Review by Cazrichmond -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
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Caroline Anne Richmond
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Review by Cazrichmond -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Korea was in a dire socio-political situation. Korea had become a volatile place with its population wanting freedom by escaping Japanese rule. The Vanished, written by Pejay Bradley, is a historical fiction novel that centers on a cast of main characters living in this time.
Lady Souygon is the daughter of Prince Aansoon, who is a cousin of the king of Korea. She is brought up aristocratically and despite having an estranged husband; she is happy to welcome her son Embon into the world. She vows to raise her son to be educated and not to be held back by stringent Korean traditions.
Embon is given a lot of freedom as a child and is allowed to express himself more than many Koreans would deem acceptable. These freedoms help him to transition into a kind, studious and responsible teenager. Excelling academically, he is invited to attend a prestigious university in Japan, which boasts superior education to ensure a prosperous future. Here he meets and befriends other Korean students, all attracted to one another as they share their Korean heritage and their hatred for the Japanese who have taken over their nation. Unbeknown to Embon, these close friends are to become revolutionaries, who will stop at nothing to see Korea be a proud nation. Embon’s journey is just beginning and leads him far away from his indulged and privileged life as a child in Korea.
This book will appeal to anyone who has an interest in Asian history and culture. The author describes Korea with all its scenery and culture in captivating writing. I found it very interesting to learn about how Korean life was very difficult for women. The role of a woman was service and duty, bound by strict rules and tradition. Divorce was unacceptable as this disgraced a family, so it was better for a woman to live a life of misery than to escape a terrible marriage. Women had no choice in who they married, and their parents made this decision. After marriage, the wife must remain dutiful to her spouse’s in-laws, no matter how they may treat her. I felt very sad for all the women who suffered through the continuance of restrictive and cruel traditions. The author included descriptions of these issues with respect and empathy, conveying a lot of emotion into the pages.
I thought the characters were wonderful. The book includes a few key characters, who are well developed and interesting. Embon is the principal character, and it is fascinating reading about his journey throughout the book. His character is developed in a way that he becomes someone different to how you would expect. My favorite character was his mother, Lady Souygon. For this time, she is a modern woman with thoughts and ideas that differ from deep-rooted traditions. I loved her compassion and resilience and thought she was a well written, robust character.
I found the book to be quite educational. The book gives a lot of information about the history of Korea. Written around this history is a beautiful story, and I can’t imagine a better way to learn something new than in such a brilliant book. I also enjoyed the attention to detail the author has included about Korean cuisines, furniture, buildings, flowers, clothing and traditional wedding ceremonies. This is always an impressive addition to a book to include some cultural insights.
I found nothing to dislike about this book and found it very hard to put down. I didn’t find any grammar or spelling mistakes, so I believe it has been exceptionally well-edited, for these reasons I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. The book contains no profanities or sexual themes and is suitable for adults and young adults, especially those who enjoy Asian historical fiction. It is an engaging and insightful novel that is filled with emotion, and I am excited to read more books from this author.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Korea was in a dire socio-political situation. Korea had become a volatile place with its population wanting freedom by escaping Japanese rule. The Vanished, written by Pejay Bradley, is a historical fiction novel that centers on a cast of main characters living in this time.
Lady Souygon is the daughter of Prince Aansoon, who is a cousin of the king of Korea. She is brought up aristocratically and despite having an estranged husband; she is happy to welcome her son Embon into the world. She vows to raise her son to be educated and not to be held back by stringent Korean traditions.
Embon is given a lot of freedom as a child and is allowed to express himself more than many Koreans would deem acceptable. These freedoms help him to transition into a kind, studious and responsible teenager. Excelling academically, he is invited to attend a prestigious university in Japan, which boasts superior education to ensure a prosperous future. Here he meets and befriends other Korean students, all attracted to one another as they share their Korean heritage and their hatred for the Japanese who have taken over their nation. Unbeknown to Embon, these close friends are to become revolutionaries, who will stop at nothing to see Korea be a proud nation. Embon’s journey is just beginning and leads him far away from his indulged and privileged life as a child in Korea.
This book will appeal to anyone who has an interest in Asian history and culture. The author describes Korea with all its scenery and culture in captivating writing. I found it very interesting to learn about how Korean life was very difficult for women. The role of a woman was service and duty, bound by strict rules and tradition. Divorce was unacceptable as this disgraced a family, so it was better for a woman to live a life of misery than to escape a terrible marriage. Women had no choice in who they married, and their parents made this decision. After marriage, the wife must remain dutiful to her spouse’s in-laws, no matter how they may treat her. I felt very sad for all the women who suffered through the continuance of restrictive and cruel traditions. The author included descriptions of these issues with respect and empathy, conveying a lot of emotion into the pages.
I thought the characters were wonderful. The book includes a few key characters, who are well developed and interesting. Embon is the principal character, and it is fascinating reading about his journey throughout the book. His character is developed in a way that he becomes someone different to how you would expect. My favorite character was his mother, Lady Souygon. For this time, she is a modern woman with thoughts and ideas that differ from deep-rooted traditions. I loved her compassion and resilience and thought she was a well written, robust character.
I found the book to be quite educational. The book gives a lot of information about the history of Korea. Written around this history is a beautiful story, and I can’t imagine a better way to learn something new than in such a brilliant book. I also enjoyed the attention to detail the author has included about Korean cuisines, furniture, buildings, flowers, clothing and traditional wedding ceremonies. This is always an impressive addition to a book to include some cultural insights.
I found nothing to dislike about this book and found it very hard to put down. I didn’t find any grammar or spelling mistakes, so I believe it has been exceptionally well-edited, for these reasons I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. The book contains no profanities or sexual themes and is suitable for adults and young adults, especially those who enjoy Asian historical fiction. It is an engaging and insightful novel that is filled with emotion, and I am excited to read more books from this author.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: How to Discover the Authentic Life Story by L. E. Rhoden
