How We Disappeared

In Singapore, 2000, a young boy discovers a secret about his grandmother that connects to her hidden past during World War II. The story moves between this contemporary narrative and events from the Japanese occupation of Singapore in the 1940s. The novel centers on Wang Di, who survives as a "comfort woman" in Japanese military brothels during the occupation, and Kevin, whose modern-day investigation uncovers long-buried truths about his family. Their parallel stories reveal the lasting impact of war across generations. The narrative explores personal and collective trauma in Singaporean history, particularly focusing on the experiences of women who were forced into sexual slavery. Through its dual timeline structure, the book examines how silence and shame can echo through decades. This critically acclaimed work brings attention to a overlooked chapter of World War II history while exploring themes of memory, survival, and the complex ways families carry their histories forward through time.

Readers commend the dual timeline structure and the way Lee handles sensitive historical content about comfort women during WWII. Many note the book's impact on their understanding of Singaporean history. Likes: - Strong character development of Wang Di - Detailed historical research - Authentic portrayal of Singaporean culture - Balance between past and present narratives Dislikes: - Some find the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers struggled with the timeline shifts - Several mention difficulty with the Singaporean dialect terms Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (580+ ratings) Book Depository: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) One reader notes: "The prose hits hard without being gratuitous." Another states: "The grandmother's story gripped me, but Kevin's chapters felt less compelling." Many reviewers mention crying during certain chapters, with multiple comments about the emotional impact of Wang Di's testimonies.

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⚡ Over 200,000 women across Asia were forced into sexual slavery as "comfort women" during World War II, yet many survivors kept their experiences secret for decades. ⚡ Author Jing-Jing Lee spent four years researching and writing the novel, including conducting interviews with former comfort women and their families in Singapore. ⚡ The Japanese occupation of Singapore (1942-1945) was known locally as "Syonan-to" (Light of the South), though this period was marked by severe hardship and atrocities. ⚡ The novel was inspired by Lee's own grandmother, who lived through the Japanese occupation but never spoke about her wartime experiences. ⚡ "How We Disappeared" was longlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction and won the 2020 Singapore Literature Prize in the English Fiction category.