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Nagasaki
Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War | Susan Southard
15 posts | 9 read | 47 to read
A Washington Post Best Book of the Year An Economist Best Book of the Year A poignant and complex picture of the second atomic bombs enduring physical and psychological tolls. Eyewitness accounts are visceral and haunting. . . . But the books biggest achievement is its treatment of the aftershocks in the decades since 1945. The New Yorker A powerful and unflinching account of the enduring impact of nuclear war, told through the stories of those who survived. On August 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, a small port city on Japans southernmost island. An estimated 74,000 people died within the first five months, and another 75,000 were injured. Published on the seventieth anniversary of the bombing, Nagasaki takes readers from the morning of the bombing to the city today, telling the first-hand experiences of five survivors, all of whom were teenagers at the time of the devastation. Susan Southard has spent years interviewing hibakusha (bomb-affected people) and researching the physical, emotional, and social challenges of post-atomic life. She weaves together dramatic eyewitness accounts with searing analysis of the policies of censorship and denial that colored much of what was reported about the bombing both in the United States and Japan. A gripping narrative of human resilience, Nagasaki will help shape public discussion and debate over one of the most controversial wartime acts in history. From the Hardcover edition.
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blurb
JoeMo
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This was one of the most powerful pieces of nonfiction I‘ve ever read. It focuses on five survivors of the Nagasaki bombing. It follows them for decades after the war and bombing. This book is tragic, infuriating at times, and ultimately inspiring.

#AlphabetGame #LetterN
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 2y
26 likes1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
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#2022Book75
Books like this are so important, because Americans are taught only that the bombs had to be dropped to end the war and were therefore good. We don‘t learn the consequences or how many civilians were killed, injured, or left with lifelong disabilities and illnesses from the fallout. If I taught world history, I would absolutely use excerpts from this book in my class, even though it would likely anger a certain demographic of parents.

all_4_kb Isn‘t it so ironic how reality can anger so many… thought provoking! 2y
BarbaraBB Very important. I once visited Hiroshima and think many more people should. The damage and effects of the bomb are still everywhere 2y
TrishB All countries cover up their own ‘bad‘ actions. I was only ever taught the British Empire was a good thing for everyone…… 2y
SamAnne always an emotional topic with my parents. They came of age in the 40s and both lost several highschool friends on the WWII Pacific front. My family (before I was born) was stationed in Japan for 4 years in the 60s, when the war was still very raw. They fell in love with Japan and the Japanese friends they made there. I firmly believe there was no reason to drop the bomb—it was a nuclear test. But Also complicated for my parents generation. (edited) 2y
SamAnne And to emphasize I‘m opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. And that‘s where my parents‘ views ended up. Actually my Dad became a vocal war opppnet in his 70s and 80s. But they also put me in my place as an opionated 20-something: you weren‘t losing your friends. You weren‘t there. 2y
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JoeMo
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Pickpick

This fantastic work focuses on five survivors of the Nagasaki bombing. This is a painful read, mostly due to learning about the struggles and loss survivors endured. It‘s also painful to read about the lies and actions of the US. The author was thorough and I appreciated that she spent time on Japanese politics and events leading up to WWII and the bombings. Although heartbreaking, this was also inspiring thanks to these amazing individuals! 5/5

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dylanisreading
Pickpick

This is a difficult book to review (and read) due to its disturbing and horrendous subject matter. It's important, however. This is well researched and well written, with personal narratives interwoven with more traditional history.

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dylanisreading
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I want to quote a passage from every few pages of this book. So incredible and important.

ReadingEnvy This was so good, but I had to take breaks due to the subject matter. 8y
dylanisreading @ReadingEnvy I'm only on chapter two but I know I'm going to have to do the same. I'm reading a few other books and I just borrowed my dad's copy of East of Eden to join your readalong 🙂. 8y
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dylanisreading

Military personnel were forbidden to surrender or become prisoners of war; they were ordered to kill themselves instead as an act of honor for their families and their nation and to avoid any trace of shame.

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ReadingEnvy
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A very thorough, well researched look at life after nuclear war, both the immediate and longterm challenges and horrors. Five real people's lives are followed alongside detailed research. Not an easy read but very good.

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ReadingEnvy

"After years of wartime hardship and loss, countless other survivors were overpowered by *kyodatsu* - a condition of profound hopelessness, despair, and exhaustion."

I kept coming back to this word. It seems to have other applications but I can't imagine life after a nuclear bomb. Reading this as background for a book club discussion on a novel about Nagasaki.

Notafraidofwords that's really sad 8y
Suet624 I can't even imagine. 8y
DivineDiana @ReadingEnvy My Book Club read it and I liked it. (edited) 8y
ReadingEnvy @DivineDiana I hope mine does because it was my suggestion! 8y
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Alisnazzy
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Honestly, I'm so emotionally spent after reading this that I don't know if I can properly convey how incredible this book is. I believe it's a must read and I can guarantee you'll think carefully about who controls our nuclear weapons. 5🌟 and lots and lots of tears.

GlitteryOtters It is on my TBR list...so glad you felt it was a worthwhile read. I know it will be so difficult to get through, but it feels like a very necessary book to read. 8y
EnidBiteEm I can think of more than one person and more than one country who is and who are too scarily close to such weapons ... 8y
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Alisnazzy
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#SundayFunday Litsy-style. I did decide to do a little audiobooking and baking and now I'm hunkered in the comfiest chair, listening to the drizzling rain, and I couldn't be happier.

tricours What did you bake? 8y
Alisnazzy @tricours some pumpkin bread. One of those Pilsbury box mixes. Easy peasy but oh so delicious 😄 8y
tricours I haven't tried pumpkin bread yet, but that must be a great use for pumpkin! And I just used up all of my pumpkin purée (which can't be bought here, and making it does take some time) ? I bake a LOT ? 8y
86 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Alisnazzy
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Literally me at the US while reading this book. I don't know what the outcome of the war would've been without the atomic bombings but the deaths of so many civilians & the US's denial of any wrongdoing is making me want to flip over all the tables around me. ?

[DELETED] 3323341091 you are not alone. 8y
lilredhen I remember asking in high school if there could have been another way. Teacher just shut me down with "the military wanted to reduce casualties and if the war had gone on the casualties would have been greater on both sides than the toll on Hiroshima and Nagasaki". Didn't buy it, and still don't, but all we can do at this point is move forward and try not to repeat that particular chapter of history. 8y
KVanRead @Ambrosnazzy @fern @lilredhen There is much evidence to debunk the reduced casualty argument and to suggest this was a way to 'test' atomic weapons and the first volley in the Cold War. 😡 https://www.thenation.com/article/why-the-us-really-bombed-hiroshima/ 8y
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BookNerdBritt I've been to the a-bomb dome and peace museum in Hiroshima. It was a very intense experience... I can't imagine actually living through the horrors caused by the bombs and their aftermath. 8y
ReadingEnvy I'm planning to read this before my bookclub reads 8y
Laura317 All I can think of is that haunting photo of the little girl running naked through the streets after the bomb. 😢 8y
61 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Alisnazzy
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This is the map of the Scope of Atomic Bomb Damage in the Nagasaki bombing. This book is making me rethink everything I ever learned about the atomic bombs. It's definitely tough to read but so important. #mapsinbooks #currentread

Laura317 Curious as to how it has changed your views about the bomb. If you don't mind sharing. 8y
92 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Alisnazzy
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My current read and #couldntputitdown
I've got a bit of a stomach flu so at least having this to read makes this day not quite the worst. Tough to read at times because of the subject matter, but it's so well written and, again, an area of history that was just lightly touched upon in school that needs to be more well-known to the general public.

Lynnsoprano Feel better 😘 8y
MrBook Aww, get well soon! 8y
Cinfhen Bleh, stomach flus are the worst😰 hope u feel better 8y
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rubyslippersreads Lovely figurine. 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Feel better! Lots of water!! Flush that virus out!! 8y
TwinklingBooks Aww get better soon 8y
Laura317 Being raised in the city that developed the bomb dropped, I've heard lots about it. Sounds like a tough read. Hope you are feeling better soon! 8y
DebinHawaii Hope you feel better soon! 🤒 8y
LilMamaMastro Feel better soon! Thank goodness for books in bed! 8y
ValerieAndBooks Very neat family story ❤️! 8y
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Hobbinol
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First up: When asked how she became interested in her topic, Susan Southard replied that she was first introduced to Nagasaki on a senior class trip, but it wasn't until 1996 when she met a survivor on a speaking tour of the US that she became completely absorbed. Her fluency in Japanese allowed her to partake in a deep, intimate discussion that she felt committed to pursue. #bookmarksfestival

BookishMarginalia That's really interesting -- thanks for sharing! (And I'm stacking too 👍🏼) 8y
20 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Hobbinol
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Ready to rock the Bookmarks Festival in Winston-Salem!

JoeStalksBeck Cool pic 8y
StacksNShelves Love that shirt. I used to have that picture of him pinned on my wall in high school. 8y
LeahBergen Rimbaud is kind of dishy 😏 8y
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Hobbinol @LeahBergen I think he was kinda swishy... 8y
LeahBergen Ha! Yep ... I think so! 8y
MrBook Great hat! The only good haberdasheries I can find are in NYC. 8y
18 likes6 comments