Review by Costello11 -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
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Costello11
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Review by Costello11 -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
Life’s social rankings in Korea in the early 1900s were predictable. Whatever life you were born into was the life you were expected to live. A poor farmer, a middle-class banker, or royalty; your life was predetermined. Marriage was no different. Arranged marriage meant that love was not a factor. In this novel, we are shown how meaningless life can feel when you are denied the chance to love, stuck in an endless cycle of marital duties, and a divorce is never an option. Over the centuries, war has been inescapable. Many nations and cultures have fought and died throughout history for freedom from their oppressors. Throughout years of suffering oppressed people have held on to the hope of a better future for themselves and for generations to come. Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a historical fiction novel that depicts cultural tradition and the Korean resistance against Japan in the early 1900s.
In this novel, we are captivated by Korea’s seemingly endless fight to gain freedom from Japan’s crushing grasp. Through this war and sorrow, we witness the day-to-day struggles of the people within this nation. Korea cries out as we witness the unjust death of its citizens. The blood that is spilled mixes with their tears and shouts for freedom. We also witness the struggle for love, respect, the desire to be accepted, and the devastation that takes hold when these parts of life are denied.
The daughter of a Korean prince finds herself in these hopeless cycles, wondering why life has turned out so bitter, with only the birth of her son, Embon to bring her joy. However, Embon finds himself with struggles of his own as he enters his young adult years. Embon finds himself up against more than just heartache when he sees the horrors of war and oppression firsthand. It is the crushing truth of life and the fight for freedom that will either be his undoing or a building block to the strength he needs to carry on.
I would rate this novel three out of four stars. I am giving this novel three stars instead of four because of the grammatical errors found throughout the novel. While these are not major errors, they are present non the less. While the lives of these characters are realistic, I felt that the author could have gone into more detail, especially in the ending. There are times throughout the novel where you wonder what happens to certain characters and how events unfold, unfortunately, the author leaves us wondering. I would not rate this novel lower than three stars because of the determination of these characters and the strong development of the story. The princess’s life of loneliness and heartache pulls at the reader’s emotion. Her resolve to not give up for the sake of her son, so that he may have a fruitful life, is something that can resonate with many mothers around the world.
It is easy to want a happy ending for these characters after seeing the many horrors they must face. Although a lot of outcomes in this novel are heart-wrenching, it is a strong depiction of reality. Heartache, loss, upsetting conversations with loved ones are all a part of life. Especially for a nation bound by war and old tradition, injustice is a part of their everyday life. I would recommend this novel to audiences who enjoy multicultural historical fiction based on times of war.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Life’s social rankings in Korea in the early 1900s were predictable. Whatever life you were born into was the life you were expected to live. A poor farmer, a middle-class banker, or royalty; your life was predetermined. Marriage was no different. Arranged marriage meant that love was not a factor. In this novel, we are shown how meaningless life can feel when you are denied the chance to love, stuck in an endless cycle of marital duties, and a divorce is never an option. Over the centuries, war has been inescapable. Many nations and cultures have fought and died throughout history for freedom from their oppressors. Throughout years of suffering oppressed people have held on to the hope of a better future for themselves and for generations to come. Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a historical fiction novel that depicts cultural tradition and the Korean resistance against Japan in the early 1900s.
In this novel, we are captivated by Korea’s seemingly endless fight to gain freedom from Japan’s crushing grasp. Through this war and sorrow, we witness the day-to-day struggles of the people within this nation. Korea cries out as we witness the unjust death of its citizens. The blood that is spilled mixes with their tears and shouts for freedom. We also witness the struggle for love, respect, the desire to be accepted, and the devastation that takes hold when these parts of life are denied.
The daughter of a Korean prince finds herself in these hopeless cycles, wondering why life has turned out so bitter, with only the birth of her son, Embon to bring her joy. However, Embon finds himself with struggles of his own as he enters his young adult years. Embon finds himself up against more than just heartache when he sees the horrors of war and oppression firsthand. It is the crushing truth of life and the fight for freedom that will either be his undoing or a building block to the strength he needs to carry on.
I would rate this novel three out of four stars. I am giving this novel three stars instead of four because of the grammatical errors found throughout the novel. While these are not major errors, they are present non the less. While the lives of these characters are realistic, I felt that the author could have gone into more detail, especially in the ending. There are times throughout the novel where you wonder what happens to certain characters and how events unfold, unfortunately, the author leaves us wondering. I would not rate this novel lower than three stars because of the determination of these characters and the strong development of the story. The princess’s life of loneliness and heartache pulls at the reader’s emotion. Her resolve to not give up for the sake of her son, so that he may have a fruitful life, is something that can resonate with many mothers around the world.
It is easy to want a happy ending for these characters after seeing the many horrors they must face. Although a lot of outcomes in this novel are heart-wrenching, it is a strong depiction of reality. Heartache, loss, upsetting conversations with loved ones are all a part of life. Especially for a nation bound by war and old tradition, injustice is a part of their everyday life. I would recommend this novel to audiences who enjoy multicultural historical fiction based on times of war.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer
