Daughters of the Dragon by William Andrews

Anna Carlson adopted Koren daughter of an American couple, returns to Korea after the death of her adoptive mother to search for her birth mother.  On leaving the orphanage an old woman presses into her hand an elaborate double headed dragon hair comb with the urgent request that she come and visit her.

The story told from the old woman is of the 'Comfort Women' of Korea, kidnapped and forced into prostitution for the Japanese army.  Jae-hee tells this story, how her life was under Communist rule in North Korea, her fiancees arrest, her escape and her success in S Korea and her plunge into poverty once her secret comes out - she was once was a comfort women.  The horror and degradation of her time as a comfort woman is not easy reading, and more importantly an aspect of history that should not be ignored.

In the discussion afterwards what struck people most was the 'deus ex machina maquina' device of furthering the action - using the story of the Empress/Goddess who is supposed to unify Korea. 

Words used to describe it:
harrowing, informed, enlightening, compelling, factual

Marks out of 10 - between 5 - 8

Next Book

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Next Meeting

20th June - Mandy's

Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig

Like many people now, Quentin and Lottie Bredin can't afford to divorce and can't afford to live in London.  So they decide to downsize and move their family to Devon.  A darkly harsh black comedy, of middle class issues of money and marriage.  The book delves into the issues of zero hour contracts, infidelity and relationships.

Having said that this book club didn't really like the book, people found it lecturing, excructiating and in places ludicrous.  

Marks out of 10 - between 1 & 5

Words used to describe it:
disappointing, oversold, hectoring, disjointed.

Next Book

Daughters of the Dragon by William Andrews

Next Meeting 

May 24th at Carolyn's