Review of The Vanished
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Pindiwe Ntuli
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Review of The Vanished
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
It is books like this that make me appreciate living in the 21st century, a period of incredible technological advancement and liberties. The life portrayed in The Vanished by Pejay Bradley takes place in the 20th century during the invasion of Korea by Japan. The story revolves around Embon, the only son of a princess, and his progression from childhood to early adulthood. The storyteller is Lady Sougyon, Embon's mother, a royal princess trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. At the time of Embon's birth, his father is nowhere to be found, a deep embarrassment to the royal family. Embon and his mother live a life of privilege, complete with servants waiting on them hand and foot.
Lady Sougyon and Embon lived at a time when women were expected to get married at all costs, preferably in their teens, and spend their lives at home raising a family and dutifully supporting their husbands. The Japanese brought with them European education and a European way of life. When the Japanese took over, Lady Sougyon's father was one of six Koreans bestowed with a title that came with many privileges, including a dowry, and, retention of all his properties and farms. Such was the legacy into which Embon was born. He excelled in school and skipped two classes to make an early university entrance. Friends he made at university opened his eyes to the plight of the Koreans and, from them, he learned about the existence of the underground resistance movement that was fighting Japanese domination. Despite his European upbringing and education, he could not escape the tradition of an arranged marriage, spearheaded by his doting mother.
Jailed for his underground activities, Embon contracted tuberculosis during incarceration and spent time at home in Seoul recovering, after his release. His search for a purposeful life led him back to his university friends, who were working full-time for the resistance movement in Shanghai. Interestingly, Embon easily fell back into his old commanding ways when his mother's servant visited him in Shanghai for a few days, ordering him around and expecting him to cater to his every whim. His self-awareness and desire to contribute meaningfully to society made him send the servant back home to Seoul, before his planned departure date. Embon struggled to continue with the movement after the loss of his closest friend, Hain, who perished at the hands of the Japanese soldiers, along with nine other men. The incident created doubt about continuing with the struggle for the emancipation of the Korean people. Yet, he reasoned that going back to his old privileged life, which he considered aimless, was not an option.
I liked the educational value of the book, a history lesson, though based on fictional characters. It gives a glimpse of a bygone era and tells the story of the occupation of Korea by Japan, a real-life event, from the Korean perspective. It is a good start for anybody who desires to learn more. The book is simply written, making it easy to track the different characters that had an impact on Embon's life, whether directly or indirectly. It is suitable for all persons interested in history and just anybody who wants to read for leisure. Because it's a wartime story, there are graphic scenes that may be disturbing to the sensitive reader.
There is nothing negative about the book despite the abrupt ending. Could there be a sequel in the pipeline? There are definitely emotional and nail-biting moments that make The Vanished an interesting read. Except for a couple of minor errors, not glaring in any way, the book earns a deserving 5 out of 5 stars.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
It is books like this that make me appreciate living in the 21st century, a period of incredible technological advancement and liberties. The life portrayed in The Vanished by Pejay Bradley takes place in the 20th century during the invasion of Korea by Japan. The story revolves around Embon, the only son of a princess, and his progression from childhood to early adulthood. The storyteller is Lady Sougyon, Embon's mother, a royal princess trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. At the time of Embon's birth, his father is nowhere to be found, a deep embarrassment to the royal family. Embon and his mother live a life of privilege, complete with servants waiting on them hand and foot.
Lady Sougyon and Embon lived at a time when women were expected to get married at all costs, preferably in their teens, and spend their lives at home raising a family and dutifully supporting their husbands. The Japanese brought with them European education and a European way of life. When the Japanese took over, Lady Sougyon's father was one of six Koreans bestowed with a title that came with many privileges, including a dowry, and, retention of all his properties and farms. Such was the legacy into which Embon was born. He excelled in school and skipped two classes to make an early university entrance. Friends he made at university opened his eyes to the plight of the Koreans and, from them, he learned about the existence of the underground resistance movement that was fighting Japanese domination. Despite his European upbringing and education, he could not escape the tradition of an arranged marriage, spearheaded by his doting mother.
Jailed for his underground activities, Embon contracted tuberculosis during incarceration and spent time at home in Seoul recovering, after his release. His search for a purposeful life led him back to his university friends, who were working full-time for the resistance movement in Shanghai. Interestingly, Embon easily fell back into his old commanding ways when his mother's servant visited him in Shanghai for a few days, ordering him around and expecting him to cater to his every whim. His self-awareness and desire to contribute meaningfully to society made him send the servant back home to Seoul, before his planned departure date. Embon struggled to continue with the movement after the loss of his closest friend, Hain, who perished at the hands of the Japanese soldiers, along with nine other men. The incident created doubt about continuing with the struggle for the emancipation of the Korean people. Yet, he reasoned that going back to his old privileged life, which he considered aimless, was not an option.
I liked the educational value of the book, a history lesson, though based on fictional characters. It gives a glimpse of a bygone era and tells the story of the occupation of Korea by Japan, a real-life event, from the Korean perspective. It is a good start for anybody who desires to learn more. The book is simply written, making it easy to track the different characters that had an impact on Embon's life, whether directly or indirectly. It is suitable for all persons interested in history and just anybody who wants to read for leisure. Because it's a wartime story, there are graphic scenes that may be disturbing to the sensitive reader.
There is nothing negative about the book despite the abrupt ending. Could there be a sequel in the pipeline? There are definitely emotional and nail-biting moments that make The Vanished an interesting read. Except for a couple of minor errors, not glaring in any way, the book earns a deserving 5 out of 5 stars.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
