I received a copy of The Lantern of Lost Memories in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful, uplifting story exploring a kind of 'in-between' place where the dead go to view their memories before they move onto the afterlife. It's a story that deals with death and grief without actually touching on those subjects directly. You feel for all these people and those they've left behind, but it's also a celebration of their life and what they achieved. The outlier here is the final character, Mitsuru, who tragically dies at the hands of her parents, but ultimately she gets her happy ending still.

At just over 200 pages this is a quick read. I was completely taken in by these glimpses of people's lives and how they lived, and I really liked that Mr. Hirasaki, the photo studio owner, has his own story thread woven throughout the book. I really felt like I got to know all the characters in such a short amount of time, and the focus on one specific day in their life (and how it came to be) really made me fond of them, even the yakuza overseer who I wasn't sure of at first!

It's so touching to see each character look at the photos from the life and choose one to represent each year. Printed photos are such a rarity in our time and I really loved the idea of each day being captured by an image. The premise is then that the characters get to visit one of their favourite days from their life one more time, and Hiiragi crafts these memories like snapshots themselves, with mini photos all the way through the memory. It's so very beautifully written.

This is a truly heart-warming read. It's so touching and beautiful with such a stunning central premise.

this book is a reminder to treasure the moments in life. may it be the little and mundane things. appreciating that everyday is a blessing and life is precious.

a unique concept and approach to the last moments a person has after they die. i love how they used the "lantern of memories / spinning lantern" metaphor in the book and the idea of associating a photo with each day of our lives. this makes me want to buy a camera myself and start documenting my life for the memories.

overall, this was a short bittersweet book that will surely tug at your heartstrings.

thanks netgalley and pan macmillan for the e-arc!

Beautiful- this is a really short book, which I finished over an evening and morning. The translation has been done so well, capturing I felt the very essence of the story.

This wonderful story is made up of three different stories which gently tap each other to become a whole.

Beautiful and enthralling.

My thanks to Netgalley and The Picador Team for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautiful Japanese tale about the people that make us and the moments that change us. It was an amazing reading experience which I completed in two sessions. This author’s books have the ability to simultaneously make you unable to stop reading while wishing you could bury the book somewhere deep underground where it can't be found. Compelling and didn’t want it to end!

Thanks so much to Picador Books, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinion expressed are my own.

What a beautifully written and thought provoking book, the text was easy to read and flowed seamlessly. I loved the idea and symbolism of photos as memories and how it's the gateway to the afterlife. It makes you stop and wonder and I honestly couldn't put the book down and devoured it in one sitting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will be definitely recommending this to everyone!

The Lantern of Lost Memories is as delightful as it sounds, I devoured it in big, greedy gulps!

Mr Hirasaka's photography studio exists on the precipice of life and death. His clients are those who have recently passed, their files delivered to them by delivery boy Yama, who provides the history Hiraksaka needs to assist the dead with moving on. Upon arrival, Hirasaka greets his guests and explains what has happened to them and what they will need to do to venture into the afterlife.

This is the charming bit - and as a photographer, it completely sold it to me - you must choose one photo from every year of your life. These are snapshots created from your memories that are delivered to Hirasaka. You can take as long as you need, and Mr Hirasaka will keep you fed and refreshed, should you want it.

Finally, and this is such a great idea, some of the best memories appear faded, as they've been thought about time and time again. You are invited to select the camera of your choice from a camera library (Don't get me started on this sort of wish list!) before you get the opportunity to walk from one sunrise to the next, unseen, in a memory of your choosing. Here, you get to observe the day again before capturing that photo for the collection.

The photos are then put together in a lantern and played out in the inevitable "life flashing before your eyes" before you traverse to the afterlife.

If the above has not convinced you, then - YOU NEED TO BUY THIS BOOK, IMMEDIATELY, YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED! It's a brilliant concept, told in an utterly charming manner, and the stories blend together so well. It has huge potential for some more books, I really hope the author revisits Hirasaka. I could write a whole essay on this one.

I enjoyed this book. It contains 3 stories of people going to the afterlife, and choosing photos from their life to see in the lantern that spins before they enter heaven or hell. They get to revisit the memory that they’re most fond of to retake the photo. It was a very heartwarming book, and an easy read. There were some small parts which i didn’t think were explained particularly well, but i still enjoyed the overall book.

The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, is a Japanese novel set to be released this August. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The story follows Hirasaka, a kind man with a passion for photography. He owns a unique photo studio that serves as a gateway to the afterlife. Each person who visits the studio must choose a photograph for every year of their life, and with these photographs, they create a lantern.

The novel is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different visitor to the studio: Hatsue, Waniguchi, and Mitsue. I found Hatsue's story particularly compelling. This book is perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, as it allows us to explore the lives of various characters who come to the studio. Additionally, Hirasaka's own story remains a mystery, and that makes me look forward to learning more about him in future novels in this series.

Overall, this was a great cozy book that comes with powerful messages about life, memory, and the afterlife.

As soon as I read the title of The Lantern of Lost Memories, I knew it was a book that I needed to read especially given that I have recently discovered a love for Japanese translated works. I should perhaps have read the synopsis a little bit more closely as I didn’t quite realise just how much of an emotive read this was going to be. But I am so glad that I did read it.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is set in a photography studio that exists as a transition point between this world and the next, with the idea that at the point of your death you are given the opportunity to pick 1 photo for every year of their life and these are then played for the person via a spinning lantern. By the time the lantern stops spinning, the person moves from the photography studio in to the afterlife. It’s a beautiful take on the idea of your life flashing before your eyes, but with the added element that the individual themselves chooses which memories appear before them. And if a beloved memory is blurred by time you can go back, and retake your photo.

One of the things that I particularly adored about this book was how interconnected the stories ended up being, and I loved the moment of realisation that I had each time when I realised how the paths of Hirasaka’s visitors had crossed. They were quite brief moments on the whole but for me it was quite beautiful.

This book features three chapters and each one was special in its own way. I was surprised how much The Hero and the Mouse (chapter 2) affected me as from the initial introduction of Waniguchi I wasn't expecting it. But it's a testament to the writing that by the end of that chapter I was wiping away tears.

It is chapter 3 - Mitsuru and the Last Photo - that affected me the most. This chapter is a tough read as the visitor to the studio is a young child, but the love that Hirasaka showed her was perfectly done. I was a mess by the end because her story and the abuse she suffered was horrific but its ending gave me hope.

I did think the book’s ending was a tad abrupt but I adored this book, especially revisiting the pasts of Hatsue and Waniguchi to get a last photo - and the twist on that with Mitsuru.

I would love to revisit the photography studio and to learn more about Hirasaka and Yama - or even to revisit one of the other studios. I’ll definitely still be getting a physical copy of this when it comes out!

An e-arc copy was provided by Pan MacMillan via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

In the style of Before The Coffee gets Cold, this is another simple but well written and heart-warming book about real people and what really matters in life. We get to meet three people from very different walks of life who have recently died and before they move on to the next step in the afterlife get the chance to relive some of their memories through a collection of photographs.

One of those cosy easy reads that are very popular right now.

A lovely idea about the one last stop before here and the afterlife. We get 3 stories about people and their lives, how they lived, what they felt and it's like what they say "when you die your life flashes by like a movie". The difference here is, that it goes deeper than just a brief flashing by. We get to know the people, what impact their life choices had, not only on them, but on everyone. It reminds me a bit of "Befor the coffee gets cold" it has a similar concept, but still is it's very own story and theme.

Sanaka Hiiragi's "The Lantern of Lost Memories" is a beautifully crafted tale that enchants readers from the start. With lyrical prose and a hauntingly evocative setting, the novel explores themes of memory, loss, and hope. Hiiragi's masterful storytelling and richly drawn characters make this a poignant and unforgettable read. The intricate plot, filled with twists and deep emotional resonance, keeps readers engrossed until the last page. "The Lantern of Lost Memories" is a testament to Hiiragi's literary prowess, making it a must-read for fans of heartfelt and thought-provoking fiction.

I have not hidden my absolute love for translated fiction, particularly Japanese and Korean fiction, and so was super thrilled to get to read an early copy of this.

I absolutely loved the cover, it's so pretty and eye-catching but simple.

It has got so much hear to it, and shows the comfort that comes with teas and memories. It's cosy ad heartwarming and beautiful right from the off, but there are some tougher moments that pull at your heartstrings.

What I've come to realise - and this is no different - is that translated Japanese/Korean etc. novels all have this warmth about them. They're all about family and friends and love and peace and happiness and memories. I am always happy when I'm reading one and I'm always happy when I've finished them as they're always, overall, uplifting, and it's always a pleasant experience to read one.

It's a short novel, quick to read, able to fit in between your day jobs, but it's still exciting enough for the reader.

It has this really interesting concept about death and the afterlife and how we shouldn't fear it. The amount of books I've read recently that touch upon that...it's just beautiful to read. To read about this notoriously frightening and unknown thing, but put a warm and comforting slant on it, it really lovely.

I found it very similar to the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, and I have a feeling it will be like that in the sense that there will be many sequels. Which is a good thing, because it's enjoyable. But where I think the Coffee series lost its charm was in its repetitiveness, and after the first 3 books, I didn't bother reading anymore as I knew it would just be more of the same. So I hope that if this does become a series, that there's enough difference between them to make them fresh.

I do wish it was a bit longer. Not necessarily longer in terms of page count, but to have more people involved. We see three dead people, and we get to see their lives etc. and they're all very interesting but I really wanted more people, but I suppose it does give more scope for future books.

Oh my heart! This is how you write a feel good "novel" to win me over!
This feels very much build on the recipe as Before the Coffee Gets Cold. So much so that I could have sworn it's been written by the same author, lol! But I will dare say The Lantern of Lost Memories is actually better story wise! Each story has its charm, brimming with hope. There's always a way to overcome adversity, there's humanity even in the most cruel criminals. And then we have that twist in the last story! I have not seen that coming! But it was exactly what one wants from humanity!
What can I say? Hope in humanity restored?!

This is the story of a photo studio that's the final stop between life and the afterlife. Visitors are asked to choose 1 photograph for every year of their life to see for a final time. They can go back to retake a photo from 1 day of their choosing.

The book covers 3 visitors to the photography studio. We get insights into their lives and what's important in life. Although the final story is about abuse, the book ends with hope. It's lovely to find out more about Hirasaka through the 3 stories too.

I've really enjoyed all the translations of Japanese books so far and this is no exception. It's a thought-provoking book that I already want to read again to connect all the bits that I missed the first time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The Lantern of Lost Memories” follows three stories of three people who have died and relived one of their memories before they go to the afterlife. First of all, I love the premise of the book. The stories are very touching, but some stories delve into darker themes (check the trigger warnings). The storytelling and the parallels are some of my favorite parts of this book. It is a beautiful and heartwarming read.

I don’t think it brings anything new to the literary world. As much as I like short books, I would have liked this more if we were given more stories– it felt quite lacking. Another thing that I struggled with is the writing. I am not quite sure if that is because of the translation or the writing itself (e.g. lack of emotion), but it was difficult for me to connect to the book because of it. Despite these, I find this book still a beautiful reflection on life and death. The concept is amusing if you think about it; how beautiful would it be if we could go back to our memories, relive them, and make lanterns out of them for us to be able to see before we pass away. The book shows how our actions, however small and mundane, can have a long-lasting impact on others.

It reminds me of the “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” series, so if you enjoyed that, you might enjoy this as well! It is a short, but heartwarming read; I recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for providing me with a copy of this book in advance!

Link to Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6652804139?book_show_action=false and https://www.instagram.com/p/C9NtpOUyd8r/?igsh=MXM3NnlibTczb245YQ==

The compilation of short stories centered around a specific location or person has quickly become one of my favorites. Anyone who enjoys the ‘Before the coffee gets cold’ series will love this book. Heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once.

This so reminded me of - before the coffee gets cold. It is so comforting and heartening to read. A reflection on the importance of memories. Delightful.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Lantern of Lost Memories' by Sanaka Hiiragi.

'The Lantern of Lost Memories' is a collection of short stories which showcase a group of people who are about to die reflecting back on a moment in their life that was significant to them. The sense of nostalgia they feel is shown beautifully through this novel and it is pleasurable to read.

A photo studio as the bridge between life and death. A guide that doesn't remember his past, and three very different life stories that need to be summarized in pictures, one picture for every year we spent on this planet.
What makes a life worth living? What is that day you'd give everything to experience again? A bitter sweet (mostly sweet!) short novel that is able to cover these important and hard themes with respect, reverence and an attitude towards life I only encountered in Japanese literature.