Daughters of the Dragon (Andrews)

Daughters of the Dragon:  A Comfort Woman's Story
William Andrews, 2014
MADhouse Press
354 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780991395859


Summary
Winner, 2014 Ippy Award for Historical Fiction

During World War II, the Japanese forced as many as 200,000 young Korean women to be sex slaves or “comfort women” for their soldiers. This is one woman’s riveting story of strength, courage and promises kept.
 
In 1943, the Japanese tear young Ja-hee and her sister from their peaceful family farm to be comfort women for the Imperial Army. Before they leave home, their mother gives them a magnificent antique comb with an ivory inlay of a two-headed dragon, saying it will protect them.

The sisters suffer terribly at the hands of the Japanese, and by the end of the war, Ja-hee must flee while her sister lies dying. Ja-hee keeps her time as a comfort woman a secret while she struggles to rebuild her life. She meets a man in North Korea who shows her what true love is. But the communists take him away in the middle of the night, and she escapes to the South. There, she finally finds success as the country rebuilds after the Korean War.

However when her terrible secret is revealed, she’s thrown into poverty. In the depths of despair, she’s tempted to sell the comb with the two-headed dragon that she believes has no magic for her. Then one day she discovers its true meaning and her surprising heredity. And now she must find the only person who can carry on the legacy of the two-headed dragon… someone she abandoned years ago.
 
Set within the tumultuous backdrop of 20th century Korea, Daughters of the Dragon by award-winning author William Andrews will make you cry and cheer for Ja-hee. And in the end, you’ll have a better understanding of the Land of the Morning Calm.
 
Daughters of the Dragon is inspired by The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, Memiors of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, the books of Amy Tan and Lisa See..(From the publisher.)

Author Bio
• Birth—October 28, 1953
• Where—Racine, Wisconsin, USA
• Education—B.A., St. Olaf College; M.B.A, St. Thomas University
• Awards—Ippy Award for Historical Fiction
• Currently—lives in Edina, Minnesota


Visit the author's website.
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Book Reviews
Daughters Of The Dragon - A Comfort Woman's Story is set during World War II, when the Japanese forced some 200,000 young Korean women to be sex slaves (i.e. “comfort women”) for their soldiers, and centers around one Ja-hee and her sister who are taken from their family for such a purpose....

Daughters Of The Dragon is no easy read, so don't expect a light leisure story of survival and endurance. Ja-hee's world is gritty, dark, and filled with struggle; and so readers are swept along into her encounters with Japanese brutality and wartime events....

And being based on actual historical fact, [the events of the story] hold all the more impact and importance not just for Daughters Of The Dragon, but for a deeper understanding of modern-day Asia and why the Japanese are still viewed with caution and anger throughout much of the rest of the region.....

William Andrews has taken a nearly-buried historical fact and used it to create a masterpiece of fictional encounters cemented by a strong central character in Ja-hee.
     
Readers who look for authentic historical meaning, strong protagonists, believable and involving dialogue, and a gripping saga will find Daughters Of The Dragon just the ticket. Anticipate brutal scenes, revelations, and struggles for survival and post-traumatic stress that follow the realistic paths of life in a powerful story of dignity, atrocities and roads to recovery.
D. Donovan - Midwest Review

Discussion Questions
1.  How aware were you of the comfort woman atrocity before you read Daughters of the Dragon? Research shows that fewer than 30% of educated Americans know about comfort women. Why do you suppose that is?
 
2.  What did you learn about Korea and Korean history that you think is important for Americans know?
 
3.  Rape is a difficult topic. Do you think the author handled the rape scenes well? Why or why not?
 
4.  Ja-hee has three main men in her lives—Colonel Matsumoto, Jin-mo, and Colonel Crawford. Do you think they all loved her? How were they different and how were they the same?
 
5.  The author seems to compare the Japanese comfort stations to the American kijichons (brothels outside the military bases). Is this a fair comparison? How do you think Ja-hee felt about it?
 
6.  How do you feel about the United State’s relationship with Korea after reading this book? Was/is the United States good or bad for Korea?
 
7.  Do you think Ja-hee made the right decision to make Soo-bo have her baby?
 
8.  Do you think Ja-hee made the right decision to put her granddaughter (Anna) up for adoption?
 
9.  We learn that Ja-hee is royalty. Did she act accordingly? How important is her duty to Korea, her ancestors and her descendents? Was it all a wasted effort?
 
10. What is Anna’s duty going forward?
 
11. Ultimately, this book is about…  what?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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