Hiroshima was one of the great tragedies of WWII.
But out of the devastation of the first atomic bomb, some survivors emerged – twenty-five courageous Japanese women who became part of a remarkable humanitarian epic.
Victims of the atomic blast that ushered in the Nuclear Age, these women were brought to the United States in 1955, where they underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the … to repair the ravages of the bomb.
Schoolgirls when the bomb destroyed their futures, they began to remake their lives and re-create themselves.
This is the compassionate, often bittersweet chronicle of the Hiroshima Maidens.
It follows their lives from the terrifying moments of the detonation of the bomb, through their years as outcasts in their own country, to their not always idyllic stay in America, and on to their lives since — some tragic, some heroic, some affectingly ordinary.
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History aftermath of Hiroshima on women physically and mentally damaged by the Atom bomb who meet for the first time the man who dropped it.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly, rainy day or not. If you have never read any of the books about the bombing of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, then I can’t recommend this one enough. Written in a straightforward story telling style, it leaves nothing to the imagination, good or bad. It was humourous, touching, political but most of all informative. This is just one story of a group of Japanese women who were so personally devastated and deformed by the nuclear blast, and I hope the reason why we never ever see another atomic bombing on this planet because it will truly be the end of the world with all the new sophisticated weapons that some countries possess. Their stories are truly incredible, especially all the plastic surgery they went through, 30-40 operations each. Truly amazing!
I had some idea about the devastating effects of the A-bomb, radiation effects, etc. but what I read was much more personal and is a tale of true courage in the face of great adversity. Highly recommend!
I didn’t know about this post-WW2 history. As a baby-boomer, I was too young to understand or recall the story. There are lots of different aspects, and the author covers issues ranging from religion to cultural differences, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, and international affairs. The most interesting element is on relationships between people, and how some things can go right while others just auger into the dirt. The overall story is bittersweet in a lot of ways – clearly, they didn’t all live happily ever after. The author managed to provide context and steer mostly clear of debate re: morality of atomic weapons; a wise choice, in my view, as it allowed the reader to focus on the story of the maidens themselves. If you’re interested in WW2, or nuclear proliferation, or stories about stuff that goes on between people and nations, then it’s well worth the time.
I plan to visit Hiroshima in a months time, so I found it interesting & informative.
Very fascinating look at some of the women who, as children, were scarred for life when the atomic bomb was dropped on their city and how they dealt with the tragedy and grew into fascinating women.
Never knew about the story of these women. This novel will stay with me for a very long time.
This is the third book I’ve read about Hiroshima, as well as seeing films and photos on the subject. Still I didn’t know about these women and how doctors, hospitals, and citizens tried to make their lives better. Well written and informative, as well as inspirational.
Very interesting historical read
Enlightening!
I have recommended this book to several friends. It was something I had never heard of. The portrayal of the various women, and the wide variety of individual responses to their situation was very surprising. So glad I read it.
This is a great story. I didn’t even know this happened. The storytelling was compassionate and interesting. The author treated the subject matter with reverence. It aroused social consciousness.