Pat’s Comments (group member since Aug 27, 2012)

Pat’s comments from the Sweeping Sagas group.

I got up at 3 am and watched the program on PBS--Seisen!! It covered the years 1937 through to the A-bomb. Found out it is part of a series, but was glad I saw this part as it deals with our book. It was well worth it, but I feel a bit haggard this morning.

Wouldn't that be a cool classroom project? Those kids would never forget it. Not sure I could do it though because you have to kill the worms in a 200 degree oven and then boil them to get the cocoons.

Interesting and funny story about JYB, Misfit. That took a lot of guts to confess her books were not up to par..I'm assuming that is why she wanted them destoyed.

Anyway, back to the book. I really enjoyed reading about the silk industry and trade. I was glad when O-nami tried to save the silkworm eggs when they were evicted so they could be hatched elsewhere to continue their linage. Then was saddened when they died because they had to use the mulberry trees for fuel. Do all silkworms only eat mulberry leaves?

BTW Misfit. I found Guests of the Emperor at my UBS this morning.

Cripes, I missed it. Last thing I remember is watching a Fraser rerun at 11:30 and then woke up at 6:30 to cartoons. It doesn't come on again until Saturday at 3 a.m. It will eventually end up on the WA. channel and I will keep an eye out for it and let you know.

There is a documentary on tonight called..Seisen! The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1905-1945. Japan's militaristic history in the first half of the 20th century, including defeat in WWII....
It's showing on PBS, but I don't know if it is Idaho or Washington. I get both stations since I live close to the Idaho border. It doesn't come on until midnight...Misfit, I know you are in bed, but maybe Michele. I will try to stay up to watch it and report back tomorrrow but can't promise anything:)

Thanks for that, Michele. Makes perfect sense. Yes, the A-bomb changed everything forever.

Michele, please explain about the Texas schoolboard. I'm clueless about this. I always thought it was the government censuring what we read.

One reason why Pearl Harbor was bombed was because the US had stopped shipping oil to Japan. The US was remaining neutral in the war, but objected to the Japanese trying to conquer China and all of Asia. The Japanese thought if they bombed and destroyed all the Navy battleships they could, the US would back down and negotiate with them......NOT! I'm sure there is more to it then that but I think the Japanese underestimated the fury this would cause.

If you want to have a great picture of the Japanese mind set during this time, read "THE RAPE OF NANKING". It's one of the most chilling and disturbing accounts of WWII I have ever read.

There must be a media ban on showing the carnage of war because I haven't seen anything on TV about this for years...I'm talking at least 25-30 years.

I remember waking in the middle of the night back then and turning on TV, must have been a cable program, and seeing Russian color footage of the German Holocaust. Before the film started there were several warnings as to the content and to make sure there were no children watching. As the Russians liberated the death camps, they filmed everything they saw and it contained the most shocking images you could ever imagine. It was so upsetting that I wanted someone else to watch it with me...but who do you call at 2 in the morning to turn on the TV and help you through it?

The Japanese culture of death before dishonor and saving face seems pretty grim, but if you're taught that from the time you were a child, it would seem quite normal to them.

Gruesome!!..but I guess you are wondering if it was possible for someone to survive with all those injuries. I believe it's possible but what an appalling way to end up. It was interesting that he still became aroused to an erection while being cleaned and I hoped that the kind nurse that took over his care would cater to his needs...maybe she did. Wheee.

Whew! I'm finished and trying to get my thoughts in order.

I'm certain that the author's account of the atrocities that took place in China and the horrific devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are accurate. It's almost unbearable to think about the suffering these people had to go through. It's also disturbing to realize that events similarly as tragic are still going on around the world to this day.

Many years ago, I remember watching a documentary on the bombings of Japan. It showed the aftermath of the destruction, interviews with the few survivors and also the pictures of children that were born shortly after the devastation. Babies were born missing limbs, deaf, blind and died before adulthood. You're right, Misfit. They didn't tell us anything about this in school. I wonder if they do now?

I agree, Michele. I found it implausible that Shizue could have survived. That celler seemed flimsy and then to go walking around in that toxic atmosphere immediately after the explosion?

I wish I could read as fast as you two, but I won't be finished until tomorrow. Of course, I'm dying to open the new spoiler thread you opened up.....
I'm in the midst of the Pearl Harbor event and wondering if and how all this will be resolved and what on earth is yet to come.

Yeah, it was tough reading about the horrors that took place in China.

I agree with Michele about Douglas. He's a butthead, but Natsu deserves a rap on the head as well. Not fond of the relationship with Max and Shizue either, but I'm not a romance fan so just have to go with the flow.
I'm about half way through. Paul is back from China and Kimi is back from America suffering the wrath of his father. All hell is breaking loose from all sides of the family.
By looking at the author's photo taken in 1987, I think he would be in 60's or 70's now, so am hopeful he is still with us. I'll wait until I finish the book before deciding whether to make any calls.

This is such a good book. Misfit, have you found out any more about this author? I checked the "white pages" and found about 5 people in California with this name at about the right age. Do I dare?