Review of The Vanished
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Rosa Joy
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Review of The Vanished
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
Embon was born from an arranged marriage between a princess and a poor orphan in Korea during the early 1900. His father deserted him and his mother, but kept asking for large sums of money to squander. His parents could not divorce because that was highly frowned upon by the culture. It would shame relatives far and wide. The princess raised Embon in a happy home, providing him with the highest quality of education. It was at university that he made three friends who became dear to him. In the meantime, the Japanese government took over Korea through the Annexation Treaty. Korea was not happy that their kingship of five hundred years was being taken over without a fight. Koo is one of the educated Koreans who started resistance against the Japanese regime. He refused to be employed by a Japanese and ended up organizing underground movements. Embon found himself amid resistance, where his friends were starving and being killed. This story is narrated in The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
Notable aspects of the book made me enjoy it. Most outstanding is the writing style employed. The story is told from varying points of view. The princess describes her heartbroken existence after the marriage. She hints at her taste for simplicity in material possessions and her love for her son. The third-person perspective is adopted to report on politics and royalties. This includes the telling of how the beloved king Gojong begot a daughter whom he adored. The dialog felt realistic in all aspects.
Emotional scenes are prevalent in The Vanished: A Novel. I felt the despair of the princess for not being loved by her husband. Embon was consumed by the agony of losing dear friends to the protests against the Japanese takeover. He further developed a hate for the father, who was lazy and held misconceptions about many things. There are illuminating cultural practices in the story. Arranged marriage was the order of the day for high-class people. Divorce was not spoken of no matter what happened in the marriage. Other traditions mostly performed by women ranged from unquestionably serving a man, and his family, and rituals for the dead. There was even a clan that would not work in any other position except in the government. They would rather starve to death.
Throughout my reading, I did not find anything to dislike about the book. The editing and organization of the book were outstanding. The book was an emotional piece. Just like the lives of young valiant characters ended abruptly in their youths, I felt so was the book. It left me imagining what would come later.
I rate it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. It contained an enjoyable plot, sufficiently developed characters, and was entertaining. It showcased bravery in times of oppression. The book is a memento for the many young lives that lie in unmarked graves all over the world.
I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy stories in the realm of adventure, coming-of-age, historical fiction, and ancient cultures. It is free of errors and there is no obscene language used. It is fast-paced and can be read in a few sittings.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Embon was born from an arranged marriage between a princess and a poor orphan in Korea during the early 1900. His father deserted him and his mother, but kept asking for large sums of money to squander. His parents could not divorce because that was highly frowned upon by the culture. It would shame relatives far and wide. The princess raised Embon in a happy home, providing him with the highest quality of education. It was at university that he made three friends who became dear to him. In the meantime, the Japanese government took over Korea through the Annexation Treaty. Korea was not happy that their kingship of five hundred years was being taken over without a fight. Koo is one of the educated Koreans who started resistance against the Japanese regime. He refused to be employed by a Japanese and ended up organizing underground movements. Embon found himself amid resistance, where his friends were starving and being killed. This story is narrated in The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
Notable aspects of the book made me enjoy it. Most outstanding is the writing style employed. The story is told from varying points of view. The princess describes her heartbroken existence after the marriage. She hints at her taste for simplicity in material possessions and her love for her son. The third-person perspective is adopted to report on politics and royalties. This includes the telling of how the beloved king Gojong begot a daughter whom he adored. The dialog felt realistic in all aspects.
Emotional scenes are prevalent in The Vanished: A Novel. I felt the despair of the princess for not being loved by her husband. Embon was consumed by the agony of losing dear friends to the protests against the Japanese takeover. He further developed a hate for the father, who was lazy and held misconceptions about many things. There are illuminating cultural practices in the story. Arranged marriage was the order of the day for high-class people. Divorce was not spoken of no matter what happened in the marriage. Other traditions mostly performed by women ranged from unquestionably serving a man, and his family, and rituals for the dead. There was even a clan that would not work in any other position except in the government. They would rather starve to death.
Throughout my reading, I did not find anything to dislike about the book. The editing and organization of the book were outstanding. The book was an emotional piece. Just like the lives of young valiant characters ended abruptly in their youths, I felt so was the book. It left me imagining what would come later.
I rate it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. It contained an enjoyable plot, sufficiently developed characters, and was entertaining. It showcased bravery in times of oppression. The book is a memento for the many young lives that lie in unmarked graves all over the world.
I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy stories in the realm of adventure, coming-of-age, historical fiction, and ancient cultures. It is free of errors and there is no obscene language used. It is fast-paced and can be read in a few sittings.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Final Keystone by John Kevin Crowley
