Apparently I am having an existential crisis, because the last few translated fiction I’ve read were along the lines of looking back in to your past and reliving moments. This book was no exception.

The Lantern of Lost Memories features a photography studio where people go after they have passed on. Whilst there, they are given the chance to go back and recapture a photograph/memory from their life.

The stories in this are very thought provoking and heart warming.

I would grab a few packs of tissues, because this will bring on some tears.

I love these books and this one was no different

Easy to read
I just sat back, relaxed and read in one go

Loved it

"Photos do have a certain power, don't they?" They do when they're displayed, however briefly, on the lantern of lost memories, which is the actual thing that provides you with the flickering highlight reel of your life you see as you die. And Mister Hirasaka is the man who runs the place where it's put together – you arrive, along with a photo for every day of your life, you pick one supreme highlight per year, and he presents them before you enter the afterlife. If you're, say, Miss Mishima, a charming old lady who used to be a driven and underpaid nursery teacher post-war, you might find an image too damaged – the photo/memory too looked at and used in real life – and so get a chance to go back to when it was taken. You'll have to not worry when that photo gets shown out of sequence, last in the reel, and ignore the fact you're kind of bundled off to have it remade when you haven't looked at the bulk of your life, but at least you get that chance to revisit a life highlight. But there's a but in all this – just who is Hirasaka-san? Why doesn't he go through the process himself and move on? Why is his human, living life now reduced to one nameless, placeless snapshot?

Coming new to this whole genre, of Japanese cosy writing, I think I got very much what I wanted. This felt like a Mitch Albom concept, which is always welcome, I got a nicely brief yet fully-fleshed out novel, and there was, of course, a cat (albeit a brand logo, mentioned for little purpose). Ultimately, however, I think I sought a better enveloping of all the three disparate stories here – a strong attempt is made, just not perhaps as tricksy a one as the author thinks. Something, after all, needed to compensate for the way the three tales were so repetitive and showed the same routine play out. And in the finish, isn't it just a bit too "hey look at what I can do!" to have a cosy book about a yakuza gangster with a kind of robotic assistant, and an abused girl?

A final indicator of its lack of brilliance is the five years it took to translate to British – I know markets are responsible, and not the art of the original, but that is a fair gap of non-urgency. Ultimately it was perfectly OK, although the weird Mouse character just didn't deliver, and it might have done more and had more to say. It certainly is a three and a half stars, and worth checking out, but lacks a little something to earn four stars.

What an incredible book! I was so excited when I got accepted for the ARC of this but life happens and I’ve only just got around to it!

I’ve really gotten into Japanese books for the stories and the writing style recently.

This book was no exception, it was written beautifully. And of course I cried when things started coming together.

It’s made up of 3 short stories that interlink set in limbo the in between of life and death.

It is a beautiful book and i truly think it is a book for anyone

Thank you again to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this opportunity ❤️

The books like this one are heartwarming and cosy but there's also some layers that makes you reflect.
This one is a cosy fantasy that talks about memories, second chances, and what could you if give the possibility of coming back and changing something in your life
Loved it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Absolutely loved this book, from the concept all the way to the short stories and characters. I always love when there's an overarching link between short stories - in this case' Mr. Hirasaka's life - and the ending where everything was wrapped up was perfect. The short stories themselves were so heartfelt - I definitely teared up here and there. So excited to read more of this series!

This book is amazing, like a hug in a book! I loved every single part of it and hope that there will be more to come as this would make an excellent series. Such a fantastic concept and executed brilliant - all the heart eyes for this book!

I did enjoy this book, very grateful for the digital ARC I received! I found it fairly reminiscent of Before the coffee gets cold, and am trying to read more Japanese literature. I really enjoyed the first story, and the explanation of how the lantern worked. The only drawback for me is that I found it slightly long winded, I felt it could have been more succinct in places, and some slightly quicker pacing may have led to more of an enjoyable reading experience. Still, a very enjoyable novel, and one I’ll read again!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

An enchanting story of life and death.

The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi places the reader in the in-between of life and death, the staging post where Hirasaka acts as a guide for the newly deceased, welcoming them to his photography studio where they can reflect on their lives.

The story is filled with a touching melancholy as Hirasaka guides three individuals through their memories. In a meandering and calming way, the reader is given an in-depth look at each character's lives, exploring their desires, ambitions, struggles, and doubts. Hiiragi's focus on making his characters feel so human made each moment spent with these characters touching and sometimes heartbreaking.

Beautiful, poignant, and emotional from beginning to end, this fantastical and cozy take on death is a heart-wrenching but hopeful read.

Actual Rating: 4.5⭐

If you’re looking for more stories like 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' then you'll have to get this one!

This wonderful life-affirming stories centered around what happen after you die like those who experience ‘memories flashing before your eyes’.
Set in a place between life and death, Hiraka’s photo studio will help each person to choose their most fond memories to be placed on a lantern. Once completed, the lantern will be spun to guide them to the afterlife.

I really like getting to know how each character live their lives especially the old woman from the first story.
I absolutely love the way how each story will eventually connect with each other and in just 200 pages this book manage to made me shed a few tears.

Overall, it’s a touching well-written story with meaningful and powerful messages scattered throughout the book.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Child abuse, physical abuse, bullying, death, violence, child death, brief mention of war, animal death, animal cruelty.

The potential of the book is high.

Starting to read, it is reminiscent of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. The genre of being taken back to the past, the nostalgia, old-timey atmosphere the writing induces.

The criticism I have with the first chapter is that Hatsue's backstory goes on for a very long time. We forget this is a flashback or recounting of her memories/past, and it becomes the majority of the book. It went on for too long, and it made me lose interest. Additionally, the fact we do not know what the viewers are feeling during watching their lantern of memories, was a fault for me.

I did enjoy learning more about Hirasaka, and the fact he does not remember or know who he is, beyond this intermediate sphere of helping the newly dead build their lanterns. We learn he is kind, empathetic, and wants to make the process of their 'passing' without hindrance.

Moving onto the next chapter, I did feel more interested in the Yakuza character who was stabbed. I thought about how he would look back on his life, having been 'destined' for hell and to live a terrible life from the moment he was born. I especially enjoyed his and Hirasaka's picnic on the bridge, amidst the rushing and tired commuters.

I do feel this book had more to give, and had high potential. However, it just was not very interesting for me and the genre seems like a tired trope of Before the Coffee Gets cold. The writing is good, but there is much left to be desired.

Update - final chapter was actually good but some random extreme child abuse came up which I was not prepared for nor did I expect. It ended nicely where Hirasaka did something wonderful for the girl. And it came around full circle from when we didn’t know much about him 💛

Thanks to Net Galley for the e-arc
Mahdiyyah

An emotional read, full of bittersweet stories taken from the perspective of someone who has just died. Have some tissues to hand!

Wow. I'll be thinking about this for a long time. Following their death 3 characters have to choose the photos that represent their life. They also get to visit one day of the past.
It's a short book but really packs a punch.
I read it in a few hours and couldn't put it down. It made me wonder what pictures I would pick.

I was captivated by a poignant exploration of memory and the human experience. The premise, set in a unique photography studio where individuals reflect on their lives before moving on, offered a fresh and heartwarming take on the themes of nostalgia and mortality. Hiiragi's prose is beautifully evocative, deftly capturing the emotions tied to cherished memories and the intricate stories behind each character. I particularly appreciated how the narrative wove together different lives, creating a tapestry of interconnected experiences that felt both intimate and universal.
However, there were times when the pacing felt uneven, with certain passages bogged down by lengthy reflections that could disrupt the flow. Some background details about characters felt underdeveloped, leaving me wanting to know more.
Despite these small flaw, the book’s emotional depth and thought-provoking premise made it a moving and memorable read.

'The Lantern of Lost Memories' is a cosy and heartwarming read with a unique concept. It's centred around a photo studio that lets people who are moments away from dying choose a photo from each year of their lives that represents them the most.
The photos they choose of their favourite memories are placed into a lantern which accompanies them into the afterlife.
The novel is divided into 3 chapters, and we're introduced to three characters and their stories.
The novel explores life and loss, and how memories shape who we are.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

i used to think the more I revisit my fond memories the more clearer they become, like brushing away dust on an old photo frame. But after reading The Lantern of Lost memories, I realize that it’s the opposite. The book says ‘The more important a memory, the more we find ourselves revisiting it. But in doing so, the details can begin to evade us . . .’

This realisation that clinging so tightly to my favorite memories is causing them to blur caught me off guard. Am I wearing out my memories ?
Once I used to be proud of how good my memory was, but unpleasant circumstances in the past led to me suppressing some good memories along with the bad ones.
Even the ones I’m nostalgic about, the details seem to be fainter, the faces and the features unclear.

Hiiragi’s book gives me a new perspective on remembering, and letting go. On fleeting moments, and cherishing the past. On understanding that memories can’t last forever.
I know this doesn’t constitute a proper review rather than my reflections so I would like to add that It’s a beautifully written book about memories but the central character in all the stories - Hirasaka - doesn’t have any memories of his past life. Shows how deeply empathetic he is towards the memories of people coming to the studio.
I rated this a 4.75 ✨

This was such a beautiful little book. I loved the subtly interwoven stories, the light hand with the heavy concepts and the spare, pacy writing.

A perfect escape from daily life for fans of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series! The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautiful story which triggers reflection on the idea of what happens between death and the afterlife! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC copy. This was so lovely to read, I thought the concept of the novel was just beautiful and the characters were expertly depicted. It felt like a cosy hug on an autumnal evening in book form. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys comforting reads, I would definely read works by this writer again. 4/5.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a touching and beautifully written Japanese tale that explores the power of memory, the people who shape us, and the moments that define our lives.
A warm and memorable set of 3 stories.
This story is on trend with the recent popularity of Japanese literature and id highly reccomend if you enjoy short Japanese stories or translated fiction.