Name: bree ♡̷̷̷'s review of The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
Item: The Lantern of Lost Memories
Rating: 4
Author: bree ♡̷̷̷

Sanaka Hiiragi

From acclaimed Japanese author Sanaka Hiigari comes a heartwarming, life-affirming novel about a magical photo studio, where people go after they die to view key moments from their life—and relive one precious memory before they pass into the afterlife.

The hands and pendulum of the old wooden clock on the wall were motionless. Hirasaka cocked his head to listen, but the silence inside the photo studio was almost deafening. His leather shoes sank softly into the aging red carpet as he strode over to the arrangement of flowers on the counter and carefully adjusted the angle of the petals…

This is the story of the peculiar and magical photo studio owned by Mr. Hirasaka, a collector of antique cameras. In the dimly lit interior, a paper background is pulled down in front of a wall, and in front of it stands a single, luxurious chair with an armrest on one side. On a stand is a large bellows camera. On the left is the main studio; photos can also be taken in the courtyard.

Beyond its straightforward interior, however, is a secret. The studio is, in fact, the door to the afterlife, the place between life and death where those who have departed have a chance—one last time—to see their entire life flash before their eyes via Mr. Hirasaka's "spinning lantern of memories."

We meet Hatsue, a ninety-two year old woman who worked as a nursery teacher, the rowdy Waniguchi, a yakuza overseer in his life who is also capable of great compassion, and finally Mitsuru, a young girl who has died tragically young at the hands of abusive parents. 

Sorting through the many photos of their lives, Mr. Hirasaka also offers guests a second gift: a chance to travel back in time to take a photo of one particular moment in their lives that they wish to cherish in a special way.

Full of charm and whimsy, THE LANTERN OF LOST MEMORIES will sweep you away to a world of nostalgia, laughter, and love. 

The Lantern of Lost Memories

人生写真館の奇跡

Nina Valerie Dela Peña

slow start but it’s actually intriguing. i love the introductions of different characters and their  backgrounds. i enjoyed it overall !! 

bree ♡̷̷̷

Wholesome and cosy stories about three beautifully drawn characters.

Cassandra Tang

took a while for me to get into the book but when i did i found the short stories so captivating :’) very sweet and insightful, got me to think about the important things in life. 

esther

Jesse Kirkwood Iragi

One photograph, one treasured memory, one chance to go back . . .

In a cosy photography studio in the mountains between this world and the next, someone is waking up as if from a dream. A kind man will hand them a hot cup of tea and gently explain that, having reached the end of their life, they have one final task.

There is a stack of photos on their lap, one for every day of their life, and now they must choose the pictures that capture their most treasured memories, which will be placed in a beautiful lantern. Once completed, it will be set spinning, and their cherished moments will flash before their eyes, guiding them to another world.

But, like our most thumbed-over photographs, our favourite memories become faded with age, so each visitor to the studio has the chance to choose one day to return to and photograph afresh. Each 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.

Extraordinarily moving and wise, THE LANTERN OF LOST MEMORIES is a beautiful Japanese tale about the people that make us and the moments that change us.

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.

Suzanne

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 Lanterna das Memórias Perdidas

Sónia GB

O livro foi conduzido por um rumo diferente da minha expectativa, considerando a sinopse. Mas não necessariamente negativo.

Passa pelo expectável confronto com a morte, a reflexão sobre a vida, os pequenos momentos, o que realmente importa…. Como seria de esperar de um livro japonês.

Envolvido numa ternura muito bonita, o livro conduziu-me por uma série de “paisagens” descritas e tantas outras por mim imaginadas. Foi uma leitura lenta e reflexiva, com muitas memórias repescadas, mas julgo que o que me faltou foi empatia pelas personagens, pelas situações, pelos contextos.

As minhas expectativas atraiçoaram a classificação….
3,5⭐️

星光

Rebecca Joy Tan

vivi

Nicole Neuman

Maureen Carter

Harriet Langan

Cynthia

marie

mitha

Zoe Kelly

Chip Snyder

soiled plants

Ilona Labská 

mickey

margarida

Gdzieś między światami znajduje się studio fotograficzne. Zanim zmarli odejdą w dalszą drogę, pan Hirasaka przygotuje dla nich specjalny pokaz, podczas którego każda osoba po raz ostatni obejrzy na fotografiach swoje życie, zanim w spokoju odejdzie do wieczności.

Starsza kobieta chce wrócić do ruin powojennego Tokio. Mężczyzna w średnim wieku, członek jakuzy, wraca do momentu, w którym czuł radość i wdzięczność. Z kilkuletnią dziewczynką, Hirasaka chcę spełnić dzień na beztroskiej zabawie. Ale nie można bezkarnie integrować w przeszłe losy....

Nina Valerie Dela Peña &
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi

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Nina Valerie Dela Peña &The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi

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Nina Valerie Dela Peña &
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi