from Jeju focuses on the island of Jeju. Goh Junja is coming into her own and convinces her mother to let her take their annual trip up the mountain to trade sea delicacies for pork. On top of the mountain she meets Yang Suwol and they have an instant connection. But when Junja returns home the next day, she finds her mother taking her last breath after a diving incident.
Junja succumbs to her grief and sees the ghost of her mother everywhere. Her siblings are sent to their estranged father, Suwol is gone and all Junja has is her grandmother who grows increasingly more aloof. The political climate on the island is constantly changing as new US troops arrive each day.
There was so much going on in this book. And wow was the writing beautiful. I could picture every scene so clearly, as the whole book was incredibly readable. I wish this book had been longer, but there was so much packed into it. I love the culture of the haenyeos and seeing Junja become a strong young lady.
I felt everything in this book. There are so many feels, a lot of them being sad. But ugh this book was amazing. I definitely won't be forgetting this any time soon. I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoyed The Island of Sea Women and vice versa!
December 30, 2020
This story was so beautiful, set on the Korean island of Jeju during the Japanese and American occupation in the 1940’s. I loved the atmospheric prose and the magical realism aspects of this one. I took off a star because half way through the POV switches and it had me a little confused but other than that I loved this one!
April 6, 2022
“Here is a secret: A long, long time ago, when I was a girl, I was a mermaid too.”
5 stars.
This book made me cry. The cover and title might fool you; this is not a story about fantastical mermaids in Korea but about a family of Korean female sea divers called haenyeo and how their lives are tragically changed after the historical massacre on Jeju island post WWII, when tensions between communists and nationalists in Korea were at an all time high. Sumi Hahn takes the complexity of civil war, what with all the political sides but also in this case with foreign powers invested in the outcome, and weaves it deftly with the story of women divers in a remote village, whose stories often go untold. There is such love and respect and compassion in this story, and so much painful truth.
The story alternates between past and present, through the point of view of Junja, a young haenyeo and an older one living in America with her two daughters. In the last part you also get some chapters from her husband’s point of view. I saw some reviewers mention they didn’t like the shamanic parts or the more supernatural parts, but that is because they are unaware of how important spirituality is to Koreans, especially ones living in mountain villages during that time. It is a part of who they are. It is an important part of this story for Junja, our protagonist.
Sometimes I am wary of Asian Americans taking traumatic events experienced by the older generation in the homeland and using it as “awareness” for Westerners because they often fall into the trap of thinking it has to be as shocking as possible and turning it into spectacle, but there was no such thing here. I will leave you with snippets of the author’s thoughts on why she wrote this:
“The truth about the April 3 Incident—and of similar massacres carried out in the name of democracy before and during the Korean War—would be suppressed for sixty years by successive South Korean regimes, which did not want to jeopardize the country’s legitimacy or its relationship with the United States, regarded by many Koreans as some sort of patron saint.”
“ When I first began working on this story, my greatest concern was whether I possessed enough authority to tell it. How could I, a Korean-American raised in America, who had spent only one year of infancy in Korea, tell a story about historical events that experts on the subject have devoted entire careers to untangling?
I tried to allay my concerns by studying as much as I could about Korean history. I took courses in shamanism and learned to scuba dive, so that I could witness firsthand the underwater world of the haenyeo. I even became more Korean in my everyday life, studying the language, cooking the food, and immersing myself in the culture that was my birthright. ”
“When I began this story, I was writing for myself, to understand what happened. By the time I finished, I understood that the story needed to be shared. As a writer, I had to approach this task with humility, sincerity, and a sense of deep responsibility. To that end, I apologize for any errors in the way I’ve portrayed the characters and their historical circumstances. I have tried my best not to insert any modern or Western assumptions into the minds of my Korean characters. I have also tried to be as accurate as possible in the depiction of actual historical events and real people.“
Quotes taken from her website here: https://www.mermaidfromjeju.com/
She spent years doing her due diligence. Not months and then gobbled up by a publisher eager to exploit trauma for sales. And it shows. There is truth in these pages, painful and hard to read, but there is also compassion, not gore and gratuitous torture porn. And that’s important to remember when you’re someone who didn’t go through the events yourself, even if you come from that country. As a reader I didn’t just see the victims as suffering, left only horrified or shocked for them, I saw their families, their way of living, saw glimpses into the past that Sumi Hahn vividly painted, and it was all the more devastating because of it. This is a story that will stay with me, especially as someone whose country also went through a similar civil war.
5 stars.
This book made me cry. The cover and title might fool you; this is not a story about fantastical mermaids in Korea but about a family of Korean female sea divers called haenyeo and how their lives are tragically changed after the historical massacre on Jeju island post WWII, when tensions between communists and nationalists in Korea were at an all time high. Sumi Hahn takes the complexity of civil war, what with all the political sides but also in this case with foreign powers invested in the outcome, and weaves it deftly with the story of women divers in a remote village, whose stories often go untold. There is such love and respect and compassion in this story, and so much painful truth.
The story alternates between past and present, through the point of view of Junja, a young haenyeo and an older one living in America with her two daughters. In the last part you also get some chapters from her husband’s point of view. I saw some reviewers mention they didn’t like the shamanic parts or the more supernatural parts, but that is because they are unaware of how important spirituality is to Koreans, especially ones living in mountain villages during that time. It is a part of who they are. It is an important part of this story for Junja, our protagonist.
Sometimes I am wary of Asian Americans taking traumatic events experienced by the older generation in the homeland and using it as “awareness” for Westerners because they often fall into the trap of thinking it has to be as shocking as possible and turning it into spectacle, but there was no such thing here. I will leave you with snippets of the author’s thoughts on why she wrote this:
“The truth about the April 3 Incident—and of similar massacres carried out in the name of democracy before and during the Korean War—would be suppressed for sixty years by successive South Korean regimes, which did not want to jeopardize the country’s legitimacy or its relationship with the United States, regarded by many Koreans as some sort of patron saint.”
“ When I first began working on this story, my greatest concern was whether I possessed enough authority to tell it. How could I, a Korean-American raised in America, who had spent only one year of infancy in Korea, tell a story about historical events that experts on the subject have devoted entire careers to untangling?
I tried to allay my concerns by studying as much as I could about Korean history. I took courses in shamanism and learned to scuba dive, so that I could witness firsthand the underwater world of the haenyeo. I even became more Korean in my everyday life, studying the language, cooking the food, and immersing myself in the culture that was my birthright. ”
“When I began this story, I was writing for myself, to understand what happened. By the time I finished, I understood that the story needed to be shared. As a writer, I had to approach this task with humility, sincerity, and a sense of deep responsibility. To that end, I apologize for any errors in the way I’ve portrayed the characters and their historical circumstances. I have tried my best not to insert any modern or Western assumptions into the minds of my Korean characters. I have also tried to be as accurate as possible in the depiction of actual historical events and real people.“
Quotes taken from her website here: https://www.mermaidfromjeju.com/
She spent years doing her due diligence. Not months and then gobbled up by a publisher eager to exploit trauma for sales. And it shows. There is truth in these pages, painful and hard to read, but there is also compassion, not gore and gratuitous torture porn. And that’s important to remember when you’re someone who didn’t go through the events yourself, even if you come from that country. As a reader I didn’t just see the victims as suffering, left only horrified or shocked for them, I saw their families, their way of living, saw glimpses into the past that Sumi Hahn vividly painted, and it was all the more devastating because of it. This is a story that will stay with me, especially as someone whose country also went through a similar civil war.
December 1, 2020
Junja is an eighteen year old haenyeo (free diving superwoman, honestly) who grew up on Jeju island collecting seaweed and shells.
During her first trip up the mountain she meets a boy called Suwol, and it's clear he's going to become her first love. On her way back down she's rushed home to find her mother on her death bed, due to an "unfortunate diving accident".
Forced to become the head of the family, Junja loses some of her spark and doesn't even dream anymore. Not even Suwol can help. And the war may be over in technical terms, but one occupier just made way for the next.
American soldiers are out hunting "Communists" and, as always, civilians suffer, among them many mountain villages and Suwol's own family.
Will Junja survive and make it out of Jeju or will the darkness swallow her whole?
The story is told in two parts, the first following Junja with very few future (2001) chapters sprinkled here and there. The second almost exclusively follows her husband and children (to a lesser extent).
The transition between the parts left me feeling a little empty. It's as if the best part was cut off and barely even mentioned in the next. Junja's husband just isn't that interesting.
While we're at it, I'm not sure how wise a choice it was to let the reader know who she marries from the get go. A lot more pain (even though there's no shortage of it) could've been caused if that was left for the end.
The writing was extremely beautiful and the plot was as well. It made me cry non stop.
The characters were very vivid and I couldn't dislike anyone apart from the obvious bad guys. My favourite is Peanut, her fate is a little unclear but I'm choosing to believe she and her family got away.
Two other interesting characters are the Grandmother and Constable Lee, both are more than they seem.
The ending was also a bit confusing, too blended...I think there was more room to expand on everything and a dozen or so more pages wouldn't have done the book any harm.
Still, it's a good book, amazing debut and something everyone should have on their shelves.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
During her first trip up the mountain she meets a boy called Suwol, and it's clear he's going to become her first love. On her way back down she's rushed home to find her mother on her death bed, due to an "unfortunate diving accident".
Forced to become the head of the family, Junja loses some of her spark and doesn't even dream anymore. Not even Suwol can help. And the war may be over in technical terms, but one occupier just made way for the next.
American soldiers are out hunting "Communists" and, as always, civilians suffer, among them many mountain villages and Suwol's own family.
Will Junja survive and make it out of Jeju or will the darkness swallow her whole?
The story is told in two parts, the first following Junja with very few future (2001) chapters sprinkled here and there. The second almost exclusively follows her husband and children (to a lesser extent).
The transition between the parts left me feeling a little empty. It's as if the best part was cut off and barely even mentioned in the next. Junja's husband just isn't that interesting.
While we're at it, I'm not sure how wise a choice it was to let the reader know who she marries from the get go. A lot more pain (even though there's no shortage of it) could've been caused if that was left for the end.
The writing was extremely beautiful and the plot was as well. It made me cry non stop.
The characters were very vivid and I couldn't dislike anyone apart from the obvious bad guys. My favourite is Peanut, her fate is a little unclear but I'm choosing to believe she and her family got away.
Two other interesting characters are the Grandmother and Constable Lee, both are more than they seem.
The ending was also a bit confusing, too blended...I think there was more room to expand on everything and a dozen or so more pages wouldn't have done the book any harm.
Still, it's a good book, amazing debut and something everyone should have on their shelves.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
October 25, 2020
One of the most beautifully written tales I’ve ever read. It’s heartbreaking, yet lyrical and masterfully done. I easily pictured everything described as if it were playing like a movie in my mind. The women were unapologetically strong and the men equal in respecting them. I eagerly hope to read more from this author.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2022
4.5
Trước đây, mình vốn đã biết qua câu chuyện về "Những người cá của đảo Jeju" (không phải người cá có đuôi và biết thở dưới biển.) Và cuốn sách này kể một câu chuyện về những "người cá" tại hòn đảo Jeju, và thậm chí còn nhiều hơn cả thế.
Đảo Jeju, năm 1944. Goh Junja - một cô gái trẻ, sống cùng mẹ, bà và các em. Ở đó, họ cùng những phụ nữ gần biển khác sống bằng nghề "haenyeo" - công việc lặn biển.
Một câu chuyện đẹp và sống động; xuyên suốt Phần I của cuốn sách cảnh thiên nhiên, ẩm thực được miêu tả sinh động, bên cạnh đó, thì câu chuyện kết hợp với những câu chuyện tâm linh - thần thoại. Mình yêu những khoảnh khắc trong cuộc sống của Junja, những khoảnh khắc đó đã sưởi ấm trái tim của mình.
Bên cạnh đó, câu chuyện còn đề cập đến chiến tranh, chiến tranh đã mang đến những mất mát và đau khổ.
Bước sang Phần II, câu chuyện bắt đầu xen kẽ giữa hai mốc thời gian khác nhau. Dù ban đầu mình không hợp với Phần II, nhưng rồi dần dần mình cũng thích nó. Những con người đến và đi, họ chứng kiến sự tàn khốc của chiến tranh - chết chóc, chia cắt. Họ một lần nữa trở lại "mảnh đất tan thương" năm nào - đảo Jeju, và họ đối mặt với những bóng ma ám ảnh họ, dù họ có đi đâu "bóng ma" đó chẳng buông tha họ.
Ở cái kết, câu chuyện kết thúc bằng yếu tố tâm linh, có lẽ nó sẽ hơi khó mà tin được, nhưng mình nghĩ rằng "Cuối cùng những con người đó cũng có thể thanh thản."
Here is a secret: The dead, they dream too. Just like the living.
P/s: Cuối trang cuối còn có những ghi chú về lịch sử của Jeju, hay bảng chú thích tiếng Hàn cũng hay ho.
Nếu bạn tò mò về những "người cá" hay "haenyeo" của đảo Jeju, bạn có thể xem ở đây♡:https://youtu.be/nq0KzczLyyQ
Eng: https://youtu.be/lk7DQLMKBTE
Trước đây, mình vốn đã biết qua câu chuyện về "Những người cá của đảo Jeju" (không phải người cá có đuôi và biết thở dưới biển.) Và cuốn sách này kể một câu chuyện về những "người cá" tại hòn đảo Jeju, và thậm chí còn nhiều hơn cả thế.
Đảo Jeju, năm 1944. Goh Junja - một cô gái trẻ, sống cùng mẹ, bà và các em. Ở đó, họ cùng những phụ nữ gần biển khác sống bằng nghề "haenyeo" - công việc lặn biển.
Một câu chuyện đẹp và sống động; xuyên suốt Phần I của cuốn sách cảnh thiên nhiên, ẩm thực được miêu tả sinh động, bên cạnh đó, thì câu chuyện kết hợp với những câu chuyện tâm linh - thần thoại. Mình yêu những khoảnh khắc trong cuộc sống của Junja, những khoảnh khắc đó đã sưởi ấm trái tim của mình.
Bên cạnh đó, câu chuyện còn đề cập đến chiến tranh, chiến tranh đã mang đến những mất mát và đau khổ.
Bước sang Phần II, câu chuyện bắt đầu xen kẽ giữa hai mốc thời gian khác nhau. Dù ban đầu mình không hợp với Phần II, nhưng rồi dần dần mình cũng thích nó. Những con người đến và đi, họ chứng kiến sự tàn khốc của chiến tranh - chết chóc, chia cắt. Họ một lần nữa trở lại "mảnh đất tan thương" năm nào - đảo Jeju, và họ đối mặt với những bóng ma ám ảnh họ, dù họ có đi đâu "bóng ma" đó chẳng buông tha họ.
Ở cái kết, câu chuyện kết thúc bằng yếu tố tâm linh, có lẽ nó sẽ hơi khó mà tin được, nhưng mình nghĩ rằng "Cuối cùng những con người đó cũng có thể thanh thản."
Here is a secret: The dead, they dream too. Just like the living.
P/s: Cuối trang cuối còn có những ghi chú về lịch sử của Jeju, hay bảng chú thích tiếng Hàn cũng hay ho.
Nếu bạn tò mò về những "người cá" hay "haenyeo" của đảo Jeju, bạn có thể xem ở đây♡:https://youtu.be/nq0KzczLyyQ
Eng: https://youtu.be/lk7DQLMKBTE
July 25, 2021
“Never forget you’re a haenyeo, a woman worth two men.”
Set In Korea during the aftermath of the World War 2, The Mermaid from Jeju tells the story of a deep sea diver named Junja who after a succsessful trip to the mountains comes home to find her mother taking her last breath after attempting a dive in Junja's place.
Fast forward to the future: her siblings are sent to live with her estranged father and the political climate only grows more perilious by the minute. When Korea is forced to accomodate the rapid establishment of US troops, everything she has every known turns upside down and she is forced to navigate the obstacles to prevent herself (and her grandmother) from being killed.
The book shifts to dual persepctives in the latter half of the book and that, in my opinion, was highly unnecessary. I literally had no idea who the new guy was and didn't want to. Overall, amazing story, loved the atmosphere and the characters (except that new guy). This book has really got me interested in Korean history which I will keep in mind to check out soon :)
Set In Korea during the aftermath of the World War 2, The Mermaid from Jeju tells the story of a deep sea diver named Junja who after a succsessful trip to the mountains comes home to find her mother taking her last breath after attempting a dive in Junja's place.
Fast forward to the future: her siblings are sent to live with her estranged father and the political climate only grows more perilious by the minute. When Korea is forced to accomodate the rapid establishment of US troops, everything she has every known turns upside down and she is forced to navigate the obstacles to prevent herself (and her grandmother) from being killed.
The book shifts to dual persepctives in the latter half of the book and that, in my opinion, was highly unnecessary. I literally had no idea who the new guy was and didn't want to. Overall, amazing story, loved the atmosphere and the characters (except that new guy). This book has really got me interested in Korean history which I will keep in mind to check out soon :)
November 13, 2020
An absolutely beautiful historical fiction that is so wonderfully written and moving.
The story starts with the women of Jeju that work as divers in the sea in a matriarchal society and follows the story of one family in particular.
I love the way the writer doesn't explain everything and the reader has to work to join the dots at times between the characters.
The descriptions are fantastically detailed and I really would like a Jeju recipe book after all those food descriptions!
I also learnt a lot of new things and have looked up the historical incidents featured in the book that to my shame I had no idea about. We learn about WW2 and the Korean war at school in the UK but the focus is on ourselves and Europe. It was fascinating to learn about these people and their culture and gods that were caught up in conflicts amongst other nations.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts with the women of Jeju that work as divers in the sea in a matriarchal society and follows the story of one family in particular.
I love the way the writer doesn't explain everything and the reader has to work to join the dots at times between the characters.
The descriptions are fantastically detailed and I really would like a Jeju recipe book after all those food descriptions!
I also learnt a lot of new things and have looked up the historical incidents featured in the book that to my shame I had no idea about. We learn about WW2 and the Korean war at school in the UK but the focus is on ourselves and Europe. It was fascinating to learn about these people and their culture and gods that were caught up in conflicts amongst other nations.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
Where to begin with this book? Reading it was an emotional roller coaster of the truest sense. I smiled, I laughed, I cried, and since I finished the book, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I believe the reason for this is two fold. 1) Hahn's prose. Hahn writing style is vivid, almost atmospheric. The best analogy I can come up with is that her writing reminds me of yoga meditation videos in that they manage to completely immerse you in their worlds, so deep that you don't even realize you're in a world other than the one you were previously in. 2) The historical setting. Admittedly, I don't know much about the aftermath of WWII, much less the aftermath in Korea. In history classes, that period has often been glossed over, jumping straight into the Vietnam War. Reading this book was enlightening about the state of the world at that time and has inspired me to learn about the period more through my own research. In that sense, this book managed to create a new world that FELT real to me, while still touching on problems I can connect to the "real" world I live in when I'm not reading. It's that balance between fantasy and realism that makes this book a standout. If you haven't read it, you should. It's unlike anything you've read before.
October 6, 2020
I have so many feelings after reading this book that I think it will not be easy to write a clear review. Don’t get me wrong, the story is amazing and intense, but so vivid that it makes you wonder what type of world we are creating for our children, full of monsters and pain. Why?
I’ll admit that I don’t know much about Korea’s past, it had always been for me a country too far to study at school or to feel related to their history. This has changed for the last few months, it’s a country that has fought for their freedom again and again, with multiple loses and pain, but has survived. This book tries to make the reader more interested in a country we don’t know much, but that we all should value and respect, they have gained it.
This is the story of a Haenyŏ, a mermaid from Jeju, how she left the country she loved to survive a war and never returned. Yes, this is not a happy book, but it is in a special way; it’s about family, love, war and survival. All of these elements are so skilfully combined in the story that is difficult to talk about one without relating it to the others.
Don’t be scared to read something that will make change your feelings/emotions toward the world, sometimes is the best way to change everything; between real facts, legends and love this is the book that will possibly change your life. Ready?
I’ll admit that I don’t know much about Korea’s past, it had always been for me a country too far to study at school or to feel related to their history. This has changed for the last few months, it’s a country that has fought for their freedom again and again, with multiple loses and pain, but has survived. This book tries to make the reader more interested in a country we don’t know much, but that we all should value and respect, they have gained it.
This is the story of a Haenyŏ, a mermaid from Jeju, how she left the country she loved to survive a war and never returned. Yes, this is not a happy book, but it is in a special way; it’s about family, love, war and survival. All of these elements are so skilfully combined in the story that is difficult to talk about one without relating it to the others.
Don’t be scared to read something that will make change your feelings/emotions toward the world, sometimes is the best way to change everything; between real facts, legends and love this is the book that will possibly change your life. Ready?
January 4, 2021
2.5 stars
The Mermaid of Jeju follows a family on Jeju island during the Korean War. I knew a lot of this time period from recently reading The Island of Sea Women and was eager to read a new story during the same time period. I would note that the majority of this book takes place on land and does not focus much on the haenyeo culture as would be expected from the title and cover.
I listened to the audiobook which I found hard to follow at times (especially the last 3/4 of the book when it jumped back and forth often). The dual timeline (only in the later half of the book, which felt odd) felt disjointed and did not really come together at the end as I would have hoped. I think reading may have been easier to follow in the case of this book. I appreciated that there was a male and female narrator but wish it was an own voices narrator for this Korean story. Ultimately, I enjoyed the first half of the book and could have done without the second half, it felt half baked.
The Mermaid of Jeju follows a family on Jeju island during the Korean War. I knew a lot of this time period from recently reading The Island of Sea Women and was eager to read a new story during the same time period. I would note that the majority of this book takes place on land and does not focus much on the haenyeo culture as would be expected from the title and cover.
I listened to the audiobook which I found hard to follow at times (especially the last 3/4 of the book when it jumped back and forth often). The dual timeline (only in the later half of the book, which felt odd) felt disjointed and did not really come together at the end as I would have hoped. I think reading may have been easier to follow in the case of this book. I appreciated that there was a male and female narrator but wish it was an own voices narrator for this Korean story. Ultimately, I enjoyed the first half of the book and could have done without the second half, it felt half baked.
August 19, 2021
This book is beautiful. I listened & I think I need to read it or re-listen to get it all.
I’ve seen some reviewers compare it to Lisa See’s Island of Sea Women. I did enjoy that read as well. While well-written, it is much more women’s fiction-y & much less authentic as this one.
I do believe if I hadn’t read See’s book first, with the vivid descriptions of the Haenyeos’ dives, I may not have enjoyed this one as much or understood it as well.
The creativity & authenticity of this one, however take you deeper into humanity, the suffering of war & Korean culture.
If you haven’t read See’s book, you can easily Google the work of the haenyeo & the Island of Jeju to better informed before diving into this one (pun intended because why not ?)
The narration was great, but it’s so beautifully written that I think either way is a good way to go.
I’ve seen some reviewers compare it to Lisa See’s Island of Sea Women. I did enjoy that read as well. While well-written, it is much more women’s fiction-y & much less authentic as this one.
I do believe if I hadn’t read See’s book first, with the vivid descriptions of the Haenyeos’ dives, I may not have enjoyed this one as much or understood it as well.
The creativity & authenticity of this one, however take you deeper into humanity, the suffering of war & Korean culture.
If you haven’t read See’s book, you can easily Google the work of the haenyeo & the Island of Jeju to better informed before diving into this one (pun intended because why not ?)
The narration was great, but it’s so beautifully written that I think either way is a good way to go.
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