“How We Disappeared” by Jing-Jing Lee (Singapore)

Synopsis

Singapore, 1942. As Japanese troops sweep down Malaysia and into Singapore, a village is ransacked. Only three survivors remain, one of them a tiny child.

In a neighbouring village, seventeen-year-old Wang Di is bundled into the back of a troop carrier and shipped off to a Japanese military rape camp. In the year 2000, her mind is still haunted by her experiences there, but she has long been silent about her memories of that time. It takes twelve-year-old Kevin, and the mumbled confession he overhears from his ailing grandmother, to set in motion a journey into the unknown to discover the truth.

Weaving together two timelines and two life-changing secrets, How We Disappeared is an evocative, profoundly moving novel heralding the arrival of a new literary star.

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Review

“How We Disappeared” is a haunting and powerful novel that takes time to build but ultimately gripped the readers with its emotional depth and layered storytelling. The author masterfully weaves different perspectives through the eyes of young Kevin and the elderly Wang Di, to portray the long shadow of trauma left by the “comfort women” system in wartime Singapore. The dual timeline structure offered readers a welcome rhythm, criss-crossing between past horrors and a present-day mystery that added emotional and narrative depth.

The book balances brutality and compassion, capturing the horrors endured with unflinching honesty while showing deep respect for the strength of its characters. The gruesome reality of Wang Di’s experience is never sensationalized, but rather delivered with a quiet intensity that kept the readers engaged. Lee’s sensitive portrayal honours the women’s suffering and resilience, making this a particularly disturbing but necessary read—one that leaves a lasting impact and demands reflection.

This seventh book of Season 25 scored 8.25 out of 10.

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Nicola’s Book Club reading list

Season 25 – 20^th anniversary (Oct 2024 – Jun 2025)

“Happiness™” by Will Ferguson (Canada)
“A Long Petal of the Sea” by Isabel Allende (Chile)
“Claire of the Sea Light” by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti) *
“Beyond the Door of No Return” by David Diop (Senegal)
“Happiness” by Aminatta Forna (UK – London)
“No One Prayed Over Their Graves” by Khaled Khalifa (Syria)
“How We Disappeared” by Jing-Jing Lee (Singapore)
“Amnesia” by Peter Carey (Australia)

* The book club favourite
In italics, Nicola’s Coup de Cœur