Review of The Vanished
-
Leasa Ana Maria
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 364
- Joined: 01 Feb 2022, 16:54
- Favorite Book: The Devil Pulls the Strings
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 192
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-leasa-ana-maria.html
- Latest Review: 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer
Review of The Vanished
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
The Vanished by Pejay Bradley, is a fiction novel set during the Japanese occupation of Korea. An angry nation filled with all of Japan's injustices, ready to start a revolution in search of freedom, is the setting for the story. The book presents a few perspectives on the story, and as the story goes on, these sides can be seen intercalating and affecting each other. One of the main strands of the story presents the life of the royal family, focusing on the life of Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon. Married at a young age to Hob, an orphan without family and with a lost and forgotten ancestry, "a descendent of the once-powerful clan, Kim of Andong," in a period when those of high status, especially royals, could not divorce, she has to endure his infidelity, gambling, and absence. We can see the route of Embon's life, their son, his commendable academic achievements, and the events that bring truth and maturity to his life. Another perspective to the story is that of Mr. Seoh, a bank worker under a Japanese boss who wishes for liberation but in a peaceful way, not wanting to risk his family's safety. He is a "mild-mannered and progressive about most aspects of life" type of man, but one who "would not budge an inch from his firm embrace of the existing social class system." How will their lives intertwine?
One of the aspects of The Vanished by Pejay Bradley that I enjoyed was the author's description of people, environments, scenes, and objects. In every scene where food was described, my mouth would drool. For example, in the scene of the marriage of Hob and the princess, foods like "charcoal-barbecued ribs, marinated pork, roast chicken, pan-fried fish," and "rice cakes studded with walnuts and dates, rice cakes covered with crushed red beans, rice cakes mixed with chestnuts" were served. I never had rice cake, but it didn’t stop my body from reacting like it had been deprived of food for days. That was the caliber of the book's descriptions and attention to detail. Another aspect that I liked about the book was the depth and substance of the characters, as well as the range of emotions displayed throughout the story. I could see the pain and hardship a wife has to endure from her in-laws and her inability to speak or comment on her husband’s words. I could feel the anguish and longing for the freedom of those living under the Japanese occupation.
As I read the book, I couldn’t find any negative aspects to complain about. The entire time, I was immersed and intrigued by the story and by the range of themes and emotions displayed, from love, grief, hate, and suffering to anger, hope, and many others.
While reading, I noticed that the book was exceptionally well-edited. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn’t find any negative aspects to complain about. The style of writing was easy to understand and read, and there were many positive aspects that I discussed in another paragraph.
I recommend The Vanished by Pejay Bradley to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction concerning Korea and Japan. I also recommend it for those who like reading books that have characters with depth and can portray a wide range of emotions and themes.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Vanished by Pejay Bradley, is a fiction novel set during the Japanese occupation of Korea. An angry nation filled with all of Japan's injustices, ready to start a revolution in search of freedom, is the setting for the story. The book presents a few perspectives on the story, and as the story goes on, these sides can be seen intercalating and affecting each other. One of the main strands of the story presents the life of the royal family, focusing on the life of Lady Sougyon, the daughter of Prince Aansoon. Married at a young age to Hob, an orphan without family and with a lost and forgotten ancestry, "a descendent of the once-powerful clan, Kim of Andong," in a period when those of high status, especially royals, could not divorce, she has to endure his infidelity, gambling, and absence. We can see the route of Embon's life, their son, his commendable academic achievements, and the events that bring truth and maturity to his life. Another perspective to the story is that of Mr. Seoh, a bank worker under a Japanese boss who wishes for liberation but in a peaceful way, not wanting to risk his family's safety. He is a "mild-mannered and progressive about most aspects of life" type of man, but one who "would not budge an inch from his firm embrace of the existing social class system." How will their lives intertwine?
One of the aspects of The Vanished by Pejay Bradley that I enjoyed was the author's description of people, environments, scenes, and objects. In every scene where food was described, my mouth would drool. For example, in the scene of the marriage of Hob and the princess, foods like "charcoal-barbecued ribs, marinated pork, roast chicken, pan-fried fish," and "rice cakes studded with walnuts and dates, rice cakes covered with crushed red beans, rice cakes mixed with chestnuts" were served. I never had rice cake, but it didn’t stop my body from reacting like it had been deprived of food for days. That was the caliber of the book's descriptions and attention to detail. Another aspect that I liked about the book was the depth and substance of the characters, as well as the range of emotions displayed throughout the story. I could see the pain and hardship a wife has to endure from her in-laws and her inability to speak or comment on her husband’s words. I could feel the anguish and longing for the freedom of those living under the Japanese occupation.
As I read the book, I couldn’t find any negative aspects to complain about. The entire time, I was immersed and intrigued by the story and by the range of themes and emotions displayed, from love, grief, hate, and suffering to anger, hope, and many others.
While reading, I noticed that the book was exceptionally well-edited. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn’t find any negative aspects to complain about. The style of writing was easy to understand and read, and there were many positive aspects that I discussed in another paragraph.
I recommend The Vanished by Pejay Bradley to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction concerning Korea and Japan. I also recommend it for those who like reading books that have characters with depth and can portray a wide range of emotions and themes.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
