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.

A book full of touching stories. It made me stop and think about my own life and which photos I will include in my lantern. What spoke to me most was the theme of acceptance, in how we lived life, the decisions we have made and accepting death.

A simple but thought provoking book, which I enjoyed every second of reading!!

I was drawn into this book because of the interesting premise, and it is recommended for Japanese translated fiction fans, especially for fans of the 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series. However I didn't find this to be cosy like the other translated fiction/magical realism books I've enjoyed as I just found it far too morbid.
It started off well and I was very intrigued as I really do love the expansion of the idea of 'your life flashes before your eyes before death'. The book is split into 3 parts, 3 separate stories. I just found myself lost by story 2 and I was very confused by the storyline. For me, it was the third story which just made me want to DNF, it was so sad and I didn't feel hopeful or find the positives within the story.
There is also an audiobook available for this book and I partly listened to this book via audio, I really liked the narration. If you are interested in reading this, I would highly recommend reading content warnings as the 3rd story in particular was very triggering to me.
1.5/5 (rounded up to 2 for NetGalley) ⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Sanaka Hiiragi for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads, The Storygraph, Amazon and Waterstones.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a heartwarming book that explores the profound impact of memories on our lives. It is set in a serene photography studio between worlds, the story follows a kind man named Hirasaka who helps recently deceased individuals relive their most cherished moments.

The concept of a photo studio where people can revisit their past is both imaginative and comforting. It created a unique and enchanting atmosphere. Each of the 3 guests encountered has a different story to tell. Finally learning about what happened to Hirasaka and his memories is heartbreaking.

The Lantern of Lost Memories ultimately celebrates the beauty of life and the importance of cherishing our memories. It's a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is hope and joy to be found.

Sanaka Hiiragi’s episodic novel builds on Japanese mythology around fate, memory and death, particularly Yomotsu Hirasaka as a place marking a boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead. Here that liminal space’s occupied by a studio run by genial photographer Hirasaka. It’s Hirasaka’s duty to prepare the newly dead for entry to the afterlife, although his own origins are shrouded in mystery. Each visitor to his studio’s presented with images from their past, they must choose one for each year of their existence. This selection will be slotted into a twirling lantern, a variation on a slideshow, so their lives appear to flash before their eyes and they can move on. Sometimes a visitor picks a blurry or damaged photo, these can be repaired via a guided visit to the past to get a cleaner shot.

One of these visitors is Hatsue who’s 92. Hirasaka takes her back to a suburb of Tokyo in July 1949, where Hatsue observes her younger self. Her experiences enable a vivid reconstruction of postwar Japan, the damaged buildings and struggling inhabitants. Hatsue was employed by a nursery to take care of impoverished workers’ children, and Hiiragi bases her section on aspects of Japan’s history particularly the establishment of Nitta Nursery School in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward.

Hirasaka’s next two clients are among his most challenging cases: one’s a murdered yakuza, Shohei Waniguchi who finds it difficult to locate any happy memories; the other’s a small girl killed by abusive parents, a child whose suffering will lead to Hirasaka taking unprecedented action. Although Hiiragi’s novel can be sentimental and a little uneven - Hatsue’s narrative was by far my favourite – it’s also well-researched, atmospheric and absorbing. The style and unusual blend of genre conventions is likely to appeal to fans of books like Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.

It is a cosy-styled but emotional book that, through its believably flawed characters, explores the themes of life after death, life, loss, and redemption. The characters are ordinary people, but all have extraordinary life events. The story has a supernatural element that intrigues, and the author handles the triggering themes sensitively. I like the distinct ethos of this book, the positivity, the lyrical writing and the vivid sensory imagery that draws the reader into the stories.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

actual rating: 3.5

this is a short, heartwarming, and hopeful read that follows three people who have died—some from old age, others with their lives cut short by another. before they can move on to the afterlife, they must choose a photo from each year of their lives and hang them in a lantern to witness in their final moments. often, the pictures they chose were too blurry, so they had to revisit those moments in time, capturing them again with a real camera. this process offers a deeper glimpse into their lives before they entered the photography studio. it’s a peculiar and intriguing concept, yet it captures that familiar blend of dread and hope often found in japanese literature dealing with life and death.

in books where multiple independent stories are combined, it’s easy for them to feel disconnected. but what i loved about ‘the lantern of lost memories’ is how it seamlessly intertwined these tales. the three characters’ stories come together beautifully at the end, leaving a lasting impression on me. though the book is short, it’s not something i took lightly. i was especially moved by the second story—it was bizarre yet sweet, and it actually made me cry.

that said, i did feel that the writing and pacing became a bit flat at times. i just wish the story had been expanded, with more perspectives and more fitting prose to fully capture its depth.

thank you sm sanaka hiiragi and panmacmillan for this e-copy <3

Book review 📚
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a very mixed review, but in a great way because the book itself absolutely deserves 5 stars.

It’s a mixed review in the sense of the story. Was I happy? Yes. Was I sad? Also yes. Let me explain:
Happy – you reflect on parts of your life when you die, watching life literally flash before your eyes.
Sad – being with these characters when they die and watching them relive parts on their life.

This book is so unique and unlike any other. You follow 3 people who are in between life and death, they are in a cosy photography studio with friendly man named Hirasaka. In this moment between life and death they are given the opportunity to choose pictures from their life to best represent their most treasured moments and memories. These memories are then placed into a lantern which is released and leads them into their final destination.

The characters are so utterly relatable and completely perfect in their flaws, achievemtents and their treasured moments. They are described with such authenticity and genuineness from the writer. It is so easy to see them as normal every day people. It really is a celebration of life and those moments that make us who we are.

The best and most emotionally raw aspects of this book are the importance of our memories can shape out entire identities and how much we hold on to them. The Lantern of Lost Memories is a truly indescribable novel that will resonate with readers longer after they have finished the book.

A deceptively simple view of a complex and emotional subject, A man works in a photographic studio and is brought individual people who have just died, where he offers them comfort and supports them while they choose photographs to view at the end of their lives. He is more than just the guide that helps them, and this plays out through the book's gentle journey through time and feelings of a range of different people. Very stylized writing and simply told, the story will really stick with you and prompt you to think about the photos you would choose, and why.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is such a heartwarming tale! It plays with the idea of life flashing before our eyes when we die by setting the story in a photography studio that is situated in a sort of limbo, after a person dies but before they learn about what the afterlife is like.

In the studio, people are asked to choose one photo for each year of their lives to build a Lantern of Memories. It's an exploration of life, loss and the way we shouldn't leave to the end to take stock of our lives and people around us. The book is divided into three chapters, telling the stories of three very different characters, and I fell in love with all of them (as well as with Hirasaka, the kind man who welcomes these people to the studio)

This is such an incredible book! I loved it
Another read for Women in Translation month

Thank you very much to Picador for my copy!

Heartwarming quick read, emotive subject handled beautifully. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This was such a heartwarming read. It reminded me of Under the whispering door by T J Klune. It is basically three stories interconnected mainly through the host at the photo studio. This photo studio is basically the brief stop along the way, before people go on with their actual afterlife.
It made me happy and sad. It made me think that kindness can be found even in the most unexpected places even when people could face retributions for the same acts.
What I didn't expect was to have a curiousity to go on and find out the mysteries, so it kept me going until the end. That's usually my issues with some translated books which are said to be heartwarming and emotional. But this one was really interesting.
I am so glad I picked this one, even though having some things left to my imagination is usually not my cup of tea.
Thanks to panmacmillan and netgalley for the ARC.