Review of The Vanished
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Jessica045
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Review of The Vanished
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
Mature and sound judgment cannot be stressed enough, and those come from life experience gained over the years. The Vanished by Pejay Bradley was the story of a man who had a lot going on around him. It discussed so many themes, ranging from politics to belief, hope, family, freedom, and culture.
Embon, a Korean boy, was born with signs that indicated that he would not be successful in life. Although his parents were separated and estranged, he got to live as an aristocrat, which accorded him some special privileges. At that time, the Japanese invaded the country of Korea, which led to cries of freedom and the rise of revolutions, to the point of soliciting help from the Japanese enemies, China and Russia. Embon gets admitted into the prestigious Imperial University, where he becomes friends with three other Koreans. They felt the injustice and marginalization of the Koreans and moved out to fight for a just cause. How will all this end? How will the prophecy of Embon come to play in his life? Read this book to find out.
The author employed a writing style that was not only engaging but also intriguing. The book was written from two perspectives: that of Embon's mother and the omniscience point of view. The novel was written in a simple language, including a little bit of the Korean language to showcase the background. Through vivid descriptions and details, the author facilitated imagery and a more interesting read. The plot was filled with twists, turns, and suspense that would make one want to read on. Although some might say that the novel was slow-paced, I see it as the author's writing skill. The book also had a beautiful cover page.
Just as someone said, the fact that the book was about the Koreans attracted me, as I so much love their movies. The author did not fail in this, as the book extensively explored Korean culture and history. Through the book, I got to learn some of their values and cultures that are similar to those of Africa, where I come from. Examples include how divorce is frowned upon, detested, and regarded as a lack of quality virtues; the importance of having a male issue; and how important it was for people to marry within their class, particularly the wealthy. The book further explored and tallied with some Korean history, such as the invasion of the Koreans by the Japanese.
The Vanished could be termed a character-driven novel as the book centered on Embon as a character and his relationships with other people right from his birth to the early adult stage. Despite this fact, there were other characters that were developed and had significant effects on his life, such as his mother, Lady Sougyon, who facilitated his wealthy and aristocratic lifestyle. Others included his three friends from university, who symbolized the country's heroes through their activities during the revolution.
There were a few things that did not go down well with me. One such example was the character Mr. Seoh, whose strong passion for his career made him have a rather nonchalant disposition towards the affairs of the Korean government. The author also did not reveal much about Embon's father, and more light being shed on how the Korean struggle ended would have been appreciated. These are, however, not enough to deduct a star from this book’s rating. The book was professionally edited, as I encountered no errors while reading it. Therefore, I rate this book four out of four stars for being educative and perfectly written. The book was educational as it taught the structure of the Korean government, showcased the invasion of Korea by the Japanese and its consequences on all and sundry, and chronicled the resulting struggle for independence and other activities in Asia at that time.
I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction. Individuals that are interested in Korean culture are most welcome.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Mature and sound judgment cannot be stressed enough, and those come from life experience gained over the years. The Vanished by Pejay Bradley was the story of a man who had a lot going on around him. It discussed so many themes, ranging from politics to belief, hope, family, freedom, and culture.
Embon, a Korean boy, was born with signs that indicated that he would not be successful in life. Although his parents were separated and estranged, he got to live as an aristocrat, which accorded him some special privileges. At that time, the Japanese invaded the country of Korea, which led to cries of freedom and the rise of revolutions, to the point of soliciting help from the Japanese enemies, China and Russia. Embon gets admitted into the prestigious Imperial University, where he becomes friends with three other Koreans. They felt the injustice and marginalization of the Koreans and moved out to fight for a just cause. How will all this end? How will the prophecy of Embon come to play in his life? Read this book to find out.
The author employed a writing style that was not only engaging but also intriguing. The book was written from two perspectives: that of Embon's mother and the omniscience point of view. The novel was written in a simple language, including a little bit of the Korean language to showcase the background. Through vivid descriptions and details, the author facilitated imagery and a more interesting read. The plot was filled with twists, turns, and suspense that would make one want to read on. Although some might say that the novel was slow-paced, I see it as the author's writing skill. The book also had a beautiful cover page.
Just as someone said, the fact that the book was about the Koreans attracted me, as I so much love their movies. The author did not fail in this, as the book extensively explored Korean culture and history. Through the book, I got to learn some of their values and cultures that are similar to those of Africa, where I come from. Examples include how divorce is frowned upon, detested, and regarded as a lack of quality virtues; the importance of having a male issue; and how important it was for people to marry within their class, particularly the wealthy. The book further explored and tallied with some Korean history, such as the invasion of the Koreans by the Japanese.
The Vanished could be termed a character-driven novel as the book centered on Embon as a character and his relationships with other people right from his birth to the early adult stage. Despite this fact, there were other characters that were developed and had significant effects on his life, such as his mother, Lady Sougyon, who facilitated his wealthy and aristocratic lifestyle. Others included his three friends from university, who symbolized the country's heroes through their activities during the revolution.
There were a few things that did not go down well with me. One such example was the character Mr. Seoh, whose strong passion for his career made him have a rather nonchalant disposition towards the affairs of the Korean government. The author also did not reveal much about Embon's father, and more light being shed on how the Korean struggle ended would have been appreciated. These are, however, not enough to deduct a star from this book’s rating. The book was professionally edited, as I encountered no errors while reading it. Therefore, I rate this book four out of four stars for being educative and perfectly written. The book was educational as it taught the structure of the Korean government, showcased the invasion of Korea by the Japanese and its consequences on all and sundry, and chronicled the resulting struggle for independence and other activities in Asia at that time.
I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction. Individuals that are interested in Korean culture are most welcome.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: George by James H Russell
