Review by Fola_M -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
-
Fola Moni
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 463
- Joined: 03 Jun 2020, 18:38
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 165
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-fola-moni.html
- Latest Review: Moonlight Serenade by Terry Mark
Review by Fola_M -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
Korea signed the annexation treaty with Japan on August 29th, 1910, but it wasn't a happy union. It set off the latter’s tyrannical rule for 35 years, and Korea suffered terribly as a result, with its citizens' majority barely surviving on paltry wages. All these and more can be found in the historical book, The Vanished, by Pejay Bradley. However, this novel is more than just history. It’s also the account of the life of a young royal prince and his fight for his country’s freedom from their oppressors.
The story is told in the first-person narration of Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon from the Josun Kingdom. She’s the niece of King Gojong, the ruler of Korea at the time. The plot centres around her son, Embon, who was born in perilous circumstances according to their tradition. Nevertheless, she was determined to give him the best life possible.
Growing up without the presence of his father, Embon was a star pupil who excelled in his studies. He proceeded to college earlier than his peers and made some lifelong friends who would greatly influence his decisions about the future. Eventually, Embon had to decide. Would he settle for a royal life like his mother, devoid of love and happiness in an arranged marriage, or would he break free of the traditional shackles and carve his own path?
The author did an amazing job pulling me into the story from the very start. Once I got started, it was very difficult to put down. Her descriptive writing style had me mesmerised as the scenes and dialogues came alive through her words. Deeply fascinated, I couldn’t help but look up the events recounted in the book. Japan's oppression, the brutal way Queen Min was murdered in cold blood at her palace, and how Korea rebelled against their oppressors among others are all real events. The story was told in flashbacks and present tense, and it was seamless.
I really like the way Korean culture and traditions are depicted as aptly as possible. The author covered everything from arranged marriages, social class system, cuisine, religion and even their sleeping arrangements. I found myself soaking up all the fascinating tidbits. For instance, it’s intriguing that men can have concubines, and their wives are not allowed to show displeasure or jealousy. It is considered one of the deadly sins a wife can commit, and it is punishable by expulsion from their homes. I also found it interesting that male children are more revered than female children. This is quite similar to old African traditions where only male children can inherit properties.
The main characters are well-developed and extremely easy to identify with. Lady Sougyon comes across as a brave yet sensitive woman. She is shackled by the traditions of her people, but still fiercely determined to raise her son the best way she could despite her circumstances. Embon appears to be a spoiled man child who had everything and became complacent due to a debilitating illness that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He eventually found his calling as a political activist and grew into a brave hero.
There’s nothing I disliked about this book as it was such an engrossing read. I’ll therefore rate it a four out of four stars. I couldn't find any error, so I can say it was exceptionally well-edited. Readers of all ages would find it fascinating and informative. However, it might trigger the sensibilities of some readers to read about the gory details of Japan's oppression. If you love historical fiction, this will keep you greatly entertained. If you love learning about different cultures in general and Korean’s culture in particular, please pick up this book.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Korea signed the annexation treaty with Japan on August 29th, 1910, but it wasn't a happy union. It set off the latter’s tyrannical rule for 35 years, and Korea suffered terribly as a result, with its citizens' majority barely surviving on paltry wages. All these and more can be found in the historical book, The Vanished, by Pejay Bradley. However, this novel is more than just history. It’s also the account of the life of a young royal prince and his fight for his country’s freedom from their oppressors.
The story is told in the first-person narration of Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon from the Josun Kingdom. She’s the niece of King Gojong, the ruler of Korea at the time. The plot centres around her son, Embon, who was born in perilous circumstances according to their tradition. Nevertheless, she was determined to give him the best life possible.
Growing up without the presence of his father, Embon was a star pupil who excelled in his studies. He proceeded to college earlier than his peers and made some lifelong friends who would greatly influence his decisions about the future. Eventually, Embon had to decide. Would he settle for a royal life like his mother, devoid of love and happiness in an arranged marriage, or would he break free of the traditional shackles and carve his own path?
The author did an amazing job pulling me into the story from the very start. Once I got started, it was very difficult to put down. Her descriptive writing style had me mesmerised as the scenes and dialogues came alive through her words. Deeply fascinated, I couldn’t help but look up the events recounted in the book. Japan's oppression, the brutal way Queen Min was murdered in cold blood at her palace, and how Korea rebelled against their oppressors among others are all real events. The story was told in flashbacks and present tense, and it was seamless.
I really like the way Korean culture and traditions are depicted as aptly as possible. The author covered everything from arranged marriages, social class system, cuisine, religion and even their sleeping arrangements. I found myself soaking up all the fascinating tidbits. For instance, it’s intriguing that men can have concubines, and their wives are not allowed to show displeasure or jealousy. It is considered one of the deadly sins a wife can commit, and it is punishable by expulsion from their homes. I also found it interesting that male children are more revered than female children. This is quite similar to old African traditions where only male children can inherit properties.
The main characters are well-developed and extremely easy to identify with. Lady Sougyon comes across as a brave yet sensitive woman. She is shackled by the traditions of her people, but still fiercely determined to raise her son the best way she could despite her circumstances. Embon appears to be a spoiled man child who had everything and became complacent due to a debilitating illness that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He eventually found his calling as a political activist and grew into a brave hero.
There’s nothing I disliked about this book as it was such an engrossing read. I’ll therefore rate it a four out of four stars. I couldn't find any error, so I can say it was exceptionally well-edited. Readers of all ages would find it fascinating and informative. However, it might trigger the sensibilities of some readers to read about the gory details of Japan's oppression. If you love historical fiction, this will keep you greatly entertained. If you love learning about different cultures in general and Korean’s culture in particular, please pick up this book.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Moonlight Serenade by Terry Mark
