recently read: the island of sea women
05: and the books I purchased for holiday gifting
Knowing what book someone is reading and what parts they resonate with most can be so intimate. It reveals their interests, where their head is at, and what excerpts are so significant that they will mark up a page because they think it’s worth revisiting at a later time. Personally, I’m fascinated by what books others gravitate towards and I find that it helps me get to know them better and gives me a small glimpse into who they are at their core. No one asked for these book reviews, but maybe it’s my way of showing who I am and what I’m interested in – beyond the clothes, the products, and my career. Or at the very least, encourage some to look up from their phones and instead towards the pages of a good book.
Book no. 22 of 2022
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
It’s both incredible and sad just how much more I learn about history from historical fiction like this than the books I read in school. I learned so much about the history of Jeju Island and their admirable haenyeos, a community of female divers – some as old as 80 – who dive without oxygen masks to gather abalone, octopus, and sea urchins for a living. The book also touches on Japanese colonialism and the US’ involvement in the Korean war, all while telling a beautiful, heartbreaking story that highlights culture, friendship, loss, and forgiveness. It was slow at times, but well worth the read.
My favorite quote:
“You are not being punished for your anger. You’re being punished by your anger.”
The Island of Sea Women was actually one of the 20 books I curated for a recent book exchange I hosted at Tea at Shiloh with Space of Time. It was the twelfth book exchange I hosted, but the first ever public one open to new people. I curated these books – all written by women of color – with one commonality: to invite connection or look at the world in a different way. You can see the full list here, all books I recommend and think would make great next reads or holiday gifts.
Books are my favorite thing to gift. They're inexpensive yet intimate & thoughtful. They can easily be borrowed, re-gifted, or donated for someone else to enjoy once finished. Instead of picking a book off of a top 10 list, I think about what the recipient is interested in, or in need of – whether it’s a lighthearted story when they need a laugh or a more substantial book centered on an interest like nature or business. While Amazon may be convenient to purchase from, I instead opt for secondhand sites like Abe Books where you’ll be able to buy multiple books for the price of one new one.
Some of the books I purchased over the weekend for gift giving:
More book recommendations here at @seenlibrary. As always, thanks for reading.