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A review by linearev
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
So I loved this book
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury