Yesterday, August 9, marked a solemn anniversary: 70 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 74,000 people and bringing an end to World War II in the Pacific.
Imagine the unimaginable if you can. An atomic bomb was dropped without warning on August 9, 1945, on a normal day when children were walking to school and adults were going to work. In one instant, a city and thousand of lives were obliterated.
Except for 150 military personnel, the casualties were civilians. Innocent men, women and children.
Beyond the many thousands who were killed outright, another 75,000 were gravely injured and eventually either succumbed due to their injuries or radiation sickness or were doomed to a lifetime of suffering.
The scope of horror on such a massive scale is often hard to comprehend. But in Susan Southard’s engrossing Nagaskai: Life After Nuclear War, we follow the trajectory of five Nagasaki teenagers, also known as hibakusha (atomic bomb affected people) who survived the bombing and were willing to share their harrowing stories.
Southard begins with the day of the bombing, and the passage is chilling in its unsparing description of the enormous destruction and death and maiming and terror. Victims incinerated. Parents desperately searching for their children, and children for their parents. A city reduced to a wasteland. The photos showing the before and after are shocking.
The author intersperses the eye-witness testimonials with an account of the events leading up to the bombing as well as what happened afterwards: the denials from the U.S. government about the impact, the absence of remorse, the refusal to provide medical treatment to the survivors while exploiting them for research purposes.
The party line from our government was that this invasion ended the war and saved thousands of American lives, and the public mostly bought it. For years following the attack, journalists were not permitted to observe the epicenter and denied access to official documents, and were required to submit their stories in advance for approval. Many of these never made it past the censors. The truth did not come out for a long time.
For those who survived, the legacy was the loss of family and homes, scars and disfiguration, chronic debilitating pain, and feeling shame because of their looks. On top of that, there was fear about marrying and conceiving children who might be affected by their radiation poisoning.
But more than anything, this book is a testament to human resilience.
Meticulously researched and written in a compassionate, engaging way, Nagasaki is a must-read if we are to truly understand the devastating impact of nuclear warfare. It is also a tribute to the victims of this disaster and their courage. The five brave survivors interviewed by Southard made the decision to speak about their painful experiences with the hope that, by sharing their stories, Nagasaki would be the last nuclear bombed city in history.
One of my lucky readers will receive a copy of Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War. Please leave a comment below and a winner will be selected randomly. US addresses only, please.
I received a copy of Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War from Viking for an honest review, which is the only kind of review I write.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Helene Cohen Bludman
Sounds like a must read!
You would like it, Mimi.
They need to make this book a staple in high school social classes everywhere so history doesn’t repeat itself.
I couldn’t agree more, Heather.
Sounds like a book I need to add to my reading list. It sounds great.
It really is an important book for everyone to read.
In school we were only taught about the fact of the bomb, not about how in seconds it killed, maimed and changed thousands of lives forever. Yes, this is a must-read for everyone. What a great find, Helene.
Cathy Chester recently posted…How A Professor Is Using Social Media To Make Healthcare More Accessible
It is shocking how much of that tragedy was covered up, Cathy.
I learned about Nagasaki young because I read everything I saw on parents’ shelves. I’d love to read this one!
Carol Cassara recently posted…Sister-Lady-Girl
It was fascinating, Carol.
I heard some pretty horrific stories about that day in my history classes in college. I bet this book is really interesting.
Dawn McAlexander recently posted…Easy Slow Cooker Corned Beef And Cabbage Recipe
There is so much I didn’t know about Nagasaki — I am so glad I read it, Dawn.
I wish they would make books like this required reading. I just cannot stand to think of it…I cannot imagine the horror.
Tam Warner Minton recently posted…World Lion Day: Contribute to their survival!
Exactly,Tam. Just horrific.
I grew up knowing about the bombs, but I didn’t really look at the perspective of the Japanese until I watched an anime (Grave of the Fireflies 1990) about it (where the characters are children trying to survive in the aftermath). It’s a painful part of US history, but I think it’s about time that Americans look at the effects so that we are aware of what happens to other people during military conflicts. Thanks for reviewing Southard’s book.
Karen Austin recently posted…Prayers for Sale: Book Review
At the time the Japanese were so hated — we couldn’t look past what was happening in the war to see what would happen to innocent lives.
Thank you for sharing this book – I plan to read immediately; it looks amazing and impactful.
Kimba recently posted…Virginia Author Celebrates National Underwear Day
Thanks, Kimba. Let me know what you think.
Wow this one sounds really good. I need to get it for son and I to read.
becca recently posted…Monday Music With @FifthHarmony @charlieputh @Meghan_Trainor #TravelBlogger #Music #Descendants
I want my kids (grown) to read it too, Becca.
Helene, thanks for bringing this important book to light. I have always wondered about the real story behind this devastating event.
Judith, this is an amazing book. I hope you read it.
Tragic…just terribly tragic. A lesson we should never forget. Sounds like a great read for sure!
Carolann recently posted…5 Designer Must Haves That Will Wipe Your Wallet Clean
Thanks, Carolann!
I remember reading about this in High School. It would be a nice Book to put in my “Home Library”
Lorane recently posted…Life Update + Random
I agree.
Very interesting. Think my husband would love to read this. Adding it to his list for him to check out.
Chelle OJSA recently posted…Achieving Goals w/ Walgreens Balance Rewards Program
Thanks!
I recently read a book from the aspect of the scientist and families who developed the atom bomb. It was a book from the wives point of view. They had no idea what they were going into, were relocated within days from their regular lives, given new names, and kept in the dark about why they were living in basic isolation from the world they knew and what their husbands were working on. That book gave me a brand new respect for what happened when the atomic bomb was created and deployed. I can only imagine what this one will do.
Elizabeth Towns recently posted…Do they know you love them always? – Book Review & Give Away
Elizabeth, that sounds so interesting. I would love to read it. If you see this, leave the title for me.
This is a subject that needs to be brought out. Must read.
Debbie Denny recently posted…The Amazing Terry Fator and His Entourage of Characters!
Totally agree.
This sounds like a really interesting book, my dad is a total history buff so I’m sending this on to him.
Sara recently posted…Brownie Berry Dessert Pizza
Excellent.
I used to love reading history like this – I found it cathartic, I guess. But I find that I read less nonfiction like this since I’ve had children. It’s just so hard to get your head around it.
I do too, Wendy. But this almost reads like a novel.
I know a true history buff who would love to receive a copy of this book as a gift. TY for the heads up!
Carol Bryant recently posted…Crash Course: What To Do In a Dog Emergency
Awesome!
This is a scary thing. I would probably get anxiety reading this.
This is one for the reading list for sure! I’ve been reading like crazy trying to whittle down my reading list, but this is going near the top!
Rena McDaniel recently posted…DO CHARITIES GO TO FAR?
Thanks, Rena!
I need to add more books of this nature to my reading list this year.
Tina @ My Highest Self recently posted…Boost Weight Loss with SLIMQUICK Pure
My husband loves to read history and war books. He’d be very interested in this book.
Ourfamilyworld recently posted…The Best Bibs for Drooling Babies
I think he would for sure.
I watched a documentary on this. So incredibly sad
Laura funk recently posted…Final Summer Fun
Sad doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I think this would be an interesting read, to find out what life was really like, I love reading history it just brings the time period to life for me
angie recently posted…giveaways entered 8/11
I agree, Angie.
Ah I never thought about the generational fear of passing it along to a loved one in birth, or something like that… How very awful to have to worry about something like that too. 🙁
Yes, awful.
Sounds like a great book! I added to my list to check it out! Thank you!
Claudia Krusch recently posted…Ensopado – Brazilian Shrimp Stew
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