Review: Lessons in Autumn Gardening by Sui Wai Anderson

Sometimes events in the world that are terrible and unfortunate are wished to be forgotten and never repeated again. In the story autumn gardening a survivor of the Hiroshima bombings whose name is Mariko is asked by her best friend, Mitsuye, to relive the terrible event and share her experiences with the world. I think Mitsuye was right in asking Mariko to appear on the television program. If I were in Mariko’s place I would instantly say yes to Mitsuye’s request. I would have said yes because I know that if I agree to go on television and give my experiences then people will be more understanding of the Hiroshima bombing and. Also, I could speak for the dead and I could hope that my appearance on television and experiences will help give myself a purpose to live.

If I were asked to relive a terrible event in history that I went through I would relive it. I would agree to Mitsuye’s request of going on television and sharing my experiences of the Hiroshima bombings if I were in Mariko’s place. I would agree to go on television and share my experiences because I know that people will have a better understanding of the event. The people will have a better understanding because they can relive the event too through my storytelling and although they would never get the full experiences that I got they would be know what at least happened.

Another reason why I would agree to Mitsuye’s request is because I can share stories of other and speak for the dead people who died in the Hiroshima bombing. The dead people can never share their experiences with everyone so I can at least share mine. My experiences will tell the story of the dead because if I were Mariko I would have seen many things that were going on with all of the different families because I was a nurse at that time. Also the dead will not be able to ever influence any opinion so I can at least influence people for them.

I would not only accept the request so I can influence an opinion in people for the dead, but also my life will be meaningful again. If I were in Mariko’s place I would be devastated seeing all of the upset families’ faces while being a nurse at Hiroshima. I would also feel guilty about being alive. Since I would be very guilty and upset about seeing many people dead the fact that I can help the people to better understand would truly give me hope. Being on television and sharing my experiences will help give purpose to my life. I would also feel less guilty about not dying when the bombing occurred in Hiroshima.

Being hope for a brighter future would make me want to share experiences that I would normally not want to ever relive again. Mariko was faced with the decision to go on television and give her experience on the Hiroshima bombing and I think that Mitsuye was right to ask Mariko to go on television. If I were in Mariko’s place I would agree to go on television because if I share my experiences, people may become more understanding. Also, I can speak for the dead and sharing my experiences will give purpose to my life again.