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unklekrinkle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
pili_pi's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, War, Violence, Medical trauma, and Gore
alisynamant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
bonnie3088's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
"I hated war. Who cared, after all, which side won? The only important this was to end it all soon as possible: rather an unjust peace, than a "just" war!"
This is a great book that talks about the true victims and horror of war.
It is a narrative that is both through journal entry's and current narration. It provides an excellent tale on who is most affected by the atom bomb and the injustice of it all.
It is kinda boring towards the end as it kind of drags on but the story is still powerful and sad nonetheless. I felt i became more invested in Yasuko than anything else and felt her pain toward the end of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Suicide, and Death
kmatthe2's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful book. Stark, yet lyrical. Haunting without being overtly didactic. A wonderful companion piece to Hersey's book.
tstockwell86's review against another edition
2.0
I have no doubt that this is an important book, but it got so bogged down in unnecessary detail and a complete lack of story after the first hundred pages or so that I had to stop. There's zero character development, and flicking to the end, the small sliver of story that there is seems to be unresolved. I wanted to know about the characters and their feelings and be spared monotonous passages about coal and divisional managers.
The novel does succeed in depicting the true magnitude of the horrors of Hiroshima, but honestly it could be cut in half and pack much more of a punch, much like Julie Otsuka's The Buddha In The Attic, albeit a book that deals with Japanese-Americans and, in part, internment.
Black Rain is not the book for me, but for those who are more inclined to non-fiction or who have a deep interest in WWII, I'd recommend this.
The novel does succeed in depicting the true magnitude of the horrors of Hiroshima, but honestly it could be cut in half and pack much more of a punch, much like Julie Otsuka's The Buddha In The Attic, albeit a book that deals with Japanese-Americans and, in part, internment.
Black Rain is not the book for me, but for those who are more inclined to non-fiction or who have a deep interest in WWII, I'd recommend this.
narpus's review against another edition
4.0
Very chilling account of the Hiroshima bombing. Did make me feel icky at times, but did a good job of describing the grotesque.
traceyqchen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0