The Lantern of Lost Memories is the must-read for 2024, especially if you are looking for a thoughtful and heartwarming story.

Set in a space between life and death, three people visit a magical photography studio to choose photos from their lives to create a special lantern. Each story is really moving resulting in this being a beautiful and touching book.

I was drawn to this book as I loved the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, I really hope that this is the start of series too!

If you love Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, you must read this when it comes out in August! This is a wonderful collection of bittersweet episodes that reminds us to appreciate our past and lives we’ve had. It is sad at times, but there is warmth and tenderness just like the very popular series. I loved every episode in this book.

The premise is similar to TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Doors. Set in somewhere between life and death, three people visit a photography studio where a kind man allows them to revisit their most treasured memories. Each person has a treasured story to tell, from the old woman rebuilding a community in Tokyo after a disaster, to the flawed Yakuza man who remembers a time when he was kind, and a strong child who is fighting to survive.

It didn’t make me sob but there are many parts where I felt emotional and was reminded to appreciate my own treasured moments. I hope it will have the same effect on you if you read it.

5 / 5 🌟

A fascinating premise, where after you die but before you move on, you get a mountain of photos from your life and get to choose one for each year for your own lantern of lost memories.
A man, Hirasaka meets everyone in a photo studio complete with a dark room.
The deceased can also travel back in time to retake a photo of a cherished memory. The balance of the overview we get from all the photos and the snapshot of a day in their life is really beautiful.
We get to meet three people, although the book is short, the chapters really pack a punch and transport you to their stories.
I could see the author writing an entire series where different characters make their lanterns.
It is a delightful book, though I wouldn’t say it’s cosy as it does have some more intense themes and mentions.
Great for readers who liked “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”, as it has similar themes about missed chances and how we live life.
Thanks to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

A beautifully written and very moving story. Hirasaka's job is to act as a guide for the dead on the journey to the other side. He works in a photography studio and he helps the newly deceased to select one photograph from each year of their lives. These are then incorporated into a magic lantern and viewed just before leaving the studio. In addition, the recently deceased is allowed to choose a camera and to go back and revisit one day of their life so that they can retake a photograph of the choice.
Although the subject is death, this is a very upbeat and positive story. Each person's life is appreciated and goodness is highlighted. The ending was especially moving.
An original idea and highly recommended.

I have heard of this author's other books but have not yet read them so when this appeared on netgalley I couldn't resist.

The book comprises of only three chapters detailing Hirasaka's work in a photography studio between the land of the living and where they all eventually go. He supports and mentors the deceased, tasking them with choosing one photo for each of their lived years to adorn a lantern that will play before they make their final transition.

An absolutely beautiful story despite some upsetting content, the characters were fascinating. A must read, thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

What a great idea! One picture for every year of your life. Makes you think about what is really important and what will you actually cherish and value as a great memory..

It's an easy read, however to me it lacked something. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I had the feeling that the story was somehow incomplete and lacked some kind of conclusion..

Overall it's a good read, but won't be one of my favourites.

This is a beautifully written book— full of unique and innovative ideas to talk about death— in this book of short stories we are taken through three peoples stories of where they visit a cosy photography studio in the mountains between this world and the next where they must choose the pictures from their life that capture their most treasured memories, which will be placed in a beautiful lantern which will be set spinning, and everything will flash before their eyes, guiding them to another world.

These stories were sentimental, emotionally moving and maintained your attention to the end of each persons story you can cozy up with and read all at once or a little bit at a time ( as each story is stand-alone). We experiences the magic of each persons story, an elderly lady, a yakuza , and a young child. The last story to me felt like a reimagining/mixture of true incidents that happened throughout Japan to children. Even with the heavy topics of aging, bullying, abuse etc the book maintains a whimsical /magical feel throughout keeping you in a dream like state while reminding us to reflect well on our lives as this book beautifully reflects on life, death, love and everything in-between.

Thank -you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC. This is my honest review.

4.5

A beautifully written, quiet novella featuring a delightful cast of characters including a man who stewards people’s journeys from life across to death by helping them create lanterns displaying their favourite memories and three very different people who are crossing into the afterlife.

I loved this book! I read it in a few hours but was engrossed the whole time.

The writing in this book is exceptional. What I’ve come to love about Japanese fiction is how it can be succinct, yet impactful. The stories may not be as long as Western audiences are used to but they pack a punch. Let’s examine further:

• The story starts off quickly and with a really strong hook wherein our first featured character, Hatsue, confused to be awoken in Hirasaka’s photo studio.
• Strong sense of place creating a gorgeous atmosphere that I could immerse myself in as a reader. We are treated to many beautiful and vivid descriptions throughout the book (“Peering closer, she was struck by the elegant sight of moss-covered stone lanterns, weeping cherry trees and the yellow flowers of a tsuwabuki plant.”, “Damp leaves covered the stone steps, and the air was thick with the distinctive smell of the forest.”)
• The humour in this book is subtle and feels so genuine. A few of the characters’ lines made me laugh: sharp, observant, and self-aware without being over the top.
• The characters were likeable, despite their complexities. Our steward, Hirasaka was a gentle, patient, and kind soul. While he acknowledges the tedium and repetition of his role as steward of this liminal space between life and death, he’s exceptionally well-suited to it and makes sure that all of his guests have a meaningful and reflective time curating their lanterns. The guests Hatsue, Waniguchi, and Mitsuru are all very different. They felt real to me as a reader and I enjoyed spending time with each of them.
• The ending was beautiful: <spoiler> it becomes evident in Waniguchi’s story that this isn’t a mere novella, but a short story serial - one of the best I’ve ever read - there’s a quiet thread connecting the stories and a truly beautiful ending that takes us full circle. </spoiler>
• While I’m not a photographer, I enjoyed how a love and appreciation for photography was incorporated into the story.

The only critical feedback I have about this book is the repetition that plagues short story serials in translated fiction. Books like <I>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</I> and <I>The Kamogawa Food Detectives</I>, which this book will inevitably be compared to, are far worse for this than <I>The Lantern of Lost Memories</I> but there are repetitions that stood out:
• In all three stories: Hirasaka’s comments about the cheerfulness of the courier, Yama.
• In the first and second stories: The deceased’s reaction to a faded photo and Hirasaka’s explanation about how they can take a new one.

I’ve read a few of Jesse Kirkwood’s translations in the past and they’re a talented person. The more translated fiction I read, the more I’m starting to enjoy certain translator’s styles - including Jesse’s! I sincerely hope that Sanaka Hiiragi translates more of her work into English. I’m going to buy this book when it comes out and add the author to my auto-buy list (which isn’t something I do lightly given my bursting home bookshelves!)

I was privileged to have my request accepted to read this book through NetGalley. Thank you so much, Pan Macmillan!

What a lovely story. When people die, their first stop is at a photography studio where they choose a personal snapshot for every year of their life and these are placed in a spinning pattern that will send them onwards.

Japanese novelists are great at writing sweet stories without them being too cheesy or ‘cosy’.
This one was rather poignant but what a great read. I was delighted by the twist and would love to read about more people and their lantern.

This is a story about our most cherished memory and the chance to travel through time in order to relive that seminal experience once more.

In a photography studio that is a waystation to the afterlife, each person is shown a series of photos from the most important days of their life. from that stack, the person has the opportunity to choose one picture to light the lantern that will guide them on their way forward.

Through this process, the writer tells us a series of stories that bring to life a range of vivid characters in a touching and unusual book. It gets 3.5 stars.

After death, you arrive at a photo studio that is a gateway between life and death; you now must choose one photo from each day of your life to be displayed on a spinning lantern of memories. With these photos of your memories, you get to see your life flash before your eyes before passing onto the afterlife.

This was so heartwarming and beautiful to read. I absolutely loved the concept of this book, it really felt magical. Each memory was described so beautifully, it was as if you were walking through it with them.

Hirasaki, the owner of the photo studio, was an amazing character with so much compassion for those who passed through. I love how his character was a mystery, he himself didn’t know where he came from and had no recollection of his memories from his past human life. Although he enjoyed spending time with the people who passed through, he struggled with being asked where he had come from, his memories were something he wanted throughout the book.

I enjoyed all three characters who passed through Hirasaki's photo studio, I found all their stories to be captivating. I personally enjoyed the second the most, but I found the last to be the most inspiring.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi is a beautiful and heartwarming novel about the memories that pass before our eyes when we die. It reflects on life, loss, and the dearest memories we carry with us, even if some are quite blurry. The layer of coziness makes it an ideal read for those seeking a comforting escape. It was a delight to discover each character's journey and glimpse their special moments in life, and I absolutely loved how it all wrapped up so neatly and satisfyingly.

If you enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold, you’ll find a similar charm and emotional depth in The Lantern of Lost Memories.

The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi gives an innovative perspective to life after death and the term “life flashing before your eyes” .

When you die, you are greeted by a friendly man called Hirasaka in a photography shop where you will choose 1 photo from each year you have lived and build a lantern that will help you pass on to the afterlife whatever that may mean.

This book is just gorgeous, the arc was recommended to me by macmillian because of my love for the before the coffee gets cold series and like that series the Lantern of Lost Memories is a book of intertwined short stories. The 3 stories shows how different people (an old lady, a yakuza member and I will leave the third one a surprise because it shook me to the core) navigate hearing they are dead and looking through their memories and telling Hirasaka stories of their lives.

This book was so easy to read, it had me crying every couple pages but once I got into the book I simply could not put it down. It is beautiful and has the power to give you a completely different outlook. It shows the good side of humanity and the bad side. It is yet another book that gives you a sense of closure (and we know how I love those).

I cannot recommend this book enough. The last story especially broke me and blew my mind at the same time.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan for the arc of this book!

Through NetGalley, Picador sent me an email saying "because you liked Before the Coffee Gets Cold we've given you access to this" so of course I immediately went and downloaded it and I'm so glad that I did!! I start by saying that I didn't love this as much as I adored BtCGC, but I still gave it 4.5* and absolutely loved it! And the vibe comparison is 100% accurate.

In this story, when you die before you pass to the afterlife you first go to a photo studio. There, you'll be asked to pick one photo for each year of your life to be added to your lantern, and once completed your spinning lantern of memories will send you into the afterlife. But of course, emotionally processing your death, and your life, isn't as simple as that. So each studio has a guide. We follow one guide in a studio and how he approaches helping an elderly woman, a member of the Yakuza, and a young girl who was fighting to survive.

Given that each new visitor to the studio is unfamiliar, the reader gets to learn about the process along with each deceased character and this is naturally integrated into the book. And whilst they're all similar, each situation is unique and so we learn a little more from each story. I find that I really enjoy this worldbuilding style and I would love to read more sequels set in this location as there is so much potential for various different stories.

Jesse Kirkwood did a fantastic job at capturing the essence of this book in their translation and I'd love to read more work that Kirkwood translates in the future!! (and if I'm lucky they'll be like The Lantern of Lost Memories!)

This is an absolutely gorgeous novel that is all about how important every moment in life can be and how much of a difference can be made to lives by small every day actions and good intentions. I'll definitely be grabbing myself a physical copy of this beauty when it comes out!

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for an advanced copy of this text! I was not asked to write a review, but I will give a non-spoiler review on my feelings after reading this text!

The Premise
'The Lantern of Lost Memories' is a collection of 3 stories set in Hirasaka's photography studio. This studio is special however, it serves as a purgatory where people who have died come to look up the photographs of their lives before passing onto their next life. This phenomenon is known as 'The Lantern of Lost Memories'...

Each stories focuses on a different guest: Hatsue, Waniguchi and Mitsuru. These characters end up visiting the studio for very different reasons, but all experience something that they've been missing in the lives. They relive memories that are close to them and define who they were...

My Verdict
As a fan of Hiiragi's previous stories - 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' - I once again finding myself enjoying these sombre, yet sweet stories that can be read quickly and hold really strong moral messages and meanings behind them. I feel that 'The Lantern of Lost Memories' is a great introductory collection to a potential series of books, should Hiiragi choose to write more, and I do highly recommend this collection for an enjoyable evening of reading!

Rating 4/5

Once again, many thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for providing me with this advanced copy of 'The Lantern of Lost Memories'

When people die, they go to this magical photo studio where they view key moments from their life and get the opportunity to relive one precious memory before they pass on to the afterlife.

Props to Jesse Kirkwood on translating this beautiful book because he kills it with his translations - this is the second one that I’ve read by him and I really loved it. I was obsessed with the writing style and this will be a book that I will think about for a long time.

The atmosphere and setting was absolutely stunning - I felt like I was there with the characters experiencing their journey through the book. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters that are introduced and for such a short book, my god did it pack a punch!!

Our main man Hirasaka is an absolutely angel and I couldn’t think of a better character to guide others to the afterlife! I know if this was real life, I would want someone like Hirasaka to guide me to the afterlife. I really adored his character and the glimpse into his backstory. I also really loved the other characters that were introduced — Hatsue who was so lovely and touched so many people’s lives; Waniguchi who wasn’t all that bad; Mitsuru who was dealt such an awful hand in life but managed to turn it around; Yama who was a sweetheart, that delivers the files about each person who Hirasaka will be guiding to the afterlife.

There was some character flaws, a lot of development and how everything ties together is one of my favourite parts of this book. Their stories had me experiencing a range of emotions and ended in me crying uncontrollably. I love books that make me reflect on things, rip my heart out and then put it back together with hopefulness. Definitely recommend this one but please check content warnings first!

⚠️ CWs: animal cruelty/death, bullying, chronic illness, domestic abuse, death, drug use, emotional and physical abuse, suicide, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, abandonment, alcohol use, person with alcohol use disorder, murder, dementia, grief, mentions war, infertility, derogatory language, blood ⚠️

Thank you Picador and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for a honest review.

Advertised and compared to Before The Coffee Gets Cold, which is a series I love! Personally, for me it didn't have the same magic. Still was a nice read and I do recommend you add it to your TBR!