The Lantern of Lost Memories – ARC Book Review

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. Hirasaki, 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. Hirasaki’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. Hirasaki also offers guests one guests a second 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.

This is a short and quick to read, and heartwarming, heartbreaking and emotional story.

Mr. Hirasaki owns a peculiar photo studio–the studio is a different one and serves as a place between life and death and a door to afterlife. The studio will help the people, who have already died to recount their stories by flashing pictures of their lives, during their lifetime. We meet an eighty year old woman named Hatsue who worked as a nursery teacher, Wanaguichi who is a rowdy yakuza overseer and a young girl named Mitsuri who tragically died at the hands of abusive parents.

This is an unusual concept and plot of the story. You die and before you enter into he afterlife, you get final glimpses of your own life before heading off to afterlife. It’s emotional and kind of sad as well. I am particularly sad at Mitsuri’s life story, as she died so young compared to the other two characters. The story itself if very unique and the writing was also engaging as well. You get glimpses of what these three character’s lives were, their experiences, their life overall, before they died.

Overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to read more from this author. Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and PanMacmillan for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.