The Eternal Zero | Reading Log #27 | The Quiet Battle Called 'Living'

[Synopsis]
Naoki Hyakuta's novel 'The Eternal Zero' is a story about a young man tracing the footsteps of his biological grandfather to uncover a sealed past. Kyuzo Miyabe, who died in a kamikaze attack near the end of the war, was a man who clung to life so fiercely that he was scorned at the time as the 'greatest coward in the Navy.' As testimonies from the gruesome battlefield are gathered, the shocking truth emerges as to why he ultimately chose 'death'.

▶ Read a sample on Kindle
▶ View the physical book on Amazon

[Reason for Reading]
With the world feeling tense lately, I intentionally wanted to choose 'war' as a theme.
It might be a naive motivation, but I felt something akin to impatience that I had to read it at this very moment.

[Impressions]
Kyuzo Miyabe, who was obsessed with 'returning home alive' and was called a coward.
In the madness of wartime, where 'dying was a virtue,' his obsession with 'living' was far beyond mere resolve.Honestly, my heart ached many times while reading.

The evaluations of Miyabe by his former comrades-in-arms vary wildly, from 'genius' to 'coward.' Ultimately, these are just subjective views from their respective positions. However, the depiction of those subjective views clashing was so vivid thatI felt as if I had been thrust into the reality that 'there is no right answer anywhere.'

The story takes the form of a modern-day investigation, but that actually forces the distance between the story and my own life in the present to close.
The clash between the values of that time and Miyabe's belief that 'living is being sincere.' Following his figure as he wavered between themfelt like being constantly confronted with the question, 'What would I do if it were me?' and it was honestly exhausting.

[Readability]
A masterpiece of nearly 600 pages. Because of the heavy theme, there were many moments when I had to stop turning the pages. However, the moment the reason why Miyabe chose the kamikaze attack was revealed, and that will was connected to 'us' in the present,even though I knew it was a cliché, I couldn't stop the goosebumps.Along with a sense of accomplishment after finishing it, an indescribable, heavy sense of fulfillment remains in the pit of my stomach.

[A Word After Reading]
Inheritance

[Summary]
Here lies a 'history of emotions' that can never be learned from textbooks.
It is a book with tremendous writing power that makes you reaffirm the 'things that must be protected' which cannot be settled with platitudes. It is not light enough to recommend to everyone. However, if you are harboring anxiety or a sense of discomfort in this day and age, I want you to sit down and expose yourself to this intensity.

Kindle Edition (An e-book that is easy to read. You can read a sample right now)

Physical Book (You can keep it on hand and read it thoroughly)

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