Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Beautifully written, not a cosy book as I thought originally and has some quite triggering themes so please check the trigger warnings!

Reminds me a lot of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Really makes you think and cherish just the little things in life and was a really good concept and was executed really well. Enjoyed this!!

Again thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!

*e-arc provided by netgalley and pan macmillan*
The Lantern of Lost Memories is simple but beautiful.
The story follows a man called Hirasaka, a photographer between the living and the dead whose job is to help the dead choose photos of their life for when "their life flashes before their eyes". The premise itself was very intriguing and gave me Before the Coffee Gets Cold vibes.
With only 3 chapters, each one was compelling in their own way. The writing seems simple but it is very clever with its metaphor and balancing the complexity of its characters. I was not bored once!
Sometimes it was a little confusing with all the characters names and I had to flick back once or twice to double check if a name had popped up before or if it was their first mention, but I got over it pretty quickly by becoming enamoured by the charm of each chapter.
This novella deals with some dark themes and can be tough to read, but all of it is well-written and handled with care.
The Lantern of Lost Memories is a collection of tales about dedication, resilience and the unlikeliest of friendships; and all of it is heart-warming and heart-wrenching at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the E-ARC.

Another wonderful example of the most beautiful translated fiction. Quiet, unassuming, enchanting - highly recommended!

The book is a series of seperate stories about three people who have died and find themselves in a kind of waiting room where a guide feeds and attends to their personal care. Hair combed and fed the guide then shows our dead a photo album of their memories and asks them to choose one photo from each year to talk about. If the photo and therefore, the memory is hazy it gets placed in a Magic Lantern and the guide takes the person back to that time and place so they can revisit it. Some of the memories are dark ones. I liked this book, it was different and made me runimate on my own life and what I would pick for the Lantern.

When I saw that there was a Japanese book called The Lantern of Lost Memories it reminded me a lot of the kdrama The Midnight Studio that premiered in 2024, which is based on the novel made by the same screenwriter.

Clearly they are not related but I felt that I wanted to read it and enter this very interesting world where before we die we can travel to a small photography store and choose one photo for each year we have lived. I think the concept is very nice and that through this story it can show us the life and work of the characters that the author wants.

In this case we find three very different stories between them. The first is the longest of all but it is not the one that excites me the most, as much as the second or third. I think it depends a lot on the person and that we would all find something to connect with, I'm sure of that.

The Lantern of Lost Memories has a very original basis that clearly could have other novels. I don't see that there are more translated ones and I don't know if the author wrote more... but I would definitely read more things by her.

Thanks Pan Macmillan for the ARC I read on Netgalley a change from an honest review.

The concept of this was lovely and it seemed well written but the truth of it is I just don't think this book was for me. I know there are many who would love it though and rightly so.

Thank you for the early access to this book.

In the tradition of Toshikazu Kawaguchi's books (the coffee shop series), we have a photographic studio that serves as a gateway between this world and the other ( we are not given to know which one) as long as we reconstruct our life through a series of photos.
I can't say it's a bad book, but it's not that there was a particular need for it in my opinion, or at least I didn't feel it.

Nella tradizione dei libri di Toshikazu Kawaguchi (la serie del caffé), abbiamo uno studio fotografico che funge da passaggio tra questo mondo e un altro ( non ci é dato di sapere quale) a patto di ricostruire la nostra vita attraverso una serie di foto.
Non posso dire che sia un brutto libro, ma non é che se ne sentisse un particolare bisogno secondo me, o almeno non lo sentivo io.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi is a delightful little book, examining what happens to us, when we are in the liminal space, between life and death. When we are all we are, and all we’ve experienced, flashes before us.
To help us through this experience, is Mr Hirasaka. A kind and compassionate man, who helps to distill all those memories, into a succinct snapshot for each year.

The original Japanese language book was translated beautifully into English by Jesse Kirkwood. The words conveyed the quiet emotions perfectly.

Each little vignette made me a little emotional at times, especially the third and final poignant story. I felt there were subtle lessons through the pages, and the understanding of the echo of a person having an impact, long after they have passed, like ripples in a pool.
I found myself thinking of the pictures that would form my own life, which day I might like to revisit to re-take a treasured image.

I think anyone who enjoyed the charming quietness of When The Coffee Gets Cold and Sweet Bean Paste, as I did, will love The Lantern of Lost Memories. It is a beautiful and heart warming 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is intriguing, tender and sad.
There are three stories in this book. Hirasaka features in all of them, as the guide to after life.
The concept is 5/5
Hirasaka 5/5
Prose 3.5
Plot 4
Content warning: abuse, animal cruelty, suicidal ideation.

Lantern of the Lost Memories is about a photography studio that helps people who have passed away revisit their lost memories. The book contains three emotional stories that I really enjoyed. While some of the topics are darker and not all cozy, it's definitely an amazing book. I hope there will be more stories in the future. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy.

I have read all the books in the series Before the Coffee Gets Cold and when i saw that Netvalley has the latest of Sanaka Hiiragi's book, I knew i have to read it. And it did not disappoint. I love every page of it. It has a different approach to life than the first books, yet, it still touches subjects as life, death and memories. It also made me think about what and how it will belike when we die. Will somebody be waiting for us right before we step into the next world, to
Show us pictures of how we lived our lives. Will they remind us about what we did good or we didn't do in this world?
I definitely recommend everyone to read this book as it is worth the time.

Published 22 August 2024. If you are a fan of Before The Coffee Gets Cold, you will adore this one which takes the idea of your life flashing before our eyes when you die to an original level. When a person dies, Hirasaka is a gentle soul is waiting for them in his photographic studio to guide them to the afterlife. He sits with them, talks to them, feeds them and gives them one task. They are to choose one photograph from each year of their life, photographs that he will put into a magic lantern so that they can watch their life as they leave for the afterlife. But, if that one special photo that they want to include is damaged, is faded - no problem. Hirasaka takes them back to that specific time some that they can take the photograph again. There are three stories here, three people who die and who he stis with and guides and the stories they tell touch you - especially the final one. The stories are intertwined beautifully and Hirasaka's own story brings tears to your eyes. I read this in one day and loved it. Rounded up to 5*

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a story about the lives of people who have just passed away. They get to select their favourite memories to keep, and more importantly, revisit the one they have treasured the most. The reader gets to read about the lives they have lived and the impact they have made on others. The book has multiple stories combined into one, almost like an anthology, but there is an overarching story loosely woven in, giving it a satisfying end.

Although the themes of this book are hopeful, it does have darker moments. Consider looking up the trigger warnings.

one of the best books i have ever read, hands down. it got me crying tears of joy. i was so touched i couldn’t contain how i felt. this is now one of my favourite books— a comfort book i will turn to again and again!!

I liked the premise of this book a lot but I am not 100% sure it came together as a full book, the vignettes were fun but the links to create an overarching story felt forced and i think I'd have liked it more as a collection of adventures.

If you loved Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawagucha, you will love this. I enjoyed it more. When a person dies, their spirit is sent to a photography studio run by a man who has no memories of his own, but whose job is to help people collate a montage of their memories through photographs. He guides them to the most important day of their lives which they get to re-live and take a photograph of their chosing to remember. This is a simple but powerful tale that is full of stories of love, redemption and oddness. It celebrates the extraordinary within ordinary lives and reminds us why we live. A really beautiful book.

This book screams “if you liked Before the Coffee gets Cold”, you’ll love this - even the cover is a similar graphic design. The premise is that between death and the next life, there’s a photographic studio where you get to select one photo per year of your life and rewatch it all. As part of this, there’s often a key memory that’s hazy from overuse so our dead person and the photographer go back and relieve that day to retake the photo. This book contains three stories and I can see there being many sequels. Yes, some of the material goes to very dark places but the overall tone is heartwarming as things are righted by the end (in as much as they can be with people being dead). I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A beautiful book with a warm narrative that will make you feel at ease with the taboo topic of death and the afterlife. ‘The lantern of lost memories’ is a novella by Sanaka Hiiragi about Hirasaka, his photography studio in the mountains, and his duty to help people adjust to passing aways and allowing them to relive their most cherished memories one last time before passing on in to the afterlife.

The story starts quickly with the first of three souls who have passed away. Hatsue is an elderly lady who has lived a full life without regrets, who speaks about rebuilding a community in Tokyo after a war. Unfortunately, Hatsue is the character to come across an issue that happens with much loved memories. The most viewed photographs fade over time because of this, and so Hirasaka is allowed to travel back to that time with the passed soul to get another copy of the photograph.

The sentimental atmosphere is soon abrupted due to the second visitor we come across in the book. A troubled member of Yakuza by the name of Waniguchi. Throughout his story we learn about his friends – especially the mouse – who in turn has a short story withing the story, somewhat different but in turn beautiful and fitting within the atmosphere the book surrounds us in.

Our final lost soul is a heartbreaking and also should come with a content warning. Young Mitsuru has arrived and is scared. Hirasaka is gentle and soft when it comes to explaining to the young girl that she is now dead. Due to her being such a young age, she doesn’t have many photos or memories. So Hirasaka takes the opportunity to take Mitsuru on a somewhat wilderness adventure. As she learns things along the way; how to start a fire but be safe about it, how to take photographs and lastly how to feel safe. Abruptly, as Hirasaka is developing the photos Mitsuru had taken, she begins to fade – meaning she is coming back to life.

We now wake up with her on a balcony, in a dog kennel with her leg tied, surrounded by rubbish, and abandoned properties. But with the faint memories of what she had learnt in the afterlife, she is able to get herself help; allowing her parents to get what they deserve – and also was she deserves – a chance at happiness.

This book has vivid descriptions of the landscapes which creates a tranquil vibe which coincides with the character development throughout the book.

I would love a sequel for this; based on more lost souls as well as more background on Hirasaka and how he ended up doing this in the first place. A wonderful book and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

This was really heart-warming read. I love books like this... they're a tonic for what is a difficult time for a lot of people. Wonderful.

Book Review: The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi

**Rating: 5/5**

Sanaka Hiiragi's *The Lantern of Lost Memories* is a beautifully crafted tale that seamlessly blends the ethereal with the poignant. Set in a magical photography studio perched between this world and the next, the story offers a unique perspective on life, memory, and the afterlife.

The premise is enchanting: newly deceased individuals wake up in a cozy mountain studio, tasked with selecting photographs that capture their most treasured memories. These memories are then placed in a lantern that will guide them to their next destination. Hiiragi masterfully uses this framework to explore the depths of human experience through a series of vignettes, each focusing on a different character's life and their most cherished moments.

The characters are richly drawn and deeply relatable. From an elderly woman who finds strength in rebuilding her community after a disaster to a former Yakuza member who rediscovers his capacity for kindness, each story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The narrative flows effortlessly, with each character's journey providing a new layer of emotional depth.

Hiiragi's writing is both lyrical and evocative, capturing the essence of fleeting moments and the bittersweet nature of memory. The descriptions of the photography studio and the surrounding mountains are vivid and atmospheric, creating a setting that feels both otherworldly and intimately familiar.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its exploration of how memories shape our identities and the importance of preserving those moments that define us. The concept of revisiting a single day to rephotograph it anew adds a poignant twist, emphasizing the idea that our perceptions and memories can change over time.

*The Lantern of Lost Memories* is a hauntingly beautiful novel that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the last page. It is a celebration of life, love, and the moments that make us who we are. Hiiragi's storytelling is a gentle reminder of the power of memory and the enduring impact of our most cherished experiences.

Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction and those who enjoy stories that touch the heart and soul.

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