Day of the Dragonfly

by David Vogel

Day of the Dragonfly is an epic story of the struggle against poverty. Beginning in rural Brazil during the Great Depression this Odyssey ends in 1975 on a broken-down chaise longue in front of a trailer in Miami. Two of the three "books" that make up the novel involve heroic journeys – a twelve-year-old girl seeking safety, a fourteen-year-old boy searching for land free from drought. They are separated by the story of a young woman's destruction and exile within a cult.

The way in which poverty clutches onto its victims is made apparent. It isn't possible, even once, to throw money at a problem, and without that tool the true difficulty of poverty becomes clear. At its most heroic, Dragonfly challenges conventional morals, and in the end, the reader is shown something of the importance of a life little noted.

The book is sometimes dark. Heroes are not always kind, and religion shows the worst it has to offer. Still, the imaginative ending will move the reader to tears while being inspiring rather than depressing.

556 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

David Vogel (born 1947) is the Soloman P. Lee Distinguished Professor in Business Ethics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of both the Political Science Department and the Haas School of Business, and is Editor of the California Management Review. He was the Jean Monnet Chair, European University Institute, in 1994 and the BP Chair in Transatlantic Relations, there in 2000. At INSEAD he was the Novartis Professor of Management and the Environment in 2000-2001 and the Shell Fellowship in Business and the Environment in 2002.

Vogel has a BA in political science from Queens College City University of New York and a PhD in politics from Princeton University.

Reviews

[John Sodak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the dawn of the Western literary tradition the theme of the journey has enthralled listeners and readers. Indeed, modern literature has eponymized Homer’s Odyssey and made of it a genre unto itself. Though an odyssey was long considered to refer to epic poetry, a century ago Joyce’s Ulysses brought the epic journey into prose; Yes, his journey may have lasted a mere day and encompassed but a single city, but an odyssey it was. Now David Vogel invigorates the prose odyssey with his novel the Day of the Dragonfly. In Vogel’s prose the odyssey returns to its more traditional form at least regarding scope of time and geography, but his tale, while in some respect as old as wandering humanity itself, is immediately relevant to our contemporary reality at least as reflected in daily headlines that report the multitude of ongoing migration crises that roil our world. Told in three parts, the Day of the Dragonfly takes the reader, via the lives of three generations, from the drought famine of Depression era northeastern Brazil, through the Caribbean, on to Miami and parts north, telling a harrowing story of a family’s determination, from one person to another, to stave off starvation - often just long enough to live another single day - in order to have the physical energy to take a few more steps towards freedom: freedom from poverty, disease, and abuse both familial and cultural.

Seen in one light the Day of the Dragonfly can appear dystopian, but David Vogel manages to create a gripping story that unites two values that rarely sit easily side-by-side: humanistic compassion and cold harsh skepticism. He delivers readers a rare but wonderful treat - a novel that is not only very humane but also ennobling.

[Gwen Hirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Tragedy after tragedy befall the main characters, and Vogel's skillful character development involves the reader   and evinces suffering at each misfortune along with his characters. 

In book one, one can't help but sympathize with the physical and mental hardships that Joao endures. Later in his journey, we can admire his cunning when he discovers an opportunity to secure his fate with the Assembleia de Deus.

Book two introduces Maria. The story of her privileged childhood sharply contrasts with the cruel fate that befalls her.  The betrayal of her mind and body leaves her nearly incapacitated. Fortunately, she endures, and we are brought to Book three where we meet Layla and her siblings. Their mother, Maria, is crippled by depression, so the children must become the adults to care for her and themselves. 

Reminiscent of the Joads, in John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, the family embarks on an epic journey to escape the brutality of their situation. Like the Joads, Layla's family displays a hopefulness that despite today's misfortunes, tomorrow will be better. For most of their journey,  hard work brings few rewards. All hopes are pinned on Layla.
Never really a child, Layla accepts her role as savior of the family, and her dedication to that mission is inspirational. 

Day of the Dragonfly is a moving story of the effects of poverty and survival. Admittedly, a comparison between this book and Steinbeck's work is high praise. However, this reader could not help but see a parallel and feels the comparison is deserved. I am grateful to have been gifted with the chance to read this book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very serious family drama about a cult from Northeast Brazil. It is a story of survival, and it is deceptively simply and beautifully written. It starts very slowly, and it took me 100 to 150 pages to really get into it. It is written in a style and pacing reminiscent of a 19th century novel. There is a discussion of abuse and sexual assault in the book, and if you cannot stand that, then skip this book. Parts of the book have a Caribbean English dialect, but it feel authentic, and not at all demeaning to the peoples of that part of the world. The mother, Maria, and daughter, Layla, eventually leave Maria's abusive husband Jaõa, who is part of the Assemblia De Deus, a cult. The mother and daughter, with three younger siblings come to America in a very improbable story. The beginning of the story in set in the 1930s, and it ends around the year 1978. This is a very moving, dark story of extreme poverty and survival. The writing it beautiful, and taught me a lot about Brazil in thebad old days."

David Vogel, a member of the local writer's group, gave me a digital arc in return for my honest review.

[Darius Wrona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Gabrielle Garcia Marquez, and I like historical fiction; while this novel is neither, it has some of the feel of both to me. What really held my interest was that the struggles and conflicts of the protagonist family really ring true. The problems the characters face, and the way they think about them are relatable, and at the same time give me a vivid sense of a life that is very different from mine. It takes the lives of impoverished immigrants, and gives their stories a kind of epic, heroic feel. I found myself really invested in the characters, cheering for them when they succeed, gritting my teeth when they take a wrong turn. It also has a flow and a structure that is quite different, and makes it much less predictable than most of the novels I read

[Clyde Verhine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In David Vogel’s reflective work, Day of the Dragon, the most powerful aspect is the introspective narrative and the exploration of dignity in hardship. The author presents stories that are powerful and evocative explorations of survival, family bonds, and resilience in the face of hardships. He intertwines his characters’ personal histories with philosophical reflections by weaving moments of tenderness with raw honesty.
Overall, this novel underscores the resilience of the human spirit and reminds us that even the most unobtrusive life can leave an indelible mark. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy thoughtful literature and appreciate the philosophical nuances of human experience. 
…  Clyde Verhine

[Jack Yaes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epic story is based on the true life story of the author’s father-in-law’s life. This book reaches out and quickly captivates the reader’s attention. This book is one that is difficult to put down and walk away from. While reading it, the book leaves the reader desiring to know what happens next in the story. This book is an amazing story that must be shared. It reaches out and grabs your imagination and your emotions. It tells the story of real situations that most people do not realize exist in the world today. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[David Vogel]

Problem of getting an older edition is solved.