Take a photo of a barcode or cover
paperknotbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Torture, and Violence
owlmanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Infertility and Murder
apolloann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
cosmicpanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Murder
shadymist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Three separate stories that share the same value and a pov from them all. Their memories and personalities that shaped and moulded them into the people they were before they deceased. The book retells of a live after death but before you encounter your destiny. Before heaven, hell or reincarnation. It’s the place to watch your cinematic records shortened by 1 memory for each year you were alive. Truly a masterpiece and I would love to read more from Sanaka Hiiragi.
A perfect finish for 2024 for me. Happy new year to all whom read this :)
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
coreycbrewer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying and Blood
katerina_l's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
kaneebli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
linearev's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I picked it up for a buddy read with a friend, mostly because it looked like ‘before the coffee gets cold’, and we both love that series.
The concept of looking back at life and still accepting how you’ve chosen your path is the main theme in both stories, and following the ‘guiding character(s)’ in both is also a great edition to how the stories come off structure wise.
However, no matter how closely they resemble each other on paper, they have a world of difference between them.
Before the coffee gets cold is literately and poetically beautiful, forcing you to slow down and enjoy the simple descriptions of cherry blossoms and coffee steam. It also deals with the death or loss of something or someone very loved by the guests, in a much more detailed, raw and unflinching manner.
This, overall, makes them an extremely emotional and heartbreaking reads, while balancing it with just enough heartwarming moments and realizations, that you feel okay in the end.
Oppositely, ‘The lantern of lost memories’ deals with the subject of the visitors deaths, and helps them move on from the world. This subject is arguably much heavier than the loss of a husband to dementia for example. However, the book deals with it in a much more lighthearted manner, creating a world where it’s not scary to die so much as it is a pleasure to look back upon life and know the good you did. It was lovely and lighthearted is what I’m trying to say. But overall, I sort of missed the emotional gut punch. So just bellow 5 stars it goes.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
cutepatzie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: War