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A review by bobsandtheirbooks
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse