The History Book Club discussion

I know!! I'm really surprised at how many survived the day. Not surprisingly they perished not long after. That will be a topic we can revisit after you read the book.

(view spoiler)["Almost all thinkers and writers have said that it is not good for the A-bomb victims to remain silent; they encourage us to speak out. I detest those who fail to appreciate our feelings about silence. We cannot celebrate August 6; we can only let it pass away with the dead." Prologue, page 20.

It really surprised me that the A-bomb victims didn't want to talk about it, although it shouldn't have. I know my dad would never talk about his experiences in WWII and Vietnam. (hide spoiler)]

Response to Francie

(view spoiler)[Sad and surprising. Until I read this book, I had no idea how they felt. I never thought to consider it. I know that many do not want to talk about Vietnam. My Mother-in-law's husband won't talk about his experience. I can only image that what they saw/experienced was horror worse than we want to know about. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I can't even imagine the horrors they saw. I don't remember learning much about the bombing of Hiroshima or Nagasaki in school, just a slight mention. It's amazing how much we don't teach our children in this day and age. (hide spoiler)]

I'll be curious if you think this would be good reading for High School/College students when you've finished.

I'll let you know, but I should let you know I'm rather liberal with what I would let my kids read. I wanted them to explore all facets of learning. They both are now very forward thinking adults and definitely have a lot to contribute. I'm rather proud of them, excuse me for bragging.

Brag away. I would be liberal as well. I think it depends on the children, at times, but would rather they learn and understand than be sheltered.

I totally agree.

Teri wrote: "Chapter One

Hi Everyone. Any initial thoughts on Chapter One? I like the ease of writing. Oe paints quite a picture. I had not thought much about how the pain and suffering of the A/H bomb vic..."

(view spoiler)[I think the political strife surprised me as well. It seems as if nobody wanted to really listen. I also didn't know about the leukemia connection with the bomb victims. (hide spoiler)]

It was a shame about that

Francie ~

(view spoiler)[There was a lot that I was surprised at. I guess I always assumed that those that lived through the bombing would have some physical/health issues, but it never occurred to me that it would continue to carry on from generation to generation. It's just surprising to me that we don't hear much about the victims of the bombings, at least here in the US, like we do the victims of the Holocaust. Both atrocities, but one we did not cause.

Have you finished? (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[But many of the Holocaust victims migrated to the U.S. and so many books were written. You don't hear from victims of the bombings in large part, I guess, because they may not want to talk about it. The flowers and incense in memory of the dead choked me up a little.

No, just finished first chapter. I think I am trying to read too many books at one time. (hide spoiler)]

Francie ~

(view spoiler)[I am sure you are right. I think that may be touched on later too, so I won't say anymore. ;-)

This is a good book to take your time on, as each chapter can really stand on its own. I am doing the same thing with multiple books right now, but about to finish a couple. (hide spoiler)]

Are you reading the book Lakshmi - we are happy to have you post if you are reading the book and are abiding by the spoiler requirement which you have not done. I will send you a copy of your post so you do not lose it but you have to place it in the spoiler html. You are entitled to your own point of view but do not hold the thread hostage to a varying point of view once you have posted. Especially if you are not reading the book. In any case these posts such as the one you posted must be spoiler html and refer to the chapter you are talking about.

Thank you for that information, Lakshmi. I had not really read any of the "conspiracy theories" of the bombings.

Short overview of the book without any real spoilers:

(view spoiler)[This book is not about the theories behind the bombings, or even the bombings themselves. This book chronicles some of the aftermath, particularly with the medical/health/mental effects on the victims that lived through those days, and their future generations, all told in essays by the author. They are stories we just don't hear about, especially in the US. (hide spoiler)]

I would love for you to join in. Although the official read is over, I still monitor the thread and as you see, Francie is reading it now. We would love your company/insights.

However, I must point out that our group is not into "conspiracy theories" and we do not want our threads riddled with these conspiracy theories either. I am sorry to have to say that but we find it is like spam to us.

Okay?

You're good, Francie. We carry on.

We are not interested Lakshmi

(view spoiler)[The silence continued so long because the U.S. Army Surgeons Investigations Team in the fall of 1945 had issued a mistaken statement: all people expected to die from the radiation effects of the atomic bomb had by then already died; accordingly, no further cases of physiological effects due to residual radiation would be acknowledged. (Chapter 2, page 67)

Was anyone else flabbergasted by this statement? What on earth were they thinking? I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I'm in the middle of reading Chapter 3 now, but had to set it aside because I couldn't stop crying. The old man talking to his dead grandson broke my heart.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

Response to Francie on Chapter 2

(view spoiler)[Yes, it was heartbreaking to read that statement. I just hoped that at the time of the statement the long term effects just were not prominent. You'll understand as you read more. But I do realize that there was a large amount of ignoring/non-acknowledgement because our government didn't want to admit the true impact of what they did.

The stories are emotional but I think it's important to read. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I'm emotional anyway. I'll continue tomorrow. This is such a great book. I think it will stay with me forever. (hide spoiler)]

Teri wrote: "Chapter 4

I really liked the message of the chapter 4 essay "On The Dignity of Man". Oe summed it up so well at the end by saying "But I think that I have learned one sure way to protect myself fr..."

(view spoiler)[Teri, I agree with you about committing suicide. I do think Oe's father summed up the suicide of the soldier well, though, especially when the Japanese and Germans weren't exactly following the standards of humanitarian treatment of war established by the Geneva Conventions. Suicide was probably preferable to being tortured.

I also like the definitions of dignity and humiliation. (hide spoiler)]

Teri wrote: "I'm a little behind in posting. Here are my thoughts on chapter 5.

(view spoiler)[I continue to be impressed by this book and how thought provoking each chapter/story is. Chapter 5 delves into the topic of human..." (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I was impressed by how many doctors worked to help the injured after the bombing, even ones that were wounded and still bleeding. Really amazing.

Let me know what you found out about the pilots who dropped the bomb. I saw a movie a long time ago about the Enola Gay and Colonel Paul Tibbits, the pilot, but to be honest, I don't remember anything about it. I think I'll look to see if I can find it and watch it again. (hide spoiler)]

Francie wrote: "Teri wrote: "Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[I still ponder the question and probably always will. I don't know that there is a real cut and dry answer. It will be different for each person and each circumstance you're in. (hide spoiler)]

Don't forget your spoiler tags. ;-)

Enola Gay bombers:
(view spoiler)[I haven't read up on any of these guys but was just looking at books (thanks for reminding me). It looks like these might be worth reading. You'll have to let me know the name of the movie if you find it.

by Gordon Thomas
by Richard H. Nelson (no photo)
by Paul W. Tibbets (no photo) (hide spoiler)]

Francie wrote: "Teri wrote: "I'm a little behind in posting. Here are my thoughts on chapter 5."

Teri wrote: "Don't forget your spoiler tags. ;-)

Enola Gay bombers:
I haven't read up on any of these guys but was just looking at books (thanks for reminding me). It looks like these might be worth reading. Y..."

Sorry about that. Don't know how I forgot (sometimes I have "old-timers" disease).

(view spoiler)[Well, I now have added those three books to my constantly growing TBR. I did find the movie on YouTube. It's Enola Gay: The Men, The Mission, The Atomic Bomb

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9VheI-_... (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for the link! That is a condition I battle everyday. ;-)

My thoughts on book as a whole:

(view spoiler)[For me, this was a dynamic book. Oe really brought the devastation of Hiroshima to light. I felt the pain and suffering and the "dignity" of the survivors. It's a shame that there aren't more books portraying this event in history. I agree with Terri that this book should be read by students who are studying WWII. (hide spoiler)]

Well said, Francie. Dignity, indeed.

Francie wrote: "My thoughts on book as a whole:

[spoilers removed]"

Thank you, Teri. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I just loaned it to my nephew's girlfriend and hope to get some feedback from her soon.