Review by VernaVi -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley

Verna Coy · Post by **Verna Coy** » 26 Jan 2021, 02:19

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

4 out of 4 stars

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The Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a story set in old Korea when it was occupied with Japanese forces. It follows those affected during that time, particularly the life of one young Korean named Kim Embon, who was born under the sign of the Rat.

This book opens with the lovely scene of a young Korean mother with her new baby. The sounds and scents of springtime are vividly described, and I could almost hear the soft shush of the wind when the window was opened. Born of an aristocratic family, this child was instantly placed into a mold upon birth that bestowed Korean society's position. Being born under the wrong sign, however, seemed to cause his mother some disappointment. Would the signs hold true for his life? To find out, you must read the book!

I liked the many different viewpoints of each leading character in this novel. Each person's inner thoughts showcased the individual levels of society in Korea at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, the concept of changing lifestyles applies to anyone living in any country at any time.

It was interesting reading about how Korean citizens were faced with an occupied nation's choices and being forced into difficult positions by the Japanese. At the same time, I was pleased to see the humor interjected into the narrative along the way. The instance of the Korean king sampling his first American sandwich was one example and added variety to a writing style that might have otherwise been rather somber.

What I liked most is that this novel inspires in the reader a contemplation of the sovereignty of their nation, wherever it may be. It causes one to stop and think what things might look like for them if history had gone differently than it has. Would things be worse, or better? The questions of time can only be answered by history. I believe the historical reflections of the characters in this novel are accurate to how the human mind works. The depth of character development is excellent and adds authenticity to this work.

I could find nothing to dislike in this book. It is a beautifully written historical work that weaves a tale using Korea's history and traditions. It seems professionally edited. I found no errors. It will appeal most to students and fans of oriental history and culture. It does contain brief gruesome descriptions of war, so I recommend it to a mature audience, but it does not contain sexual scenes or profanity. For these reasons, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

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The Vanished
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kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 30 Jan 2021, 18:05

I read this book for the BOTM and agree with your comments about the author's writing style. This book shared a wealth of information about a part of history and a country we do not often read about. I was especially inspired by your thoughts about how the author encourages readers to ponder on their country's sovereignty. Great review!

Verna Coy · Post by **Verna Coy** » 01 Feb 2021, 02:22

kdstrack wrote: ↑30 Jan 2021, 18:05 I read this book for the BOTM and agree with your comments about the author's writing style. This book shared a wealth of information about a part of history and a country we do not often read about. I was especially inspired by your thoughts about how the author encourages readers to ponder on their country's sovereignty. Great review!

Thanks for your nice comments!

laodi+ · Post by **laodi+** » 25 May 2021, 05:55

If it has humor and informs me about a certain group in our large world community I will read it. It would be interesting to learn about Koreans away from the K - pop movie dramas.

Post by **Fedaa Nsair** » 08 Nov 2021, 15:34

I liked the many different viewpoints of each leading character too. However, it wasn't so clear who's talking each time it changed. Anyway, thank you for your review ☺

J Edwards · Post by **J Edwards** » 09 Nov 2021, 10:28

It's hard to come by an account of Korea's rich history and traditions, especially during the Japanese occupation. Seems like an interesting account. Thanks for this beautiful review.

Timothy Ondieki · Post by **Timothy Ondieki** » 23 Apr 2022, 01:24

read this book for the BOTM and agree with your comments about the author's writing style. This book shared a wealth of information about a part of history and a country we do not often read about. I was especially inspired by your thoughts about how the author encourages readers to ponder on their country's sovereignty. Great review!