Not likely to participate in discussion so I won't vote. I've got a list of books of higher priority that is so long I'd have to live another six decades to get through. I do thank CRussel for bringing Hiroshima to my attention though. It's short enough that I hope to read it in the near future. There is also a more straight up scientific and ahem cold blooded account here that is reasonably short and fascinating in its own way.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...om_search=true

The other titles all would be second reads, except the Hardy novel. Tess of the d'Urbervilles satisfied a life time need for Hardy for me. What's with all the children's books?