Review by Betty Gitonga -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley

[Betty Gitonga]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Vanished is a mind-gripping novel by Pejay Bradley that tells a story of love, duty, struggle, patriotism and self-discovery both for the characters and the nation of Korea. It starts with the Embon’s birth at a time when Korea was under Japanese rule. The country’s majority lived in abject poverty without the hope of a better life. Despite the prevailing circumstances, his mother, Lady Sougyon, a princess, made sure he lived a good life. From food to clothing to education, he got the best of everything. His excellence led him to be accepted to the best Japanese university, where he met young Koreans who were hungry for change, and the spark for change was born in his heart.

This heavy-themed story is told by Bradley in a simple and fascinating way. It addresses, among others, the issues of slavery, gender inequality, social stratification, poverty and the fight for independence. I have been particularly captivated by Lady Sougyon. She has a very forward way of thinking, which in her time was uncommon. While it was not expected of her, she paid her servants wages and sometimes even engaged them in conversations which were contrary to the custom. However, the culture at that time could not allow her to thrive. She had to stay married to the husband who deserted her, and even though it would have been his way of ensuring she was taken care of when he died, her father could not leave her any inheritance. She would be formidable if she had been born in our day.

The book showed that there are many ways in which a cause can be supported. There are those on the frontline who leave everything behind and fight. There are others who do the cooking and cleaning behind the scenes. Some will help the cause by providing their finances. We can all do something. We also get a glimpse of Korean culture, and the resilience of its people.

I am giving this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. It is an excellent book that is not only insightful but engaging. The author has done an outstanding job with the narrative as well as with the editing. I cannot find a negative thing to say about this book. It is a great novel which I enjoyed reading.

I would recommend this book to individuals who are interested in historical fiction. The book can also pleasantly surprise other individuals who have no such interests.

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The Vanished
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