Hiroshima Notes is a moving statement from Japan's most celebrated living writer on the meaning of the Hiroshima bombing and its terrible legacy. K...
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Nov 19, 2011
Psychopu
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Hiroshima Notes contains a collection of essays written by Kenzaburō Ōe between 1963-65, after several visits to the city struck by the atom bomb in August 1945. The essays were initially published separately in the Japanese media. In the seven pieces, Ōe exposes social and political implications and poses the question of Hiroshima's true meaning and legacy, not only for Japan but also for the world as a whole. Ultimately, although the author acknowledges the absurdity of the tragedy of Hiroshim
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May 10, 2010
Nam
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After reading this book one thing I will say is that I am glad the author of this text Kenzaburō Ōe is still alive. The book is first of all highly humanizing. In that both it's message and effect to and on the reader is one of deep humanism. It is no surprise that he won the Nobel Prize in 1994 for literature. For some reason although the entire work is full of deeply humanizing passages the last 3-4 pages had the most impact on me. I read them at the laundromat crying (although lightly) deepl
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Oct 15, 2011
Came across ref to this book in David Remnick profile of Oe, "A Father and His Son, a powerful piece about how Oe and his brain-damaged son helped each other develop their artistic voices. From The Devil's Problem, a collection of Remnick NYer profiles (which is filled with wide range of insightful pieces but well worth buying just for the Oe profile). Curious to see how this compares with John Hersey's famous "Hiroshima." Anyone out there read both?
Dec 17, 2009
Jason
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Interesting in its depiction of the nascent anti-nuclear movement in the early 60's, Oe tells the horrific stories of many of the survivors of the Hiroshima bombing. Leukemia epidemics, physical scars, suicides, this collection of essays isn't for the weak of heart.
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