Review by Arite Seki -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
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Arite Seki
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Review by Arite Seki -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
The Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a historical fiction novel set in Korea, 1912. The story begins through the narration of Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon. Lady Sougyon is concerned about the birth of her newborn son, Embon, because he was born “in the Year of the Rat, in midsummer and at high noon.” The combination of which was perceived to be a bad omen. The remainder of the novel is spent looking at Embon’s life and I found myself considering the extent to which his life was affected by the omens that surrounded his birth.
Embon’s story is one of struggle. He comes from affluence and succeeds well above his peers. In the beginning, we are almost certain that Embon will live a fortunate and successful life. As the novel progresses he faces challenge after challenge and is consumed by hopelessness, misfortune and loss. In an effort to free his native Korea from the influence of the Japanese, he joins a resistance organisation alongside old classmates from his university days. In the end, he learns that the price of freedom is often loss and pain.
My favourite aspect of the novel was how Lady Sougyon displayed strength and fortitude in the face of numerous obstacles. From Embon’s birth, we see that she decidedly devotes her life to her son, ensuring that he has all the comforts that his world can give him. I found her to be an inspiration as she defied traditions and remained a pillar of strength, caring and devoted to those she loved. There was no aspect of this novel that I disliked as I found the novel to be thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking. I have no doubt that I will think of the characters and their stories long after.
I give this novel a 4 out of 4 stars rating. It is well-edited and captured the history of the Korean people in a way that makes it interesting and engaging. I also found myself drawn to the main character despite sharing very few similarities. I think this speaks to the relatability and her effectiveness as a main character and narrator. I found the book thoroughly captivating and difficult to put down. I also feel that The Vanished did an excellent job of making the history behind the plight of the Korean people during that time come alive. It also brought to mind various questions such as the extent to which fate and family upbringing affect a person’s life.
I would recommend this novel to anyone looking to read a historical fiction that could easily be adapted to be a modern story. The themes in the book, such as fate, fortune and sacrifice, are universal and not specific to a certain period. I enjoyed how the characters were relatable and richly portrayed. There was no use of vulgar language or sexual content, but some of the situations and themes would be better suited for an older audience. The story of Embon and his fellow freedom fighters are often the stories behind liberation that never get told. Heroes that sacrifice their lives only to be forgotten.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a historical fiction novel set in Korea, 1912. The story begins through the narration of Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon. Lady Sougyon is concerned about the birth of her newborn son, Embon, because he was born “in the Year of the Rat, in midsummer and at high noon.” The combination of which was perceived to be a bad omen. The remainder of the novel is spent looking at Embon’s life and I found myself considering the extent to which his life was affected by the omens that surrounded his birth.
Embon’s story is one of struggle. He comes from affluence and succeeds well above his peers. In the beginning, we are almost certain that Embon will live a fortunate and successful life. As the novel progresses he faces challenge after challenge and is consumed by hopelessness, misfortune and loss. In an effort to free his native Korea from the influence of the Japanese, he joins a resistance organisation alongside old classmates from his university days. In the end, he learns that the price of freedom is often loss and pain.
My favourite aspect of the novel was how Lady Sougyon displayed strength and fortitude in the face of numerous obstacles. From Embon’s birth, we see that she decidedly devotes her life to her son, ensuring that he has all the comforts that his world can give him. I found her to be an inspiration as she defied traditions and remained a pillar of strength, caring and devoted to those she loved. There was no aspect of this novel that I disliked as I found the novel to be thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking. I have no doubt that I will think of the characters and their stories long after.
I give this novel a 4 out of 4 stars rating. It is well-edited and captured the history of the Korean people in a way that makes it interesting and engaging. I also found myself drawn to the main character despite sharing very few similarities. I think this speaks to the relatability and her effectiveness as a main character and narrator. I found the book thoroughly captivating and difficult to put down. I also feel that The Vanished did an excellent job of making the history behind the plight of the Korean people during that time come alive. It also brought to mind various questions such as the extent to which fate and family upbringing affect a person’s life.
I would recommend this novel to anyone looking to read a historical fiction that could easily be adapted to be a modern story. The themes in the book, such as fate, fortune and sacrifice, are universal and not specific to a certain period. I enjoyed how the characters were relatable and richly portrayed. There was no use of vulgar language or sexual content, but some of the situations and themes would be better suited for an older audience. The story of Embon and his fellow freedom fighters are often the stories behind liberation that never get told. Heroes that sacrifice their lives only to be forgotten.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Maestro Monologue by Rob White
