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claudiatralenuvole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Straziante tutto ciò che ha riguardo le donne di conforto, compreso lo stigma sociale succeduto alla fine della guerra.
Ho apprezzato il modo in cui la storia di Wang Di si interseca a quella di Kevin. I capitoli del ragazzo erano meno intensi ma comunque molto toccanti per il suo modo di raccontare il bullismo, la depressione del padre e il desiderio di rimediare.
Una lettura che mi ha commossa in più punti e che insegnando qualcosa di greve riesce allo stesso tempo a donare una conclusione liberatoria.
Graphic: Rape and Terminal illness
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Murder
adelheid's review
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thelaurasaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Violence, Blood, and War
thomasdj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
cerilou's review against another edition
- 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 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
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
katiedatie21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Blood and Alcohol
betag1013's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
lizkoroskenyi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and War
drraytay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy
daniela_is_reading's review against another edition
4.25
SYNOPSIS and THOUGHTS:
I've read a number of war based novels over the years. Some, have been standouts and will stay with me forever. 'How we Disappeared' is one of these standouts. Jing-Jing Lee speaks of the abhorrent experience and treatment of women and children during the 3 year Japanese occupation of Singapore in WWII.
Children as young as 12 were taken from their families and forced to work in a military brothel. They called them, 'comfort women', but they were in fact sex slaves, living in poor conditions, underfed and often beaten and raped multiple times on a daily basis. Many never saw their families and friends again. They, just disappeared.
In this beautifully told but heart wrenching story we follow the life of Wang Di prior the Japanese occupation, during her 3 years at the military brothel and much later as an elderly women in search of her voice and peace after losing her beloved husband.
Also, fast forward to the year 2000, and we get to know, and love 12 year old Kevin. Kevin's frail grandmother, in her dying breath mumbles a confession to Kevin which sets a ball in motion. Kevin is determined to find answers. In doing so, it leads him straight to Wang Di, where many truths not spoken about for decades are revealed.
This is not a comfortable or light read, but I feel it's an important one. It took me a little longer to finish, as at times, I had to put it down and have a break. However, I have no regrets reading it.
Please note, prior picking this one up that it's heavy and can be triggering to some.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War