Review of The Vanished
Posted: 23 Jul 2023, 04:41
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
[ππ°πππ°πΈπͺπ―π¨ πͺπ΄ π’ π·π°ππΆπ―π΅π¦π¦π³ π³π¦π·πͺπ¦πΈ π°π§ "ππ©π¦ ππ’π―πͺπ΄π©π¦π₯" π£πΊ ππ¦π«π’πΊ ππ³π’π₯ππ¦πΊ.]
This beautifully crafted work of historical fiction from Pejay Bradley,ππ©π¦ ππ’π―πͺπ΄π©π¦π₯, takes readers back to a turbulent bygone era when Imperial Japan occupied Korea at the turn of the 20th century. It tells the story of Embon, born into an aristocratic family in the year of the Rat. Watched over by a vigilant Mother obsessed with his well-being, he enjoys an indulgent life of great privilege. A decision to study in Japan takes him down the revolutionary path and introduces him to some radical students at the university who change the course of his life exponentially.
Largely told from the perspective of Embon's Mother, Lady Sougyon, our eyes are opened to a world steeped in a culture where the intricacies of dressing for the King's birthday at Duksoo Palace provide insight into the opulence of their lives. The history that unfolds between the pages of this book is deep and convoluted and covers a wealth of sins, This gives the various characters a voice with which to pronounce their abhorrence of a heinous system and a determination to strive for freedom and independence from the yoke of Japanese occupation, whatever the cost, a theme that is carried throughout the book.
The harsh cruelty by the Japanese authorities meted out to the Korean people by depriving them of freedom of assembly, closure of newspapers and forcing them to take Japanese names causing them to lose their history were treacherous acts leaving me to ponder whether mankind has actually learned anything from the past.
As Embon and his friends languish in a Japanese prison for nationalistic activities and are exposed to torture, Embon suffers a life-threatening illness and is released when the authorities discover his familial ties. I felt that at times Embon's character could have been more developed but with his paternal genetic inheritance, indulgent upbringing and the fact that he was born into the privileged class, it was to be expected.
This evocative, engrossing and heart-stopping piece of literary excellence from Pejay Bradley about the pursuit of Korean independence from Japan left within me a desire to further explore the subject matter. There was nothing that I disliked about the book and the exceptional editing ensured a full-star rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I can heartily recommend it to all those who enjoy historical fiction and particularly to enthusiasts of Asian history. The book would be suitable for a younger audience as there was no sexual content or profanity but could affect those sensitive to violence.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
[ππ°πππ°πΈπͺπ―π¨ πͺπ΄ π’ π·π°ππΆπ―π΅π¦π¦π³ π³π¦π·πͺπ¦πΈ π°π§ "ππ©π¦ ππ’π―πͺπ΄π©π¦π₯" π£πΊ ππ¦π«π’πΊ ππ³π’π₯ππ¦πΊ.]
This beautifully crafted work of historical fiction from Pejay Bradley,ππ©π¦ ππ’π―πͺπ΄π©π¦π₯, takes readers back to a turbulent bygone era when Imperial Japan occupied Korea at the turn of the 20th century. It tells the story of Embon, born into an aristocratic family in the year of the Rat. Watched over by a vigilant Mother obsessed with his well-being, he enjoys an indulgent life of great privilege. A decision to study in Japan takes him down the revolutionary path and introduces him to some radical students at the university who change the course of his life exponentially.
Largely told from the perspective of Embon's Mother, Lady Sougyon, our eyes are opened to a world steeped in a culture where the intricacies of dressing for the King's birthday at Duksoo Palace provide insight into the opulence of their lives. The history that unfolds between the pages of this book is deep and convoluted and covers a wealth of sins, This gives the various characters a voice with which to pronounce their abhorrence of a heinous system and a determination to strive for freedom and independence from the yoke of Japanese occupation, whatever the cost, a theme that is carried throughout the book.
The harsh cruelty by the Japanese authorities meted out to the Korean people by depriving them of freedom of assembly, closure of newspapers and forcing them to take Japanese names causing them to lose their history were treacherous acts leaving me to ponder whether mankind has actually learned anything from the past.
As Embon and his friends languish in a Japanese prison for nationalistic activities and are exposed to torture, Embon suffers a life-threatening illness and is released when the authorities discover his familial ties. I felt that at times Embon's character could have been more developed but with his paternal genetic inheritance, indulgent upbringing and the fact that he was born into the privileged class, it was to be expected.
This evocative, engrossing and heart-stopping piece of literary excellence from Pejay Bradley about the pursuit of Korean independence from Japan left within me a desire to further explore the subject matter. There was nothing that I disliked about the book and the exceptional editing ensured a full-star rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I can heartily recommend it to all those who enjoy historical fiction and particularly to enthusiasts of Asian history. The book would be suitable for a younger audience as there was no sexual content or profanity but could affect those sensitive to violence.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon