Barefoot Gen Volume 1: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima

Description

This harrowing story of Hiroshima was one of the original Japanese manga series. New and unabridged, this is an all-new translation of the author's first-person experiences of Hiroshima and its aftermath, is a reminder of the suffering war brings to innocent people. Its emotions and experiences speak to children and adults everywhere. Volume one of this ten-part series details the events leading up to and immediately following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Review: Parfait - Un très beau témoignage sur Hiroshima. Review: Powerful and Violent. Important, but not for the faint of heart - The book is well made, sturdy and arrived on time. This powerful autobiographical graphic novel is not for the faint of heart. I feel like I am processing the author’s childhood as it is happening. Watching this painful moment in Japan’s history play out in a way that holds nothing back, told from the perspective of a child is so affecting. I carried the weight and pain around with me for days after I finished the book. The author goes into the political tensions and their effects of the poor and seemingly disconnected innocents of this war. This book gave them a face and showed a disconnected westerner a clear understanding of the suffering the war caused the Japanese people. It is a visual and emotional portrayal of a child’s life of struggle caused by war. You follow our protagonist as his childlike focus on the day to day is constantly being confused and upset by things caused by forces beyond his control. Highly recommend. Know it is a very graphic, violent, upsetting, and honest telling of the author’s perspective of Hiroshima in 1945 leading up to the nuclear bombing of the city.