Barefoot Gen- Keiji Nakazawa

Well, I said that I have been making an effort to shake things up a bit in my reading and this week is no exception. Barefoot Gen, or "Hadashi no Gen" in Japanese, is a comic strip based on the author's own experience of the Hiroshima bombing in the closing months of the Second World War 1945. In volume one, the story follows the boy protagonist Gen's life before the bombing, depicting the harsh conditions of war in Japan,and the hardships faced by poorer families who objected to a war started by the rich.

Even though I am half Japanese, this was the first time I have ever read manga and it was an experience I was totally unprepared for. This volume is just over 200 pages long but is readable on a two hour commute. The illustrations are unapologetically graphic, and I actually felt quite self conscious on the train reading a book with cartoon pictures of atomic bomb victims walking down streets with skin peeling from their bodies and of small children burning to death. The little old lady sitting next to me looked particularly startled. This book is not designed for readers to enjoy in the sense of that fuzzy feeling you get from reading comedies or romance novels. Nakazawa reminds the reader to make no mistake, there is nothing comfortable when it comes to war.

Using such a popular Japanese medium as manga to present such a horrific episode of history is an inspired choice. A young boy's experience of war is recounted in a way that the author himself would have avidly read as a child. The writer doesn't shy away from the reality of what happened to him and hundreds of thousands of others. He doesn't "disney-fy" the bombing of Hiroshima to make it more palatable for his readers. The glorious image of war that was fed to numerous populations during the 1940's is unceremoniously ripped apart in blunt black and white picture form. Although I am not used to reading comic strips, it was very easy to get used to because I wasn't distracted by overly elaborate illustrations or text. The reader is encouraged to focus on the story Nakazawa was trying to tell, the simplicity of the work allows it to perform the job he intended it to.

A new challenge when reading shouldn't be restricted to the subject matter, and can come in all forms. It was painful to read Barefoot Gen and yet I am already clicking to buy the second volume on Amazon as I write this. I would recommend this to someone who would like to learn about the human cost of Hiroshima. The manga form is very convenient and addictive, I nearly missed my stop on the train because I was so involved in the story. Don't be fooled by its convenience, the complete set is just over 2000 pages long so it is an investment of your time, and nothing could be more worth it.

Verdict: Please don't give this to young children in their first foray into manga. For someone looking  for an alternative way to become immersed in history. This will shock, awe and draw you in completely.

Quantum- Manjit Kumar

This book was a marathon from start to finish and I loved it. I picked this book out at random from the bookshelf and boy am I glad I did. This is a narrative history of the debates surrounding Quantum physics, not really the natural choice for an English student. Many of my friends expressed their surprise when I mentioned that I was reading this book, one memorable reaction being "But you aren't scientifically minded." Granted, I started this book with little or no scientific understanding of quantum physics and yet by the end I can safely say that I could hold my own in a conversation on Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr's differing theories. Reading something outside of my comfort zone made turning the final few pages that little bit more rewarding.

What I will say, is that you have to be committed to reading this book in order to see it through the complicated scientific explanations that are crucial to an understanding of the history. I despaired over the first few chapters as I had to read a couple of sentences at least three times. Manjit Kumar helps you along by painting the history in such a colourful and passionate way, that by the final pages it is not only the science that you begin to understand, but the scientists themselves. This book taught me that I myself have been narrow minded in my view of physicists. I didn't realize the imagination and artistry that goes into new theories and turned the last page with a new found respect for Einstein and Bohr that shouldn't be restricted to students of science.

Reading is something that should never be defined by the person everyone thinks you are. I have always felt strongly that there should be no snobbishness in reading. If you want to read classics then fine, but if you get enjoyment from reading fantasy then that is great too. Just because you love Jane Austen doesn't mean that you shouldn't read Terry Pratchett or Bill Bryson. A well rounded reader makes for a well rounded person who isn't afraid of a challenge. I loved my week in the world of physics and the growing excitement of wondering where I am going to be next week, perhaps the world of astronomy or even on a different planet entirely. Reading offers an escapism that is so often forgotten in the hunt for a library of fancy books that will make people look up to you as a person of great knowledge and wisdom. Once in a while, it is fun to go for something crazy, learn a thing or two, and maybe you will appreciate the fancy books a little more when you get back to them.

Verdict: A tough read for those of us who aren't used to the scientific jargon but Kumar carefully guides his readers through a gripping read. Recommended for the adventurous readers who are in search of something that will blow you away.