Mairéad (is roaming the Undying Lands)'s Reviews > Hiroshima Nagasaki: The Real Story of the Atomic Bombings and Their Aftermath

[February 19th, 2016] AT LAST THE REVIEW

4 stars.

This weighty tome caught my eye due to the research I was doing for CrownedEmpyreon. Although I knew from what I read in textbooks and documentaries, and other forms of mediums that the atomic bombings, which helped end WWII has been a predominant blemish of both the sciencific and moral grounds of human life. And something that no person should have to play a part or have a role involved with such destruction. It is difficult though, considering I didn't live through that and seeing it from all sides, it was definitely no one wished for. Still it came down to such consequential actions that would impact millions of lives, then and now.

I already braced myself for the entirely of these horrific events when TSLI covered from preWWI all the way to the end of the Cold War. I knew I would have to deal with the historical tragic events that led and occurred and the aftermath of these actions. It's clear though, from Paul Ham's narrative and perspective, that a lot of things happened to led events to this path. War is a horrific thing, as are the actions people are forced to take in the matter of life and death, to protect and defend, and whether to kill or be killed.

And I'm glad that this book was written with both sides in mind. It truly shows exactly how no war is won without losses. No life would be the same after these events. And how much one choice can alter millions upon millions of lives, and then future billions. Yes, both sides showed terrible actions in war, but that what we should remember...

War alters our human morals into a fight for survival, the most animalistic and primal nature that has be within us since the dawn of time.

Paul Ham covers a majority of events and time frame, and doesn't leave his readers without information and a clear idea what's going on. The 2 years and a half worth of research he did is evident in the details he presents us. And it would take another 1 and a half worth to write and edit this weighty tome. It is ambitious to say the least.

My only regret is that because of the massiveness of this book, it was a harrowing effort on my part to struggle through the trenches of line after line of words. At times I had to take a break and do other things otherwise it would lose or overwhelm me. Considering the nature of the topic and the fact I had picked this up for research, it carried a burden of information and a narrative that we need to know and acknowledge about what happened.

Did the atomic bombs truly help win the war? Or did something else play in the decision of the desperate victory?

We are provided some inkling to this, however we won't truly know exactly what the final deciding factor was--the nuclear wrath, the threat of the Soviets, or both.

And the descriptions of those that suffered, their stories and details will haunt me, especially when their pleas were ignored. Especially when they were not told of the horrific aftermath of being exposed as we do now. The souls that suffered needlessly and without a voice. It saddens me deeply, more so when I relieve their words again in writing the scenes I need to portray. I only hope I do the justice they so rightly deserved, despite the horrific details I'll have to trudge through and dread.

Definitely a heavy read for me, more so as research.

I can only fervently wish and hope that such tragic actions will not have to be made again.