Dragon House

Sep 01, 2009 Grady rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 g...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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Sep 14, 2012 Lila marked it as to-read

Shelves: contemporary-american-fiction

I have to with great shame offer an apology to the author. Three years may not seem like much but it was enough for me to learn things which were sometimes shocking, always hard to stomach but I had to accept facts staring me in the face. Otherwise, I'd have to live knowing I was a dishonest person of the worst and most damaging kind, a deceiver of my own heart, soul and intellect.
What I wrote below is embarrassing to me, displays the true scope of my ignorance, has no substance but what's most...more

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Oct 15, 2009 Jennifer rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who are into sappy tales

Sorry to say that this was the sappiest, preachiest book I've ever read. We go through various POVs as two americans (Iris & Noah) attempt to help open Iris' father's home for wayward (see: street) children in Vietnam. We follow Iris, Noah, a female helper Thien, two street children Mai & Minh, a grandmother (Qui) and her sickly granddaughter (Tam) as they all cross paths and attempt to help each other.

Between Noah spouting off (what could be the author's feelings about the U.S. initiati...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Carol rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

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.
http://www.streetkidsinvietnam.com/

Some of his own experiences like playing Connect Four with a street chid are reflected in this book about...more

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Mar 26, 2010 Suze rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-to-read-again, book-club-monthly-choice

This book, by one of my favorite authors, was not as highly rated by the 'critics' as his last two. I never let that keep me away from anything, as I rarely agree with the 'critics'...about anything. I've loved John Shors' other books and am nothing if not loyal!

I read it...and I loved it. The authors descriptions of Vietnam have completely changed my view of that country so far away. My husband was one of the Americans who fought in that wasteful, useless, destructive war, and I wanted nothing...more

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Dec 18, 2009 Teddy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Iris Rhodes is a successful writer in Chicago. She has been trying to heal old wounds between her father and herself, as he lies dying in a hospital. Her father is a Vietnam vet and has been trying to fight his demons by working on a very important project. He is opening up a center for street children in Vietnam. It is one way he feels he can contribute to Vietnam's healing. Right before her father dies, Iris has made the decision to go to Vietnam to see her dad's project through to completion....more

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Jul 21, 2012 Ellyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This book follows Iris and Noah, two Americans who move to Saigon to open a center for street children following the death of Iris's father, a Vietnam vet who dreamed up the center as a vehicle for his own healing. Noah is an injured veteran of the Iraq war who suffers from bitterness and PTSD symptoms, as well as physical pain, and he accompanies Iris unhappily, at his mother's urging. The two soon meet Thien, who helps them open the center, as well as Mai and Minh, two street children, and Tam...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literature-fiction

In “Dragon House”, the “street children” are the heart and soul of the novel. A heart and soul that beats and is alive with consciousness, thought, feeling, will and moral nature!

Iris lives on the twentieth floor of a high-rise apartment in Chicago, Illinois. Her father has passed away five weeks previously from cancer. As a young child Iris was hurt and confused about her father’s frequent absences and couldn’t understand how he could love her so much but still leave her. As the years progresse...more In “Dragon House”, the “street children” are the heart and soul of the novel. A heart and soul that beats and is alive with consciousness, thought, feeling, will and moral nature!

Iris lives on the twentieth floor of a high-rise apartment in Chicago, Illinois. Her father has passed away five weeks previously from cancer. As a young child Iris was hurt and confused about her father’s frequent absences and couldn’t understand how he could love her so much but still leave her. As the years progressed and she became a teenager, her feelings of pain and confusion turned to resentment until she’d graduated from college and began to understand why her father had been gone as often as he was. He had some very deep emotional wounds leftover from the war in Vietnam. Not only from the atrocities of the war itself as one would expect, but most importantly to him, the “street children”. Prior to his death he had begun to work on a center to house 20 female street children but unfortunately passed away before ever completing his dream.

Four days prior to leaving for Saigon, Iris receives an unexpected visit from an old neighbour named Mrs. Woods’. She has come to beg Iris to take her son Noah with her to Vietnam and explains that he had returned from the war in Iraq with one leg missing and half of his forehead. Iris had known Noah growing up and was devastated to hear this horrible news regarding the extent of his injuries. However, Iris doesn’t understand what a man in Noah’s condition could possibly get out of visiting Saigon, or how it would make him happier and better able to cope with his devastating injuries, but she agrees and tells Mrs. Woods that she’ll take Noah with her.

Once in Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, we meet Mai and Minh, street children who play a game called “Connect Four” to win ‘one’ American dollar per game and then turn the money over to a horribly cruel man named Loc. The atrocities Loc has layed upon these two children is nothing short of cruel and abhorrent and as the story progresses so does his expectations of Mai and Minh. The price for disobedience on their part is very high and totally devastating. They two children sleep under a bridge inside a traditional fishing boat that they swam out on the water to claim. The boat only contains a blanket and two extra sets of clothes each. However, it also contains a false bottom that holds $14.00 American dollars, a year of savings that Loc would beat them for if he ever discovered it. Mai and Minh hope one day to escape and leave Loc far behind but this is an extremely dangerous idea because if captured, the punishment would be severe as Minh learns later why he is missing one hand.

Qui is 51-years-old and her granddaughter Tam is 7-years-old. Tam is ill with a fatal illness and Qui spends her days selling books to tourists to make enough money to purchase the pain medication that Tam so desperately needs. Tam’s own mother abandoned her and is in Thailand. The sad thing is that Tam is dying and Qui tells Tam that one day she would: “...fall into a sleep that would magically take her into a different world, into a realm where children weren’t sick, where they swam in warm seas, where they awoke each morning nestled between their mother and father.” Tam so believed in this that Qui could never destroy this belief. Qui is beside herself with worry over Tam as she begins to have more and more bad days where her breathing is hard, she is tired, has no appetite, her head hurts and her little joints ache so, so badly. The entire story of Qui and Tam will have you weeping on bended knees.

Iris, in the meantime, has settled into her hotel room and is frightened and wondering why she had come and thinking perhaps she shouldn’t have and maybe just allowed her father’s dream of opening his center for street children to die along with him. Hesitantly, Iris and Noah set out to find the Ben Thanh Market area where the center is located and are utterly stunned and touched to find what the sign reads above the center! Inside they meet Thien, her father’s cook and assistant. Thien is a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice and the personality of an angel. She tells Iris about the “street children” who are dirty, their hair is uncombed, some are crippled, abandoned, and that the streets destroy them. They often begin to: “...steal, to sell drugs, to sell themselves. They have no choice.” She tells Iris that her father understood this and it was why he wanted so badly to open this center so these children could come in off the streets and learn and be safe. Thien asks Iris to walk through the streets with her to see first-hand what she is talking about.

Noah at this point is still self-absorbed and drinking heavily. He enjoys sleeping because his world is dark and his body cannot remind him of his painful injuries, the loss of his best friend Wes in Iraq and his anger and hatred toward those whose: “...lies cost him his friend and his leg.” When Noah is awake, he feels his world is actually dark. He is afraid for the world because he lacks the power to save himself from his thoughts, his pain and his hatred. He is spiteful of his loved ones as he is: “...envious of their happiness, their lives free of pain...” and the fact they can’t understand his own suffering. When he looks into a mirror: “...he sees a stranger.” He eventually reveals to Iris, his bitterness at government for what he saw as “lies” to the deployed soldiers, that Iraq was holding weapons of mass destruction but none were ever found. Although they did capture Saddam Hussein and helped and watched people topple statues of Saddam, his anger is due to the death of his friend Wes and others like him because the government lied about the weapons. He feels had the government not done that, they wouldn’t have been pulled from Afghanistan and sent to Iraq and all those soldiers who died needlessly would still be alive today.

We also met Sahn, a policeman who patrols Le Cong Kieu Street and takes bribes from store owners for protection and for Sahn to turn his head away from items they be selling illegally. But...we also learn an important secret about Sahn which if anyone found out about, he’d lose his job and become destitute. The only person who knows his secret is Qui!

The entire message in this novel is about the plight of street children, not only in Vietnam but around the world. The suffering, starvation and costs to their hearts and souls is inconceivable. This is a huge problem in our society today and it doesn’t get nearly the attention it should. In such a rich countries like The United States and Canada, it’s hard to believe that we too are affected by the plight and suffering of “street children”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every city, town and village in the world had a center for street children? That is one project that I myself would love to be part of!!!!

John Shors has written a story that is of the utmost importance and needs to be read by EVERYONE! Next time you pass that kid on the street and they ask for a buck, think about Qui, Tam, Mai, Minh and others like them, I know I will. This is one story that will stay with me forever!!!

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Dec 21, 2010 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set in Asia, Dragon House is a story of redemption and healing. The story takes place in modern day Vietnam and tells the story of two Americas, Iris and Noah, who give of themselves by teaching Vietnamese street children in unfavorable areas as a means to heal from their own pain. Iris and Noah ultimately give the children friendship, educations, shelter and love. The process fulfills the dreams of children and breathes new life into Iris and Noah. Dragon House is a story of suffering, sacrific...more Set in Asia, Dragon House is a story of redemption and healing. The story takes place in modern day Vietnam and tells the story of two Americas, Iris and Noah, who give of themselves by teaching Vietnamese street children in unfavorable areas as a means to heal from their own pain. Iris and Noah ultimately give the children friendship, educations, shelter and love. The process fulfills the dreams of children and breathes new life into Iris and Noah. Dragon House is a story of suffering, sacrifice, courage, friendship and love. It brings the human qualities of us all together and lifts the spirit.

This is the second novel I have read by John Shors and he does not disappoint. His novels are delivered at a pace that requires the reader to acknowledge and understand the impact of our actions, thoughts, lives and the world around us. This novel is no different. It is an emotional journey as you connect with Iris and Noah as well as the children they aim to help in a country that offers little to no support. John brings depth and understanding to the story while easily passing the same information to the reader with intrigue and artistry. The characters are well developed and realistic. Iris’s story deals with her fathers’ ambition and plan to help the children of Vietnam. Though he is unable to complete this task, Iris chooses to see his plan to completion as a way to honor the memory of her father and attempt to heal. Noah, who has seen the results of war, joins her in her task, having seen the trauma of war on a nation that has so little. The book attempts to bring about the timeless struggles of human nature [good &evil;] in a new light.

Dragon House was a wonderful novel, thought slow in pace. It challenged me as I read it because I deeply connected with these characters. Shors makes it easy to feel the emotions and pain of the young children but rewards you with the happiness and relief they also feel. I connected with Iris and Noah who both attempt to heal hurt from their past by positively changing the future of others. I wondered if I would be strong enough to give up my job in order to carry out the wishes of my father’s life. The novel transforms suffering into joy, hope into reality, and friendship into love and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Simply put, John’s novels command attention while delivering a wonderful story with deep insight and emotional exploration.

Reviewed for Review the book. Also posted on my blog.(less)

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Nov 17, 2010 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: latest-reads, paperback-i-own, reviewer-book, favorite-male-authors

"Dragon House," is a novel of exceptional beauty, a love story of multi-dimension, and a healing experience for all who know the Viet Nam War.

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...more "Dragon House," is a novel of exceptional beauty, a love story of multi-dimension, and a healing experience for all who know the Viet Nam War.

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
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Aug 04, 2010 Hattie rated it 5 of 5 stars

John Shors' novel, "Dragon House" is magnificent. The story takes place in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City. This part of the world is known well by John Shors. He journeyed through many Asian cities after college. Along the way he met street children. "Dragon House is mainly about the street children in Ho Chi Minh City. The book gives a close up view of what life is like for these children. Some of these children are used by adults to get money to support their habits for women and Opium. Other child...more John Shors' novel, "Dragon House" is magnificent. The story takes place in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City. This part of the world is known well by John Shors. He journeyed through many Asian cities after college. Along the way he met street children. "Dragon House is mainly about the street children in Ho Chi Minh City. The book gives a close up view of what life is like for these children. Some of these children are used by adults to get money to support their habits for women and Opium. Other children may have no fathers or mothers. These children live under bridges, sleep on cardboard. Then, there are the sick children, like Tam. She is lovingly cared for by her Grandmother, Qui. The relationship between Qui and Tam is unforgettable.

In Dragon House through the lives of interesting individuals I could see that life is never fully dark nor fully light. It is the shades of darkness and light which gives this novel a quality of reality. I had to remind myself over and over that these characters were not "real" people. "Dragon House" is a novel. Sahn, the policeman, Iris, the American who opened the center, Noah, the soldier who fought in Iraq , Loc, the indescribably wretched human being without a conscience who used children for his own desires are shaped and blended by a unique writing artist, John Shors.

In meeting each character we learn about their present as well as their past. I suppose it's true that I am shaped by my past. Still, I have the last word, the choice, on how I will allow that past to shape the rest of my life. This alone was pretty fascinating as I read and observed the daily lives of each character.

Dragon House is also filled with the beauty of a land once ravaged by war. I loved John Shors' descriptive passages of different places. "A curved red bridge led to an island. This bridge was called the Flood of Morning Sunlight." Nearby women delicately practiced tai chi. In "Dragon House" there are dragons weaving their way through the pages like I might read about them in a fairy tale. Only these dragons don't spit fire and scare me. One day Thien told Iris about the Vietnamese thoughts about dragons versus the way Americans see dragons. "In Vietnam, dragons are the greatest, the most noble of creatures. They have protected us for thousands of years."

There is no end to what I could write or say about "Dragon House" by John Shors. Well, I would love to hitch a ride on one of those scooters. I almost think Ho Chi Minh City name should become The Land of Scooters. In the end, I think of Mai. One day she admitted to feeling invisible all of her life. I am sure all street children experience this feeling. John Shors, through this book, and I'm sure through the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation more children will become happily visible through the tools of education and love. By the way I am looking forward to reading "The Wishing Trees" by John Shors. (less)

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Jan 17, 2010 Darcy Odden rated it 5 of 5 stars

Author John Shors brings to life the street children of Vietnam in his poignant novel, "Dragon House." He introduces readers to Iris Rhodes, a young professional from Chicago and daughter of a Vietnam veteran. When Iris' father is dying from cancer, she tells him she will finish his dream of building a center for the street children in Saigon where the children will be safe and go to school. Iris is joined in her mission by Noah, an old schoolmate wounded in the Iraq War.

Shors beautifully descr...more

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Sep 09, 2009 Ziaria rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I first got this book I have to be honest I did not think it was going to be my kind of read. It is something I don't usually read. Wow was I wrong! I loved this book!

It has a slow buildup at the beginning but once it gets going it sucks you right in. I read it in 3 sittings with the majority of it in one sitting. I finished up the last 40 pages this morning and would've finished last night but I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer. In fact I think a nap is calling my name today. It was t...more

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Aug 29, 2009 Jaime Huff rated it 5 of 5 stars

How do I write a review about a book that tugged, actually, YANKED at my heart strings as much as this book did and give it the credit that is due? I am not sure but I will do my best.

The children of the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon, Vietnam) are the heart and soul of "Dragon House". Tam, a child who is dying from Leukiemia, and her grandmother Qui beg on the streets just so Tam can have medicine to ease her pain. Mai and Minh held under the "protection" of Loc, an Opium addicted...more How do I write a review about a book that tugged, actually, YANKED at my heart strings as much as this book did and give it the credit that is due? I am not sure but I will do my best.

The children of the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon, Vietnam) are the heart and soul of "Dragon House". Tam, a child who is dying from Leukiemia, and her grandmother Qui beg on the streets just so Tam can have medicine to ease her pain. Mai and Minh held under the "protection" of Loc, an Opium addicted, cruel man.. or I would rather refer to him as a pimp, he may not sell the children's bodies for sex but he pimps them to sell their goods. Minh doesn't speak since Loc beat him for saying the wrong thing and Minh only has one hand. He plays foreigners in games of Connect 4 for money. Mai who is his voice sells fans but mostly helps Minh obtain players.

The key adult players are Iris, whose father an American veteran of the Vietnam war who wasn't around to raise her as he was battling the internal scars from the Vietnam war. When her father died, he left her the center he was building in Vietnam for street children. Noah, a childhood friend of hers who lost the lower portion of his leg in Iraq and who is battling his own scars, joins her at his mother's begging. Thien, Iris' father's assistant, a beautiful Vietnamese woman inside and out, finds beauty in each and everything she can. Then there's Sahn. He is also a survivor of the Vietnam war and has a disdain towards Americans after losing his entire family in the war but as a Police office with failing sight, he was to save the future of Vietnam.

Every single one of these people save each other in more ways then one. They find their futures, their souls, their lives, hope, family and love.

John Shors paints a vivid picture of survival, anger, cruelty, beauty and redemption throughout this entire book. He brings to life the trauma that the children who have to live and survive on the streets of Vietnam. Many of which never get another life off of the streets. Post war Vietnam is not a pretty place, don't ever expect it to be. There are horrific injuries sustained to victims of Agent Orange, street girls become prostitutes, opium addiction, and the same. There are many organizations out there trying to do what they can for the Vietnamese children, one of which is Blue Dragon Children's Children Foundation. (Here's the website: http://www.bdcf.org/)(less)

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Aug 20, 2009 Weavre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Weavre by: Amazon Vine

Shelves: stories-from-different-cultures

Iris, a successful Chicago writer, feels abandoned by the father who was absent for much of her childhood. When he dies, her decision to go find out what he found so compelling about a project in Vietnam changes not only her life, but the lives of many others. She's accompanied by Noah, a veteran whose body and soul were terribly injured in Iraq and who sees no way out of his pain. In Vietnam, we discover street children Mai and Minh, abused by their opium-addicted "protector"; gentle Qui and he...more

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Aug 05, 2009 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

My sister is a part of the Amazon "Vine" program, so I got to read this novel before it's publication date. I'm so glad that I did! What a wonderful novel. Dragon House is the story of a group of Vietnamese street children who are helped by two Americans and a Vietnamese police officer. The Americans have come to today's Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to open a center for the street children. This center will educate, protect, and house the street children. And they need protection, because many are...more

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Jul 28, 2009 Carey rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 w...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!
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Jul 19, 2009 BOOK BUTTERFLY rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

Iris' father, a troubled Vietnam veteran, never lives to see his dream of opening a center for Vietnamese street children fufilled. As a man haunted by the atrocities of the war, Iris' father was not able to give her much emotional and physical support throught her life. Nevertheless, after his death, Iris picks up where her father left off and travels to Vietnam. Noah, a childhood friend and Iraqi war veteran, also decides to accompany her. After losing one of his legs overseas and witnessing h...more Iris' father, a troubled Vietnam veteran, never lives to see his dream of opening a center for Vietnamese street children fufilled. As a man haunted by the atrocities of the war, Iris' father was not able to give her much emotional and physical support throught her life. Nevertheless, after his death, Iris picks up where her father left off and travels to Vietnam. Noah, a childhood friend and Iraqi war veteran, also decides to accompany her. After losing one of his legs overseas and witnessing his own fare share of trauma, Noah has a grim outlook on the world. His life now revolves around trying to dull his pain with alchohol and pills. He travels with Iris more to appease his mother than out of any altruisitc motive of his own.

It was obvious to me that John Shors had done his research on the cultural sights, sounds and morays of Vietnam. Upon looking up his biography, I wasn't surprised to read that he has in fact traveled the world extensively --he tought English in Kyoto Japan for three years then backpacked through different countries for the next three. When I was reading Dragon House, I felt like he instantly transported me into Ho Chi Mihn City where I was able to witness everything through my own eyes firsthand. I could almost smell the spices in the air and hear the clamor of all the congestion and voices within the overcrowded and dirty streets.
From the street children Mai and Minh who live under a bridge, to Tam, with her loving grandmother, I was extremely moved by the character appeal of the street children. The adversity these children have to overcome just to surivive day to day left me reflecting on my own life, and made me realize just how trivial some of the small trials and tribulations I tend to focus on really are. The pacing of the story was fast and intriguing, and I found myself anxiously flipping pages in the hopes of finding out if everyone was going to be "ok". That sentiment extended to Iris and Noah as well. I really loved the idea of both of these troubled people coming to Vietnam and finding renewed faith in themselves and the world through their efforts with the center.

Ultimately, Dragon House is a poignant story of hope, redemption and most importantly, sheer love. I read it over a span of twenty four hours and could not put it down. This book touched me on a deep, personal level. You would think a novel about the plight of street children would leave you feeling exhausted and downtrodden, but after devouring this page turner, I was uplifted by the themes of love, friendship and the resilience of the human spirit.

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Sep 04, 2009 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Iris Rhodes is a young woman, a book reviewer, trying to fulfill her departed father's wish, to open a center for Vietnamese street children. A place for them to stay and to be educated. Her father came back from the Vietnam was a shell of the man he was before, suffering from PTSD, and unable to ease his suffering once he came home to his wife and daughter. He travelled to Vietnam after the war with a dream of doing some good, and by doing so, little by little he began to heal.

As Iris makes pla...more Iris Rhodes is a young woman, a book reviewer, trying to fulfill her departed father's wish, to open a center for Vietnamese street children. A place for them to stay and to be educated. Her father came back from the Vietnam was a shell of the man he was before, suffering from PTSD, and unable to ease his suffering once he came home to his wife and daughter. He travelled to Vietnam after the war with a dream of doing some good, and by doing so, little by little he began to heal.

As Iris makes plans to leave Chicago for Vietnam, she reluctantly agrees to take Noah Woods with her as a favor to his mother. Noah spent time in Iraq, lost his leg while serving his country, and has lost his way, along with the spirit to live. He spends time easing his pain with alcohol.

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

Iris is surprised to learn that the center her father started was named: The Iris Rhodes Center for Children. It is around the playground of this center that her father wishes to have his ashes spread. Noah begins work building a playground at the center, and at the same time he begins to find purpose and meaning to life......"Noah believed that a miracle had happened. In Baghdad, a part of him had been killed, and that part would never fully return. But in a warehouse outside Nha Trang, he had been given a chance to live".

The central characters in this story are vivid and unforgettable. They are Tam, a young girl with leukemia and her grandmother Qui. They beg for money to buy medicine to ease Tam's pain from the leukemia. We also get to know two street children, Mai and Minh, who are forced to beg, while being controlled by Loc, an opium addict, who threatens them and treats them as slaves.

Dragon House is a poignant story. Its powerful themes of suffering, sacrifice, friendship, and love, is a story that celebrates the human spirit, demonstrating once again that despite all the ugliness, pain and betrayal some individuals are forced to endure in life, the human spirit is resilient and cannot easily be beaten. Although the book is a work of fiction, the plight of the children is real. Yes, while post war Vietnam has improved, there remains: street children, prostitution, drug addiction, wounded war victims as well as Agent Orange victims, as well as other atrocities.

I really thought this book was excellent, but I found it difficult to read in one sitting. The sometimes painful subject matter, made me take this one in smaller doses. This is not said to discourge you, but I thought it was important to mention. The novel appears to be extremely well researched. The author, did an amazing job transporting the reader to Ho Chi Mihn City. The sites, smells, cruelty, and the hope and love are all easily felt by the reader. His efforts should be applauded by trying to inspire others to help make the world a better place, especially when it comes to helpless children. RECOMMENDED

The author plans to donate a portion of the sales from this book to The Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. You can read more about this here. You can also donate directly though the website.(less)

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Jul 10, 2009 Tobi rated it 5 of 5 stars

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...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.

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Oct 23, 2012 Amy Kitchell-Leighty rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-1970-current

Dragon House is a novel about two Americans, Iris and Noah, who go to Vietnam to finish a project Iris's father began before he died. Her father was a Vietnam Veteran and was plagued by the guilt of his part in the war. He had begun a home to get children off the streets, and Iris, a book reviewer and estranged daughter of her father, sets off to accomplish his dream. Noah, an Iraq veteran who lost his leg while serving, goes with Iris on his mother's wishes in hopes that he will learn to love l...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Serena added it

"Iris felt as if a unique cultural experience occurred on the back of scooters. She reflected that in America, people drove their cars and rarely even opened their windows. Within cars people tended to be isolated, listening to the radio or maybe talking on the phone to a friend. Cars were people's places of refuge, highly personalized sanctuaries within which Americans often sought escape. Driving a scooter in Vietnam was a completely different experience. In addition to the ease of conversatio...more "Iris felt as if a unique cultural experience occurred on the back of scooters. She reflected that in America, people drove their cars and rarely even opened their windows. Within cars people tended to be isolated, listening to the radio or maybe talking on the phone to a friend. Cars were people's places of refuge, highly personalized sanctuaries within which Americans often sought escape. Driving a scooter in Vietnam was a completely different experience. In addition to the ease of conversation, the lack of lanes and laws almost mandated that people acted in cooperation. Drivers didn't cut one another off or blast their horns. Though they drove quickly, always looking for the fastest route, if an old woman was trying to cross an impossibly busy street, people braked and weaved around her without a second glance." (Page 184 of ARC)

Iris is just one of the main characters in John Shors' Dragon House and she's had a tough childhood with a mostly absent Vietnam veteran father. Noah, her childhood friend and also a veteran but of the Iraq War, accompanies her to Vietnam as Iris strives to fulfill her father's dream. Through a shifting narrative, readers are shown glimpses of what it means to live on the streets of Vietnam as orphan children with Mia and Minh or as a grandmother Qui raising her leukemia-ridden granddaughter Tam by selling books to American tourists. Dragon House examines how these cultures are misunderstood on both sides and how they clash with one another even in times of peace. Shors deftly mixes sadness with hope to reveal the beauty beneath the grime and compassion inherent in humanity.

"Iris thought about her father, about how he also came home shattered from a war that wasn't of his making. A marriage and a daughter hadn't saved him from his demons. Why would Saigon save Noah? Though Iris was unsure, she knew what her father would say, knew he'd want her to bring Noah." (Page 13 of ARC)

Readers will be blown away by the vivid descriptions of Vietnam and the evolution of the novel's main characters as they find themselves in a foreign land and repurpose their lives to meet the needs of others and fulfill a dream. Shors uses description in a way that conveys deep emotional scaring and how that damage is repaired over time.

"The city was a kaleidoscope of old versus new, memories versus ideas, stone versus chrome." (Page 15 of ARC)

Mia and Minh, who sell fans and gamble with tourists over games of Connect Four, display strength amidst adversity, but like Noah, even the strongest of us have our breaking points. Qui and Tam also display significant strength. In a way these characters offset the deep desolation felt by Noah because they continue to survive and hope, while Noah is steeped in blackness and hopelessness, finding solace in whiskey and pain pills. There is more going on in Dragon House than meets the eye with Iris and Noah preparing a children's center for opening and these children living on the streets. Readers will be absorbed in Shors' world and turn the pages hoping for the best resolution possible.(less)

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Dec 12, 2012 Evelyn Ink rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand I really like the subject matter and some of the characters (ok only the street children), and feel like this is a really important topic overall. The theme of this book I am a huge fan of.
The writing is sadly deficient. The dialogue was overwritten, the characters felt boxed, and there was a lot of repetition (especially within the inner dialogue of the character's Loc and Noah, you feel like you are reading the same thing over and over. I don't know how m...more

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May 02, 2012 Indah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Unfortunately, I read the Indonesian translated version of this book. I don't really like it for three reasons:

1. On the cover, it claims to tell a story of street children as victims of war in Vietnam. Really? Vietnam war was in the late fifties to mid-seventies. The American guy lost his feet in Iraq war which happened more recently, before he and Iris came to the country. I mean, this is more likely to be an everyday situation of street children in any big city nowadays. To me, personally, ci...more Unfortunately, I read the Indonesian translated version of this book. I don't really like it for three reasons:

1. On the cover, it claims to tell a story of street children as victims of war in Vietnam. Really? Vietnam war was in the late fifties to mid-seventies. The American guy lost his feet in Iraq war which happened more recently, before he and Iris came to the country. I mean, this is more likely to be an everyday situation of street children in any big city nowadays. To me, personally, citing them as war victims is a hard selling.

2. Some parts of the story are un-believable. That is to say, I don't buy it. For example, I found it ridiculous, that Noah and Thien rode a scooter to another city (Na Thrang), which is apparently far enough from Saigon that there is a domestic flight to connect between the cities. They rode a scooter, went until late in the evening under the rain, and still chose to sleep on the beach until morning comes - because the guy wanted to show the sea to the girl even at rainy night. Come on! No matter how romantic it sounds, it's just irrational. Even if they used a raincoat, I know from experience that it can't really help, especially in a quite long journey. At least your face, neck, arms, thigh and feet, even shoulders and upper chest will get wet. Add the wind at the rainy beach to the dampness of the night and we know the result. Also, the part when Noah was caught by Loc and was about to be beaten up/killed, suddenly the uncle of Loc came and saved the day. This uncle, who is also a scoundrel and an opium seller, gave a short moral speech about Noah's mission with street children. I was like..."Whaaat?". Isn't it just...too cliche?

3. Apart from all these, the Indonesian translation made me laugh at times. For example when Noah and Thien were riding the bike, Noah sais something that might roughly translated in English as "I want the whole of you to stick with me"...that is just weird, and the Indonesian translation makes it even worse by translating this into "Aku menginginkan seluruh dirimu menempel padaku" - literally translating "sticking" instead of something more like "to stay together". That just made my tear drops in laugh. But I feel sorry for Mr.Shors. The Indonesian readers might think wrong of him for this. :p

In the end I want to add, I know that Mr. Shors wanted to give a broader point of view and deeper understanding on the characters. He did it successfully. This could have been a great story if only the nuances was not built as if in the movies and was focused more on the children and the betterment of their lives.(less)

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Jul 28, 2011 Mirah W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another excellent novel by Shors. I love the different voices that the characters have...when they are speaking they sound unique to themselves and provide something that other characters can't provide. It's not like some novels where all the characters sound the same. The descriptions of the street children are sensitive and honest. I loved the symbol and meaning of the dragon that is carried throughout the book. The only reason I'm giving the book 4 stars insead of 5 is because I felt the endi...more

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Aug 02, 2009 Allisonperkel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Since my spouse is on Amazon Vine, I was able to read a pre release of "The Dragon House". This also happened to be my first exposure to John Shors.

I have to commend Mr Shors for writing a book that not only raises the awareness of childhood poverty in Vietnam, and by extension across the globe. Additionally a portion of the proceeds will go to the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. This is all great stuff.

The book itself though isn't as good as his intentions. The story, loosely, is about hea...more Since my spouse is on Amazon Vine, I was able to read a pre release of "The Dragon House". This also happened to be my first exposure to John Shors.

I have to commend Mr Shors for writing a book that not only raises the awareness of childhood poverty in Vietnam, and by extension across the globe. Additionally a portion of the proceeds will go to the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. This is all great stuff.

The book itself though isn't as good as his intentions. The story, loosely, is about healing. A daughter, Iris, loses her father, a Vietnam vet, to cancer. Before he died, he was trying to find healing for all the damage he experienced in the Vietnam War. To find this healing, he went back to Saigon and began building a home for street kids. He died before he could finish it.

Iris, on his death bed, says she's going to continue his dream. She's still trying to understand, and forgive her father. She's joined by Noah, a man who lost his leg in the Iraq war and is angry, empty and upset at the cost for such a worthless war. In Vietnam she meets a policeman Sahn, who hates Americans since he was still bitter from, you guessed it, the Vietnam War. And then you have the street kids, the people who control them, the family of those who control them - and how some find healing and some don't.

Mr Shors is going for the heartstrings but his skill as a writer simply isn't there for this work. His words, at times are too flowery or his imagery is simply off (comparing Saigon to a "pulsating hive containing every insect on earth"). There is another point where our heroine, also a writer, complains that her characters don't even have as much depth as the paper she's writing on. Sadly, that's the book I'm reading.

Even the street kids read like lovable urchins out of Oliver Twist. While, in theory, I liked Mai and Minh, I never once felt anything for them and I felt that the author, maybe to make them more accessible, made these kids too American.

The ideas behind the book are important. I applaud Mr Shors for this. I hope he sells millions and really brings help to the homeless, starving children across the globe. However, the book he wrote needs at least two more passes with the editor and perhaps an entire rewrite in order to bring the character out of the 2D world they are confined to. (less)

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Sep 18, 2011 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, contemporary-fiction, children, war, vietnam, vietnam-war, fiction, fathers-and-daughters, orphans, disability, iraq-war

Maybe it is because I am going to Vietnam in a month; maybe this was just the right book at the right time, but whatever the reason, I really enjoyed this book.

Enjoyed might be the wrong term because there is some real pain in Shors' story. However, I fell into this novel and didn't want to leave. I found engaging characters, a world that I know nothing about and a good story line. Everything I want from a book.

Shors wants his reader to learn about orphans of the world. He is concerned about the...more

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Oct 23, 2009 ccqdesigns rated it 5 of 5 stars

I first encountered John Shors when I read his novel Beneath a Marble Sky. This new novel, Dragon House, has stepped up John’s impressive writing skills another notch. Dragon House is a love story; the love of a daughter for her father, a sister for her brother, a grandmother for her granddaughter and soldiers for their country. And it is a story of the courage it takes to follow your heart and protect the ones you love.

The Story: After Iris’ father dies, she decides to go to Vietnam and comple...more I first encountered John Shors when I read his novel Beneath a Marble Sky. This new novel, Dragon House, has stepped up John’s impressive writing skills another notch. Dragon House is a love story; the love of a daughter for her father, a sister for her brother, a grandmother for her granddaughter and soldiers for their country. And it is a story of the courage it takes to follow your heart and protect the ones you love.

The Story: After Iris’ father dies, she decides to go to Vietnam and complete his dream of opening a center for street children there even though he was absent for most of her life and she is still very angry. He was always trying to run from his demons and she felt from her. Iris’ good friend Noah is just home from Iraq and running from demons of his own and agrees to go with Iris. What follows is a painful, slow process of acclimation to a new country, to finding out whom her father really was and if this is really what Iris wants to do. In the process Iris finds Mai and Minh, a brother and sister living under a bridge that are forced to work for an opium addict, Qui and Tam, a grandmother and granddaughter living on the streets and Sahn the beat cop and Vietnam veteran who hates Americans.

My Take: John Shors description of Vietnam, of Saigon and its people brought all my senses alive while reading. I could see and touch and smell the market and the city streets. I could hear the traffic noises and all the scooters zipping past. I could feel the touch of Mai as she brushed up against me and asked if I would like to buy a fan. And my heart went out to all the street children and all the empty stomachs and honest people that try every day to help. And I cried in anger at every crooked official and opium addict and street vendor that expected a bribe. And it brought back all the memories. I have been to these countries, I have seen these children, and I have held their hands and bought their fans and laughed with them and prayed for them. And all I can say is that John Shors has written an amazing book that I highly recommend.
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Aug 11, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Iris and Noah are two adults with incredibly divergent and painful pasts. Iris had her father gone so much due to war and trying to open a center for street children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Noah, once a very happy boy and one of Iris's childhood friends, lost his leg in a roadside bombing during the Iraqi war leading to intense depression. In trying to ease her father of worry on his deathbed, Iris promises him that she will travel to Vietnam to try and open his center for street children...more Iris and Noah are two adults with incredibly divergent and painful pasts. Iris had her father gone so much due to war and trying to open a center for street children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Noah, once a very happy boy and one of Iris's childhood friends, lost his leg in a roadside bombing during the Iraqi war leading to intense depression. In trying to ease her father of worry on his deathbed, Iris promises him that she will travel to Vietnam to try and open his center for street children. Unexpectedly, Noah's mother pleas for Iris to let Noah come with on her trip and she ends up bringing him along. In Vietnam, streets pulse with the sound and movement of endless motor scooters, cyclos, and taxis. On sidewalks, children, as well as adults, beg and sell items to try to keep themselves alive. Once arriving in Vietnam, Noah and Iris go to the Center for Street Children. There they meet Thein, a very vibrant and talented woman from Vietnam who speaks English fluently. Thein was hired by Iris's father to help open the center when he met her at a hotel he was staying at. The unusual trio work hard to open the center and choose 20 girls to teach and care for.

Mai and Minh have been together as long as they can remember and have shared a very meager amount of good fortune. Both having no parents, they are forced to beg on the sreets to provide Loc, their "protector" $5.00 per day. If not, they get severely beaten by him. Mai, pronounced May, is soon going to be to old to just sell fans and beg, Loc is intent on using her for child prostitution. Minh, Mai's companion, in nonverbal, he had one of his arms cut off by Loc when he was younger, and he plays Connect 4 with tourists in order to make money for Loc. Mai and Minh sleep under a bridge in a weaved bamboo basket. Through even the hardest times, the pair is inseperable.

Loc is a Vietnamese man who protects street children in exchange for a large portion of their daily earnings. Loc feels joy and power while beating and terrorizing the children. Loc is an opium addict and visits opium dens daily, he is constantly drunk, and he also has an addiction for women. The money from the street children aids in paying for his addictions. He is constantly on the prowl for more money, when he runs out or if the children do not have any, he will beat them senseless. He has no regret for the ways he damages children, mentally and physically.

Qui is Tam's grandmother. Both have to beg on the streets and in the markets every day and have a small makeshift hut with a makeshift bed. The reasons for their begging is more than just basic survival. They must also come up with money to purchase medication for Tam who is suffering from the end stages of leukemia. Tam's father was never in the picture and Tam's mother left them years ago. Qui struggles knowing the deep pain Tam feels and wishes she had gotten her to a hospital sooner. If only she had had enough money to have brought her in prior to things getting so severe. Tam is Qui's life, if Tam was gone, she would not allow herself another breath of life.

Dragon House is a book about commitment to others and how everyone needs to be loved and love. We are here to make a positive difference in others lives. Through the pain and ugliness of Vietnam there shines beauty of landscapes, beaches, and most of all, Love.

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Nov 16, 2010 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

While Iris was with her father as he was close to leaving this world, she promised him she would go to Vietnam and make sure the center for homeless street children, which he had been working on when he fell ill would definitely open. An injured veteran from the Iraq war went with her and they worked long and hard to get the center finished and opened. As the weeks and months passed they became familiar with the country and people living there and befriended several street children and others. B...more

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