Eighty years ago, Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced catastrophic atomic bomb detonations, marking a pivotal moment in human history. Oral histories of these events provide insight into the human experiences before the outcome was known. Despite the weight of this harrowing past, the article also highlights a debut novel focused on five sisters rumored to be turning into dogs, showcasing the dangers of fear and suspicion in a close-knit community. Further reflections are made on cultural phenomena like the Wayside School series and Holes, underlining their continued relevance in popular culture.
Eighty years ago this week, the world passed into a terrifying new age. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, mushroom clouds announced that humans not only could slaughter each other in staggering numbers but now also possessed the means to raze civilization as we know it.
One of the unique powers, to me, of oral history is the way that it puts you back in the footsteps and experiences of the people who lived these events firsthand before they know the outcome.
The dread here is so heavy it's impossible to shake, but that's nothing compared to the suffocating weight of neighbors' suspicions.
Purvis' debut novel trains its attentions on five unconventional sisters who - so the rumor goes - may be turning into dogs. A silly fancy, you may scoff, but never underestimate the danger of a neighbor resentful and afraid.
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