Dragon House

Dragon House by John Shors It is rare when an author can bring tears to your eyes within the first few pages of a book, but once again John Shors has the ability to do so with ease in his newest novel Dragon House. This amazingly poignant novel brings to life a world most of us will never know, that of the lives of the people of Vietnam. How rare it is to find an author so capable of bringing a world of diverse characters to life in one's mind so easily, yet Shors does so with such ease that you don't even realize how intimate you have become with each of the characters until you close the book shut. The story is one of absolute beauty and somehow you find that beauty in a country that normally would most likely be considered ugly. The beauty of the country comes out with each of the characters themselves, from those native to the country to those who are strangers brought there by different and often unknown missions. I personally found the depth of the characters unremarkable. You get to know each of the characters as if you have had the opportunity to creep into their inner-person, often finding things you would never assume to find. Sahn, the former soldier turned police officer, so crast and angry yet so full of love for his country that he cannot help but allow those he sees as intruders do their job in helping the children of the country he loves so much. You start off disliking the man, hating his anger and end up realizing why his anger is so deep and how it's truly just a facade to protect his own well-being. The children in the story will steal your heart, from the sickly Tam to the lost souls of Mai and Mahn. Your heart is stolen by the children as much as it does the main characters & adults of the story itself; leaving you aching for each of their souls. The main characters are delightful. Sweet Thien, filled with such love, kindness and tenderness that she brings such attributes out in even the least likely characters in the book. Thien sees the beauty most overlook in her country and knows how to bring that beauty into the eyes of those she is with. Noah, angry with what life has handed him tries to find answers in so many different places, including the bottom of a bottle, only to find them in the most unassuming of places. He overcomes anger, pain and hurt by finding his inner soul he has lost as he takes on a project that becomes his reason for living. He is truly determined & even in the highest of pain he cannot be stopped now that he has a purpose. Iris, unsure why she's there until her heart is shown the "real" Vietnam by Thien, hopes to pursue the dreams of the man she still isn't sure about, her own father. Often frightened of the unknown ways of this strange country she aspires to bring a huge project to life that her father had begun but died before he could finish. So many obstacles in the way but such need and determination make it something she knows she must accomplish. These 3 main characters alone will touch your heart. The children and people of this land will touch your heart even deeper. The book truly is as strong as it's characters. Once again, another absolutely excellent & profound piece of work written by John Shors! It is honestly "yet another" of the beautiful masterpieces he seems to be able to put together for his readers. If you're in need of a vacation to a land you would normally never get a chance to visit, this may just be your ticket. Filled with an amazing, touching storyline and unbelievably real & deep characters you won't walk away disappointed. 5 Stars PLUS!

Well developed story of Americans in foreign country trying to help homeless children. Gratuitous violence near end of story seemed unnecessary.

John Shors has become one of my favorite authors of the 21st century. I believe he is the voice of our recent past, and a voice of the humanity in all of us as we struggle to keep what is good and moral against a tide of selfishness and instability in our world. Mr. Shors is an author of exceptional capabilities with characterization conveying feelings and angst that will so touch your heart that you feel actually set within the place and time with his characters. Having lived through the Viet Nam War as a child of the '60's, I found this book especially interesting. I have not been able to read about the War, per se. It was a time of loss and anger and confusion for me. A time I just haven't cared to scrutinize. But, this book gave me a way of "looking" that was thoughtful, caring and healing. Through the eyes of Iris, the daughter of a Viet Nam veteran left with post traumatic stress syndrome and memories he could only heal by going back to create a home for street children; we see, hear, smell and feel the thriving, messy, whirling, beautiful, dangerous and noisy place called Ho Chi Minh City -- formerly Siagon. I found many of the things surprisingly familiar to me...through pictures that were flashed daily on the t.v. when our boys were over there, I suppose. I could see through Shors writings the brightness of colors, smell the food, hear the horn blasts, and shiver at the sufferings. John Shors didn't miss a beat. Iris goes to Viet Nam to continue her father's dream and to help the street children, bringing with her a life-long friend...a now wounded, permanently handicapped vet. of the Iraqi War, who is suffering and suicidal. This character boldly gives the reader insight into all veterans returning with injuries of body, mind and spirit from the horrors of war. Along with an eternally hopeful Vietnamese woman, they work to complete the Center for Street Children that will become the catalyst for their own salvations. Through their work, inspiration, and close companionships with a little group of starving, abused and critically ill children, Iris and Noah find a new place of rest for all. And, that included me. I highly recommend this book for all and everyone. John Shors is an author who needs to be read because he will be one to make a mark in these coming years. He's an American writer of note and value. I also recommend this book because it's good for those of us who have come through the Viet Nam War (a war not successful and not popular with the American people) and are going through the Iraqi/Afghani War...another one which may have a similar outcome. We might find some solace in the fact that we will survive. Timely and healing.... please read this book for many reasons. Your Bookish Dame

John Shors is one of my most favorite authors and 'Dragon House' is a wonder. This book shines with love,forgiveness,hope,sorrow and beauty. The author was able to travel to Vietnam several times as in his other travels in Asia was impressed with large numbers of street children. He is donating a portion of the proceeds of Dragon House to this organization. [...] Some of his own experiences like playing Connect Four with a street chid are reflected in this book about the street children of Vietnam. John Shors built a group of characters who meet each other and become a family. Two Americans start the story. Iris is a book reviewer, who had always jealously guarded time with her father. Her father had served in Vietnam but never talked about it. When he was dying, she vowed to him to take on his mission of helping the street children of Vietnam. Noah had a crush on Iris that disappeared after he got back from Iraq. He lost part of his skull and right leg when his humvee hit a roadside bomb. But that wasn't all he lost. Mai and Minh were street children under the control of an evil man who was a former street child himself but now had the children work for him to bring in money to feed his opium habit and taste for beautiful women. Qi, was a loving grandmother sold little books on the street while watching over her little granddaughter, Tam who was very sick. There are more characters who befriended the ones above but for those six above, the future looked very bleak and scary. This book brings hope to the reader and to the street children of Vietnam. This is a book that you will never forget. I recommend this book strongly to all fans of John Shors and all those would care deeply about the fate of children left on the street, to sleep, find food and survive.

I do not find his writing engaging.

DRAGON HOUSE is Shor's third novel. This one is set in present day Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Iris has lost her father and wants to fulfill his dream of creating a school for Vietnamese street children. Joining her on the trip is Noah, recently back from Iraq, where he lost a leg. He is headed toward alcoholism and drug abuse and Iris hopes this trip will help him find himself again. They have been friends since childhood. This sets the stage for a beautifully crafted story of love, pain, redemption and joy in a city finally recovering from the war (which we all know was not really a "war"). You will cry and laugh and rejoice throughout this book. It is truly beautifully written!

Rich story of an emerging life in Viet Nam.

This was my first book by this author John Shors. It turned out to be a GREAT book. This author is a great story teller with vivid descriptions that you actually want to read for detail information. I could not put the book down. Immediately after finishing Dragon House I went out and purchased his other books and I am finding the Temple of a Thousand Faces to be just as good.