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clarinechow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, and Rape
etyines's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
these are the stories that need to be told! fuck war and colonialism!
i love the subtle nods to language here, wang di communicating with the girls in broken bits of various languages, kevin learning traditional chinese, it just adds a bit more richness and color and helps highlight how much of a melting pot singapore really is.
i love the subtle nods to language here, wang di communicating with the girls in broken bits of various languages, kevin learning traditional chinese, it just adds a bit more richness and color and helps highlight how much of a melting pot singapore really is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, War, and Death of parent
enmcurrie's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
I didn’t know much about Comfort Women, or the Japanese occupation of Singapore prior to reading so it was so interesting to learn more about that time period. A beautiful book with different POVs that end up interconnected. Wang Di’s story is harrowing, her trauma remains with her for years and her refusal to delve into the past is saddening. The storyline is based on very real events that many vulnerable young women had to face, which makes it even more emotive. And although the overall tone of the novel is sad, the ending is quite heartwarming. I love this book, it’s a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and War
myiesha_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, War, Violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Grief, and Confinement
Moderate: Bullying
beriboo's review against another edition
3.5
A Necessary Exploration of Sexual Assault
How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee is a poignant and important novel that tackles the difficult topic of sexual assault during wartime. While the book brings attention to this often-overlooked aspect of history, it falls short in fully capturing the emotional impact and depth of the characters' experiences.
Lee's writing style is descriptive and evocative, effectively transporting readers to the harrowing world of the survivors of sexual slavery during World War II. The author's research is evident, and she skillfully weaves historical details into the narrative, shedding light on a dark chapter of human history.
The characters in How We Disappeared are complex and their struggles are portrayed with sensitivity. Lee explores the themes of shame, guilt, and the search for identity with nuance, allowing readers to empathize with the survivors and witness their resilience. The portrayal of the female characters, in particular, is handled with care and respect, highlighting their strength and determination.
However, the book suffers from pacing issues although the subject matter is undoubtedly difficult. Additionally, the book occasionally relies on shocking and graphic scenes to convey the horrors of sexual assault. While these moments are undoubtedly powerful, they can sometimes feel exploitative and sensationalised, detracting from a more nuanced exploration of the survivors' experiences.
Despite these shortcomings, How We Disappeared serves as an important reminder of the atrocities committed during wartime and the resilience of those affected. Jing-Jing Lee's willingness to tackle such a difficult topic deserves recognition. Although the book may not fully capture the emotional depth and complexity of the characters' experiences, it serves as a stepping stone for further discussions and awareness surrounding sexual assault during times of conflict. Readers interested in historical fiction and willing to confront challenging subject matter will find value in How We Disappeared.
How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee is a poignant and important novel that tackles the difficult topic of sexual assault during wartime. While the book brings attention to this often-overlooked aspect of history, it falls short in fully capturing the emotional impact and depth of the characters' experiences.
Lee's writing style is descriptive and evocative, effectively transporting readers to the harrowing world of the survivors of sexual slavery during World War II. The author's research is evident, and she skillfully weaves historical details into the narrative, shedding light on a dark chapter of human history.
The characters in How We Disappeared are complex and their struggles are portrayed with sensitivity. Lee explores the themes of shame, guilt, and the search for identity with nuance, allowing readers to empathize with the survivors and witness their resilience. The portrayal of the female characters, in particular, is handled with care and respect, highlighting their strength and determination.
However, the book suffers from pacing issues although the subject matter is undoubtedly difficult. Additionally, the book occasionally relies on shocking and graphic scenes to convey the horrors of sexual assault. While these moments are undoubtedly powerful, they can sometimes feel exploitative and sensationalised, detracting from a more nuanced exploration of the survivors' experiences.
Despite these shortcomings, How We Disappeared serves as an important reminder of the atrocities committed during wartime and the resilience of those affected. Jing-Jing Lee's willingness to tackle such a difficult topic deserves recognition. Although the book may not fully capture the emotional depth and complexity of the characters' experiences, it serves as a stepping stone for further discussions and awareness surrounding sexual assault during times of conflict. Readers interested in historical fiction and willing to confront challenging subject matter will find value in How We Disappeared.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
margueriteleech's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Harrowing in all the right ways. Beautiful prose and evocative writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Torture, Sexual violence, Death, Kidnapping, Child death, and Rape
havelock's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
chnfrng's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m so happy I found this book. It tells a story that many of those living in Japanese-occupied Singapore / Malaya know but rarely tell.
World war 2 is often told from a European and male perspective. How we disappeared tells us about horrors of the war rarely told in the western world - and from a female perspective. This book is incredibly important and I urge everyone to read it. It’s not a light-hearted read by any means. The main characters are so human and gracefully written, I see so many elements of family members I know in Wang Di, her family and Kevin’s father which made this reading experience even more emotional and important.
I disagree with many of the reviews on here saying that Kevin’s part was unnecessary / interrupted Wang Di’s tale. I thought it was important for many reasons:
- this story would have been extremely heavy to read without the contrast of Kevin.
- Kevin represents hope, a new generation, our generation, who doesn’t want to bury the past in the past. His willingness to search for Ah Ma’s lost history contrasts the typical mindset of older Asian generations to never speak about trauma and let the past die.
- without Kevin, Wang Di would never have got the closure she sorely needed and deserved. According to the book’s narrative, she would have never even told her story. And despite all of the injustice done to her in her life, finally she can grow old with a loving family that chooses her, and helps her to deal with her trauma.
World war 2 is often told from a European and male perspective. How we disappeared tells us about horrors of the war rarely told in the western world - and from a female perspective. This book is incredibly important and I urge everyone to read it. It’s not a light-hearted read by any means. The main characters are so human and gracefully written, I see so many elements of family members I know in Wang Di, her family and Kevin’s father which made this reading experience even more emotional and important.
I disagree with many of the reviews on here saying that Kevin’s part was unnecessary / interrupted Wang Di’s tale. I thought it was important for many reasons:
- this story would have been extremely heavy to read without the contrast of Kevin.
- Kevin represents hope, a new generation, our generation, who doesn’t want to bury the past in the past. His willingness to search for Ah Ma’s lost history contrasts the typical mindset of older Asian generations to never speak about trauma and let the past die.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, War, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness
cerilou's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I stumbled across this book whilst looking for books based on refugees for a reading challenge.
I have never really ventured in to reading historical fiction set in Asian countries especially around World War Two, Asian historical fiction is a sub genre that I was unaware of and I am a little disappointed to admit this.
This was a very moving, intriguing, informative and inspiring read that I am glad that I stumbled upon by chance and I am certainly going to aim to add more Asian historical fiction to my TBR list.
How we disappeared follows Wang Di during the war as a ‘comfort woman’ for the Japanese soldiers during World War Two, as well as Kevin who ventures on a discovery of the truth based on this ailing grandmother.
I certainly feel that I have learnt a very small snippet of Asian history from reading this book during World War Two and it broke my heart that this sort of thing happened and the horror and sense of shame is most certainly felt for the duration of the stories. Jing Jing Lee has done these women justice through this story about what the different families went through during World War Two.
I will mention that it may cause triggers concerning rape, sexual assault, abuse
I have never really ventured in to reading historical fiction set in Asian countries especially around World War Two, Asian historical fiction is a sub genre that I was unaware of and I am a little disappointed to admit this.
This was a very moving, intriguing, informative and inspiring read that I am glad that I stumbled upon by chance and I am certainly going to aim to add more Asian historical fiction to my TBR list.
How we disappeared follows Wang Di during the war as a ‘comfort woman’ for the Japanese soldiers during World War Two, as well as Kevin who ventures on a discovery of the truth based on this ailing grandmother.
I certainly feel that I have learnt a very small snippet of Asian history from reading this book during World War Two and it broke my heart that this sort of thing happened and the horror and sense of shame is most certainly felt for the duration of the stories. Jing Jing Lee has done these women justice through this story about what the different families went through during World War Two.
I will mention that it may cause triggers concerning rape, sexual assault, abuse
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and War
alusig's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts