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John Shors

goodreads author profile

born

March 04, 1969

gender

male

place of birth

Des Moines, Iowa, USA, The United States

website

http://www.dragonhousebook.com

genre

Literature & Fiction

member since

January 2008

about this author

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Hi, everyone. I hope this message finds people well.

I'm the bestselling author of Beneath a Marble Sky, Beside a Burning Sea, and Dragon House.

Beneath a Marble Sky is a work of historical fiction that's based on the remarkable story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal. Beneath a Marble Sky is my first novel, and it's been a great deal of fun. It's hitting bestseller lists, won a national award, is being made into a movie by Hollywood, and we've sold the rights to something like 20 different languages.

Beside a Burning Sea is set in the South Pacific during WWII and focuses on an American nurse and her Japanese patient. They have an unlikely love affair as the war unfolds around them.

My most ...more

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books by John Shors

avg rating: 3.95 | 2,245 ratings | 718 reviews | 3 distinct works | 28 fans

	Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (Goodreads author) avg rating 4.02 — 1,742 ratings — published 2004 7 editions	my rating:
	Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors (Goodreads author) avg rating 3.57 — 270 ratings — published 2008 8 editions	my rating:
	Dragon House by John Shors (Goodreads author) avg rating 4.25 — 51 ratings — published 2009 3 editions	my rating:

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, perform a search.

John's recent updates (rss)

November 08

John joined the Do you want a Book Review? and Book Lovers groups.

October 09

John commented on John's status update: Added a status:
"Wanted to let people know that Dragon House has raised enough $ to help 200 street kids. For more info -- www.dragonhousebook.com. Thanks!"

John wrote: "Thanks, Leola, for your nice reply. I really appreciate your support! Happy Friday. - John "

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October 06

John added a status update:

"Wanted to let people know that Dragon House has raised enough $ to help 200 street kids. For more info -- www.dragonhousebook.com. Thanks! "

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August 31

John read and liked Grady's review of Dragon House:

"Another John Shors Triumph!

John Shors continues to establish his reputation as one of this decade's more important writers, an author who understands the art of blending artistic prose with an always surprising depth of knowled...more Another John Shors Triumph!

John Shors continues to establish his reputation as one of this decade's more important writers, an author who understands the art of blending artistic prose with an always surprising depth of knowledge of the cultures he chooses to explore in his fascinating novels - from India in his debut BENEATH A MARBLE SKY, to war time South Pacific in BESIDE A BURNING SEA, and now to Vietnam in this absorbing novel DRAGON HOUSE. There are passages in his works that suggest the gifts of W. Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, Eugene Burdick and William Lederer ('The Ugly American'), and Evelyn Waugh, and yet he maintains his own literary style, mixing observations of physical circumstances with the manner in which the world as he finds it interfaces with his well-sculpted characters.

Shors creates characters about whom we care - Iris Rhodes, a devoted daughter of a Vietnam Vet who grants her dying father's wish to create a haven for the brutally neglected street children in the country where his life and conscience changed in the Vietnam War, and Noah Woods, a severely disabled Iraqi War Vet consumed with anger and guilt who joins Iris in moving to Ho Chi Minh City (ne Saigon) in an attempt to salvage his life. Once the two arrive in Ho Chi Minh City they discover the difficulties that surround their proposed project and it is only though the growing friendship with the people of the city that they are able to make a dent in the struggle for life that surrounds them. Very slowly but with solid technique Shors introduces the various Vietnamese children who will benefit from the project. In taking his time to completely cast his novel he offers in depth details about both pre-war and post-war Vietnam - the customs, the atmosphere, the foods, the smells, the dreams, both tenuous and crushed, that have been with the people of Vietnam since the devastation of the most unpopular war in history. It all works well as Shors accompanies quietly on a journey that makes a solid statement about how each of us can heal from past injuries.

This is a novel that stands well on its own merits, a strong contender for prizes and a position on the bestseller list. But it does more. For those of us who coped with the war in Vietnam firsthand, this book offers fresh insights as we now look back on that time. Shors gives us a solid example of how Vietnam Vets can find succor and growth from an experience that paralyzed many young minds. For that Shors deserves our thanks. But even beyond that, DRAGON HOUSE restores our faith that superb storytelling with the technique of a polished literary mind is still alive and well!

Grady Harp(less) "

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August 10

John said "yes" to attending the event: Bestselling author John Shors signs "Dragon House".
date: September 14, 2009 07:00PM
location: Boston, Bethesda, Chicago, The United States
description: Internationally bestselling author John Shors will speak about and sign his new novel, Dragon House.

Here are some upcoming events:

Boston, 9/14, 7 p.m. Borders @ 511 Boylston St; Bethesda, 9/17, 7 p.m. B&N @ 4801 Bethesda Ave; Chicago, 10/1, 7 p.m. @ The Book Cellar

For more information on Dragon House, please visit www.dragonhousebook.com.

July 29

John read and liked Carey's review of Dragon House:

"Iris Rhodes has a neat and ordered life in Chicago, but her father's death changes all of that. Her Dad was a Vietnam veteran who was so tormented by the atrocities he had seen and participated in during the war that he was often absent from Iris' li...more Iris Rhodes has a neat and ordered life in Chicago, but her father's death changes all of that. Her Dad was a Vietnam veteran who was so tormented by the atrocities he had seen and participated in during the war that he was often absent from Iris' life when she was growing up. His demons caused a rift in their relationship that they tried hard to mend. And he was healing himself, in a way, by working on his project. He wanted to open a center for street children in Vietnam, to help in whatever way he could to heal the country that he had fought in.

Unfortunately, he dies before he can get the center up and running. Iris promises him that she will go and finish what he started. She had planned to go alone but ends up taking along her childhood friend, Noah. He is a veteran from a more recent war, Iraq, where he lost a leg. Unable to come to terms with his new situation and the daily pain and anger he feels, it is hoped that Noah will find some way out of his misery while he is in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, there are many people who live on the streets and a large percentage of them are children. Mai, a girl, and Minh, a boy with one arm, sell small items to tourists and Minh challenges them to games of Connect Four for one dollar. Minh has a brilliant mind and usually wins but never speaks a word. They scrape small amounts of money together, which is promptly taken from them by Loc, the opium addict who threatens the two young kids into working for him and supplying his cash. They sleep together in a basket under a bridge and are lucky if they can eat once a day.

Qui carries her granddaughter on her back every day between their shack and the market where she attempts to sell old books. Her beautiful little granddaughter, Tam, has leukemia and Qui puts every penny she can towards the pain medicine that eases Tam's suffering. It breaks her heart to watch this child in agony, though Tam rarely complains. Qui spent months saving enough money to take Tam to a hospital but by the time she did, it was too late, there was nothing the doctors could do for her.

When Iris and Noah reach the center they find Thien, a young Vietnamese woman who served as Mr. Rhodes' assistant, painting and generally getting ready for the opening, which is about a month away. She proves to be an invaluable asset to the center, she knows the city and a surprising number of its people. Her warm and open spirit shines through in her understanding of the Americans hopes and fears.

As they set to work, both Noah and Iris have their own issues to overcome. Noah is filled with rage at his loss and the pain he is in, so he doses himself with pain medication and alcohol. He doesn't see any good in the world anymore and is only going through the motions of living. Iris is unsure and tentative, she doesn't speak the language and is intimidated by the noise and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. But they will both find that the poor Vietnamese people have so much to teach and they experience profound changes within themselves.

Of course, it is a matter of opinion, but to me a great novel must have several qualities: it must pull the reader out of themselves, it must grapple with a basic human truth or moral tenet, it must resonate in the reader's own life or teach them something profound. Without these qualities, a book might be good and entertaining, but not be worthy of being called great. With Dragon House, John Shors has fulfilled all of my requirements. This is a GREAT novel, in fact it is the best I have read this year. He has taken a heart-wrenching fact of life and turned it into a moving and exciting fictional tale that serves to highlight the plight of poor children, not only in Vietnam, but around the world. He accomplishes all of this and polishes it with some excellent writing:

"Vietnam, a country that had known little but war for many generations, was strangely peaceful, as if the spirits of the slain had somehow infiltrated the prejudices of the living. Hope abounded across the land. Hope often obscured by shanties and brothels and misery but, nonetheless, the collective aspiration for a better tomorrow."

I can't praise this book highly enough, I thought that it was wonderful on so many levels. I had originally planned to review it at the end of August, just prior to its September 1 release. Then, my Mom called me and told me that she had received a copy of it in the mail and before she knew it, she had read half of it. She couldn't put it down and said that it was the best book that she had read in many years (she's quite a reader, so that is high praise). She got me so interested that I had to go and start reading it myself. So there you go, two thumbs way up for Dragon House!
(less) "

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July 28

John read and liked Tobi's review of Dragon House:

"Dragon House by John Shors is a wonderful story of healing, redemption and love. I loved this book. It is wonderfully written and touched me personally on many levels and made me cry at least twice. It is my new favorite read for this summer.

...more Dragon House by John Shors is a wonderful story of healing, redemption and love. I loved this book. It is wonderfully written and touched me personally on many levels and made me cry at least twice. It is my new favorite read for this summer.

Dragon House is the story of many people but the main character who starts the story and brings them all together is Iris. Iris is a book reviewer whose father has been largely absent from her life physically and emotionally. A veteran of the Vietnam war he struggled the rest of his life with what happened to him there. Years later he returns to Vietnam trying to do some good by opening a center for street children. He dies before he is able to finish the center and have it open. Iris decides to go to Vietnam and finish her father's work but she doesn't go alone.

Noah is a childhood friend of Iris, who is a wounded Iraq war veteran. He has lost one of his legs and all his hope and faith in the world and people. Once a vibrant and active man he can no longer do the things he took for granted and tries to lessen his pain with alcohol and pills. A desperate plea from his mother gets Iris to take him with her to Vietnam. Noah has no hope of finding anything there that will help him but goes to make his mother feel better.

Once they are in Vietnam the author's use of description made me feel like I was there too. It is clear in the writing that John Shors knows about the places and culture first hand. I can picture it in my mind and almost hear the sounds and smell the smells. It is here that we meet the rest of the characters in this story. They are unforgettable.

Thien is the assistant at the center and she will help the Americans in more ways then they ever imagine. Full of hope, love and joy she teaches them many things by her example. Mai and Minh are street children who must hustle tourists in order to make a living, they live under a bridge and have only each other. They have lived through things most of us can't even imagine. Tam is also a street child but she has her loving Grandmother to care for her. Their story is so poignant it will change you and you will never forget it.
All these very different lives are brought together in a story that will pull at your heart strings and make you want to do something good and become a better person.

The pace of the writing is perfect and the descriptions made me feel like I was there. I couldn't put this book down, I had to find out what happened to all the characters I had come to love and care about.

This book touched me on a very personal level because I have been trying to help children in need for many years. I have read about street children in other countries and have always wished I could do something big, like opening a center or a home for them. I can relate to Iris on that level and also because she loved books and was a book reviewer. She comes to realize the true value of her books during her work at the center. Readers will get a feel for what it must be like for these poor children by reading this book and will hopefully be inspired to do something to help. I know I am.

Ultimately this is a book about hope and never giving up. Learning that you can always be better and do good no matter how small a thing you think it is. Mostly I came away from reading this book feeling like it was all about love.
It's a wonderful book and I recommend it to everyone.

(less) "

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June 26

John made a comment on John's review of Dragon House

John wrote: "Thanks, Doug, for your kind words, and for pre-ordering the books. Much appreciated!

Thank you also...more "

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quotes by John Shors

"Musuh membiak seperti tikus. Kau injak mereka, kau racun mereka, kau bakar mereka, akan lebih banyak lagi yang muncul! Tidak ada bedanya apakah kau hidup pada masa perang atau damai, makmur atau kelaparan! Musuh selalu menyusun rencana di belakangmu.
(Shah Jahan dalam Taj Mahal, Kisah Cinta Abadi)"
— John Shors

6 people liked it

"A sibling would be the one person in the whole world who would be with you from birth until death. At every step, she or he would be there."
— John Shors (Beside a Burning Sea)

4 people liked it

"Because...because how can I expect the world to be a better place if I ain't gonna try real hard to make it better?
"
— John Shors

2 people liked it

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John's friend comments

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Comments (showing 1-20) post a comment »

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message 20: by John

Jan 30, 2009 11:45AM

Tessa,

'Rooftops' is a novel set in Iran during the '70s. At the core it's the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman who is involved with anti-government forces. I enjoyed the tale, as I like stories set overseas. Plus, I know the author well and he is a good guy... I see that you review quite a few books on this site. If you'd like to read either of my novels, please let me know and I'll send you a copy. Have a great weekend. - John

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message 19: by F Tessa

Jan 30, 2009 11:08AM

John,
What is the basic plotline of Rooftops of Tehran? What about the book makes you give it 5 stars?
Thanks for the "heads-up" on this to-be-published work.
Tessa

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message 18: by John

Jan 05, 2009 02:32PM

Roger wrote: "Hi John,
Thanks for the friendship. Always good to meet another writer on Goodreads.
ROGER"

Roger,

It's certainly nice to meet you as well. What's your book?

Cheers.

John

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message 17: by Roger

Jan 05, 2009 12:24PM

Hi John,
Thanks for the friendship. Always good to meet another writer on Goodreads.
ROGER

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message 16: by Bradley

Dec 26, 2008 10:54AM

I hope you are having a good day! =)

http://www.cardshark.com/content/view_ar...

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message 15: by Andrea

Dec 19, 2008 06:02AM

Hi & thank you for being a friend. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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message 14: by Dee

Dec 15, 2008 06:16AM

Hi John!
Thanks for the friendship!
Have a blessed one!

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message 13: by William

Nov 19, 2008 10:17AM

Hello

Look forward to talking books.

http://www.billhazelgrove.com
http://www.myspace.com/rocketmanbook
http://www.frontstreetreviews.com[bc:Roc... Man|4935697|Rocket Man|William Elliott Hazelgrove|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41wAH6XlB2L._SL75_.jpg|5001358]

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message 12: by Dorothy M

Nov 17, 2008 03:19PM

Book recommendation: The only book every adult needs. Great baby shower gift. If I'd Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention. http://www.gen-assist.com

The book every parent/caretaker needs to keep children safe. Seven compelling parent approved and child tested techniques to thwart would-be sex offenders.

http://www.gen-assist.com

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message 11: by Jeannie

Nov 04, 2008 07:37AM

Hi John, Congrats on your books and also thanks for the friendship! Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Smiles, Jeannie

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message 10: by Vphe1950

Nov 02, 2008 03:53PM

John,

Thanks for adding me as a friend. I look forward to your book recommendations.

Vickie Phelps

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message 9: by Beverly

Oct 31, 2008 10:02AM

Well, I started your 2nd book and I'm already hooked John! I love your style and how you seem to make the characters so very real. For a fiction writer you have a magic that turns fiction into reality! Now if I could just find time to read it all in one sitting! LOL

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message 8: by ♥Eva♥

Oct 28, 2008 04:42PM

Thanks for the friend request John! I just found a book I'd never heard of by looking through the books on your page! :) Thanks again!

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message 7: by Lily

Oct 19, 2008 09:50PM

John - thanks for inviting me to this site. I am looking forward to reading your new book - and learning about other books on this site.

All the best to you!

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message 6: by Marietwebb

Oct 17, 2008 10:35PM

John,
Thank you for thinking of me. As you know, I loved BAMs and am truly looking forward to starting your second book, which I have purchased. I'm not sure how this site works, but a site based on reading and books sounds like my kind of thing. Hope you and your family are doing well! Congratulations on completing your second novel!! Marie

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message 5: by Beverly

Oct 17, 2008 03:24PM

Thanks for adding me! I had no clue you have created another book! I've already ordered it on Amazon! I'm not writing book reviews anymore for Readerviews as I was off for medical issues but I'm reading now just for the fun of it! (Imagine that! LOL)

You have to know that ANY time I'm asked what my favorite book of all time is.... YOURS is the one I pick! Beneath A Marble Sky was truly the best thing I've EVER read and you KNOW I've read many!!!!!!

Can't wait to read your newest!!!!!!!

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message 4: by Suzannebpt

Oct 17, 2008 02:05PM

I loved "BENEATH A MARBLE SKY" and recommended it to all my friends who felt the same way as me. I'm so happy that John's new book is out and can't wait to read it.
Suzanne

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message 3: by Jordan

Oct 17, 2008 07:56AM

I absolutely love Beneath a Marble Sky!! I tell people all the time they need to read it. And I can't wait for the movie. :-)

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message 2: by Pshors

Oct 17, 2008 07:15AM

John's interest and love for peoples of the world is clearly reflected in his writing. His understanding of the female perspective is uncommon for someone so young and male at that! Beside A Burning Sea was a unique and memorable story that is a story within the greater unfolding of WWII. John's captures the essence of these characters as he captured the central characters of Beneath A Marble Sky. John is an extraordinary talent and I can't wait for his next book!

Patsy

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message 1: by Mariam

Oct 16, 2008 04:15PM

John,
Thank you for the invite to this site! It's awesome. I'm so excited to be connected with the author of one of my favorite books :)

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