12 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, July 23, 1997 'Comfort Woman' tells chilling tale of internment camps Comfort Woman Nora Okja Keller Viking Throughout time, war crimes have been universal occurrences but tabooed subjects. But in "Comfort Woman" by Nora Okja Keller, the nightmares of a group of war victims comes to life in a graphic tale told with candor and integrity. Comfort women are women and girls who were forced to serve in Japanese "recreation camps" during World War II camps intended to accommodate the sexual needs of Japanese soldiers. Not only were these women continually raped by the soldiers, but their psychological well- being and identities were stripped from them as well, leaving them empty with a strong desire for death. But even though small numbers of surviving comfort women have recently begun to talk about their experiences, little is known about the many horrors that occurred inside these camps. Keller attempts to detail the daily lives of these women through the eyes of Akiko, a former comfort woman, and her daughter, Beccah. "Comfort Woman" is told from both Akiko's and Beccah's perspec- tives, in alternating chapters. Keller jumps from time period to time peri- od and from perspective to perspec- tive. She creates a rich, descriptive story about survival and the holiest of bonds between a mother and daugh- ter, through the stories of Akiko and her American-born daughter. Akiko is a Korean woman who is sold into a life of prostitution by an older sister. By the age of 12, she is regularly raped by several soldiers each night, and by the age of 14, she nearly dies from a crude abortion. Later, she is rescued by missionar- ies, but is continually haunted by her lack of identity and her days at the Japanese camps. Even with the spe- cial attention of one minister, Akiko can still feel the camps' painful imprints on her soul. In one incident, the minister, who would later. become her P 0 husband and < the father of her child, "backed away,- but not before I discovered his secret, the one he won't admit even now, even to him- self, after twenty years of marriage. It was a secret I learned about in the comfort camps, one I recognized in his hooded eyes ... and the way his hands fluttered about his sides as if they wanted to fly up against my half- starved girl's body with its narrow hips and new breasts." Now, years later, after her mother's death, Beccah attempts to understand her mother's tormented soul. She searches through her memories of a delicate and fragile woman who could sometimes see spirits and occasional- ly went a bit "crazy." Gradually, she begins to understand the woman with-, in her mother who died at the camps. As Beccah gains more understand- ing of her mother, a touching theme emerges. Though the two suffer so many cultural and psychological bar- riers, Keller shows how a mother- daughter bond is strong survive even after death. K up this esoteric love perf she has Akiko say to he "Beccah, how will you much I love you if you your own children?" "Comfort Woman," Ke novel, is a triumph in it's a compelling through rich i wonderful textu taposes A orful worn g fwit an wo Wit sive Comt its un characters method of "Comfort Woman" is a b incidents of which too few aware. Sole Survivor Dean R. Koontz Knopf Dean R. Koontz is the w most expert on the spawns has written on all things from sex-crazed demons at nists who come back to li derous genetic mutants and stalkers. But for once, Koo his affinity for evil by t enough to attention toward the mystery of God Keller sums and the afterlife. ectly when In his newest book, "Sole r daughter, Survivor," Koontz creates a well-writ- know how ten story about what would happen if don't have the secret of a greater being and an afterlife could be revealed. ller's first Life ended for crime reporter Joe bility to be Carpenter the night a catastrophic and mages and mysterious plane crash took the life of res. It jux- 330 people, including his beloved kiko's col- wife and two young daughters. and vivid Unable to deal with the emptiness that d of spirits now consumes his life, Joe wanders h a dark aimlessly after abandoning his job d haunting and closest friends. rld filled Exactly one year after the life-shat- th perva- tering disaster, Joe encounters an pain. enigmatic woman named Rose, who bined with claims to have not only survived the forgettable crash, but who can also give Joe some and adept information that will bring him peace narration, of mind. But before she can elaborate, ook about she disappears - leaving Joe desper- people are ate for whatever secrets this woman possesses. Julia Shih As Joe sets out to track down Rose, he battles a powerful but mysterious organization determined to keep Rose silent - and his own demons. "Sole Survivor" is much different from the majority of Koontz's books to date. As expected, it is a quick- paced page-turner that is impossible to put down, but the source of evil in the plot is from humans as opposed to his usual supernatural forces. orld's fore- Koontz's detailing of man's desire of hell. He to silence the discovery of an afterlife diabolical, involving a heaven and hell is an nd misogy- expertly crafted analogy to the ulti- fe to mur- mate religious and spiritual journey. I perverted Koontz uses Joe as a guide through a )ntz avoids journey exploring the darker regions urning his of human character while allowing the divine forces to prevail. Meanwhile, Koontz allows Joe to embark on his own inner journey, where he utilizes the strength of spir- itual guidance to learn to embrace life once again. The ever-present motif of religious fidelity and the existence of an after- life is a dominant theme that cannot be ignored in "Sole Survivor." Koontz even seems to use different character* in the novel to preach his own thoughts and opinions on theology. Though overly imposing with his opinions at times, Koontz does have some wonderfully thought-provoking moments. One prime example is when Joe is talking with a pious witness to the crash. The woman comments, "'It's got to be sadder than our end of things, don't you think? (God) knows our potential but has to watch us for* ever falling short, all the cruel things we do to one another, the hatred and the lies, the envy and greed and the endless coveting. We see only the ugliness people do to those around us, but He sees it all. The seat He's in has a sadder view than ours."' But even with the religious themes, "Sole Survivor" will not be a disap- pointment to fans of Koontz's usuai fare. Though its subject is differend from ones on which the author usual- ly dwells, it is still well-crafted, won- derfully rich and profound on many levels. So indulge in a little piece of heav- en with the master of terror and hell, Dean R. Koontz. With his newest release, "Sole Survivor," you'll get all the thrills, chills and deep thoughts you can handle. -Julia Shti/ F-i ......... ... en 7pm - zam i days * 19 & up except Thurs., Fri. & Roundtree Plaza next to Wal-Mart -1-94 to Exit 181.