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How We Disappeared

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Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020

Weaving together two time lines and two very big secrets, this stunning debut opens a window on a little-known period of history, revealing the strength and bravery shown by numerous women in the face of terrible cruelty.

Singapore, 1942. As Japanese troops sweep down Malaysia and into Singapore, a village is ransacked, leaving only two survivors and one tiny child. In a neighbouring village, 17-year-old Wang Di is bundled into the back of a troop carrier and shipped off to a Japanese military brothel where she is forced into sexual slavery. After 60 years of silence, what she saw and experienced there still haunts her present.

In the year 2000, 12-year-old Kevin is determined to find out the truth - wherever it might lead - after his grandmother makes a surprising confession on her deathbed, one she never meant Kevin to hear, setting in motion a chain of events he could never have foreseen.

A profoundly moving novel, based partly on the author's great-grandfather’s experiences.

©2019 Jing-Jing Lee (P)2019 Harlequin Audio 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Political World Literature Singapore Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Feel-Good Imperial Japan Village China
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As a girl growing up in Singapore and Malaysia, during 70’s and 80’s I had heard horrific stories of the Japanese invasion. At that time it was still rumoured that some women used the invasion to their benefit by prostituting themselves to the Japanese soldiers , these women were still spoken about as social pariahs,rejected even by their own families . Due to strict cultural and moral beliefs , these girls were so ashamed of what had happened to them,they could never discuss the horrific truths until they were in their golden years and the world had made the changes necessary to speak out. Although fiction this book is, I believe based on someone’s story .The brutality of the Japanese towards girls taken from their homes , some just mere children is heartbreaking. The trauma suffered by these girls and women is unforgivable, not just during their torture and abuse but long after the war, so shamed , so traumatised so silenced.
Jung-Jing Lee characters recreate in words the true struggles of psychological trauma and the suffering of post trauma throughout a lifetime. The author protectively maintains her characters strength,dignity,hope and the ability to love , which is so cleverly created within its ending.
❤️🙏🏻

A heart breaking story that needs to be heard at last .

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this was amazing and also not for the faint hearted. it centres around the Japanese Occupation and war and what happened to the women of a small village and a neighbouring one. it's such a powerful story.

heart wrenching but full of hope

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I found this story exceedingly interesting, very well written from the different perspectives (it took me a little to get used to that). A part of history that needs telling. The narration was equally excellent.

Excellent story, well narrated

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I feel uneducated regarding the Second World War fought in the pacific. So it is good to get a little knowledge of the atrocities that happened there.

This book tells a very sad story of the comfort women for the Japanese soldiers many of whom were stolen from their villages.

The writing is very poetic dnd gentle for such a hard and harrowing story, however it does not seem strange and the book flows,

My only grievance was atomes it was difficult to follow in that it was confusing so I had to do a fair bit of rewinding…. So no listening if your doing other jobs that might distract you,

The expert and soft tones of the narrators made the book come to life.

Poetic in its sadness

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A book that held my attention until it finished. Such bravery (it’s based on a true story) from the women. A book that everyone should read and a time in history that’s hardly mentioned.

A Harrowing Tale

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