El pequeño estudio de los recuerdos perdidos

by Sanaka Hiiragi, Víctor Illera Kanaya (translator)

Una novela mágica y conmovedora sobre el poder de la bondad, la memoria y las elecciones vitales.

Un álbum de fotos. Multitud de recuerdos.
El último vistazo a una vida entera.

Hirasaka regenta un estudio de fotografía en el más allá. Antes de que sus «invitados» abandonen ese lugar de paso, él les da una taza de té y una pila de fotos de su historia para que escojan una por cada año que han vivido antes de partir en su último viaje.

Además, tienen la oportunidad de viajar al pasado como fantasmas para capturar un momento especial. Hecho esto, Hirasaka coloca las imágenes en un proyector para que su invitado pueda contemplar una vez más sus recuerdos.

Así conocemos a Hatsue, una anciana que en 1949 fundó su propia guardería entre las ruinas del Tokio de posguerra; a Waniguchi, un hombre que trabajaba en un taller tapadera de la yakuza; o a Mitsuru, una joven que sufrió un trágico final y que hallará en el estudio de Hirasaka la clave para cambiar el rumbo de su existencia.

Sin embargo, mientras lleva a cabo su trabajo, Hirasaka se ve asediado para una pregunta cuya respuesta se le escapa: ¿dónde están sus propios recuerdos?

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Japan, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Contemporary

200 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2019

About the author

Sanaka Hiiragi (JP: 柊サナカ) was born in 1974 in the Kagawa Prefecture. She graduated from Kobe Women's University, majored in literature, and completed her studies at Himeji Dokkyo University. After living and working overseas as a Japanese Language teacher for 7 years, her debut novel The Battle of Marriage Island was nominated for the Konomys Award in 2012 and was chosen as ‘The Hidden Jade’ by the editors in 2013. She is a big fan of cameras, photography, and kimono art.

Source: Hachette Book Group

Reviews

[zuza_zaksiazkowane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ta ostatnia historia…
Wyjątkowa.

[Alex.andthebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Wzruszenie pod koniec… nie do opisania. Cudowna lektura

[Saranya ⋆☕︎ ˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hauntingly beautiful meditation on memory, mortality and the quiet magic of everyday life.

I'll be forever indebted to The aMAZINg Mazin for recommending this book to me. What did I just read? I haven't come across such a beautiful book for a very long time!!

If death had a waiting room, Mr. Hirasaka’s photography studio would be it—complete with antique cameras, a red carpet that’s seen more souls than celebrities and a lantern that spins your life into a highlight reel.

This novel is a tender punch to the heart. Through three interwoven stories—an elderly woman rebuilding post-disaster Tokyo, a remorseful Yakuza man and a tragically young girl— I certainly felt the ache of what we leave behind and the grace of what we choose to remember. Each character is given one chance to relive a moment and in that choice lies the soul of the book: what defines a life? A laugh, a kindness a fleeting second of courage?

‘That’s the way it goes,’ said Hirasaka. ‘We have to let go of certain memories as we make our way through life.’

I feel so sad for Hirasaka:(
Poor soul

The writing was so delicate... like cherry blossoms caught in a breeze, yet it carries the weight of grief, redemption and hope.


Pre-Read
Not a fan of translated novels, but this is Mazin's favourite book!
:D

[Helga · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

when you really treasure a photo, you put it on display or get it out and look at it all the time instead of simply storing it away – and as a result, those are the ones that end up faded and torn. Well, it’s the same with memories. The more important a memory, the more we find ourselves revisiting it. But in doing so, the details can begin to evade us.

They say our life flashes before our eyes just before we die. Well, in this tenderly written book, that’s exactly what happens.

Hirasaka runs a photography studio where only those who have passed away can enter. Think of it as a place between the two worlds. A place where Hirasaka helps the deceased get ready for the other world by choosing the most cherished moments of their lives; one photograph for each year.

She was shown times when, miraculously, everything went according to plan, and times when nothing did. Moments that were painful to remember, and wonderful experiences that it soothed her to recall.

The book is divided into three parts.
Three ghosts will visit Hirasaka. They will choose one moment from each year of their life. They will watch their treasured moments flash before their eyes.
And who knows, maybe one of them would help Hirasaka himself remember his own past life and his erased memories.

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

sounds nice.

and this book IS very nice. not long. not deep. not realistic.

but nice.

it's three stories of three nice moments as lives come to an end and a nice guy guides them through to the afterlife with nice photos retaken via nice camera-based time travel.

it's not a book that will stay with me for a long time, but i enjoyed reading it.

bottom line: nice, like i thought it'd be!

[Magdalena Miękińska (getbooky) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[sakurablossom95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been said that when you die, your life flashes before your eyes, allowing you to relive your best moments in just a few minutes. This book beautifully captures all the fleeting emotions of nostalgia and heartbreak, all while making you appreciate the small, often overlooked moments in life.

At the central heart of this story is Mr. Hirasaka, who operates a magical photo studio where people visit after death to view key moments from their lives. His studio allows them to relive one precious memory before passing into the afterlife. The story follows the perspectives of three vastly different patrons: an old woman who embraced life to the fullest, a middle-aged man burdened by his troubled past, and a young child with a pure, untarnished outlook on life.
What truly struck me was how the book managed to bring these three individuals together, showing that every decision, no matter how small, ripples outward to affect others in ways we may never fully understand. I enjoyed how well the story was able to show the interconnection between lives, reminding readers that we’re all bound by the choices we make, often in ways we cannot see…
The ending was particularly bittersweet, when all the dots finally connected, tying together the threads of the overarching story.

Overall, this short, slice-of-life tale had me reflecting on the small impacts we leave on the lives we touch, even in passing. For anyone who enjoys stories that focus on life's bittersweet and heartwarming moments, I highly recommend this book. And if you’ve seen the K-drama The Midnight Studio, this book will feel like a perfect companion piece, bringing similar themes to life in a deeply reflective and touching way.


Thank you @GrandCentralPub for providing a review copy.

[aly ☆彡 (on vacation) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories linger in the heart long after the final page, and The Lantern of Lost Memories is one of them. This quietly powerful novel follows a mysterious photo studio where the recently deceased revisit their most cherished memories before moving on. Guided by Hirasaka, a photographer with no memory of his own past, three souls retrace the defining moments of their lives: a kind elderly woman, a yakuza with unexpected tenderness, and an abused child whose story ties hauntingly into Hirasaka's own.

What makes this novel special isn't its supernatural premise, but how it finds profundity in ordinary lives. The characters do not relive dramatic turning points, but small, bright fragments— a mechanic's loyalty, a teacher's quiet dedication, a child's stolen moments of safety. Each of these glimpses feel universally human, which makes this book heartfelt. I am personally moved by the yakuza's relationship with the mechanic the most, where the novel explores how even broken people can leave behind legacies of love.

Another striking aspect of the book is surely Hiiragi's restrained yet evocative prose which shines brightest in the abused child's chapter, consequently, reveals the heartbreaking truth behind Hirasaka's memory loss. While the first story feels comparatively slight, the emotional payoff of the later chapters more than compensates.

Nevertheless, the novel does falter slightly in pacing, with some transitions between stories feeling abrupt, and its themes of trauma and loss may prove heavy for some readers. Yet there is a remarkable warmth beneath the melancholy. In helping others confront their pasts, Hirasaka embodies a quiet heroism that stays with you.

When all is said and done, this book is more than a meditation on death. It is about how life's simplest moments quietly accumulate meaning. While not entirely spotless, its emotional honesty and lyrical simplicity make it dawdle in the mind like a cherished photograph; slightly faded, but no less precious for it. Fans of reflective Japanese literature will find much to love in its understated beauty.

[Sara Woś · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kocham całym sercem 💖

[Akankshya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautifully crafted short story that touches upon the cyclical nature of life, one's purpose in life, and how humans of all shapes and souls can find kindness within them. I'm a big fan of episodic narratives, which are somewhat of a trend amongst contemporary Japanese stories, and this one is perfectly executed. The core element of this story is a magic photo studio that people visit before they die, which is a cute and cozy fantastical take on death, which is another weird niche that I now love. It is a slow book, meandering at times, but manages to deliver a punch by the end, which makes it an extremely satisfying read.

This is for Studio Ghibli, Makoto Shinkai, and Before the Coffee Gets Cold fans, and is the perfect complement to a rainy day. Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! The Lantern of Lost Memories will be published in the US on Sep 17, 2024.

[Teodora · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐

Short, quick, full of emotion and bittersweet stories, a unique concept and approach to the last few moments a person has after they die. I enjoyed this so much and I think it deserves a try!

[Alwynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sanaka Hiiragi’s episodic novel builds on Japanese mythology around fate, memory and death, particularly Yomotsu Hirasaka as a place marking a boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead. Here that liminal space’s occupied by a studio run by genial photographer Hirasaka. It’s Hirasaka’s duty to prepare the newly dead for entry to the afterlife, although his own origins are shrouded in mystery. Each visitor to his studio’s presented with images from their past, they must choose one for each year of their existence. This selection will be slotted into a twirling lantern, a variation on a slideshow, so their lives appear to flash before their eyes and they can move on. Sometimes a visitor picks a blurry or damaged photo, these can be repaired via a guided visit to the past to get a cleaner shot.

One of these visitors is Hatsue who’s 92. Hirasaka takes her back to a suburb of Tokyo in July 1949, where Hatsue observes her younger self. Her experiences enable a vivid reconstruction of postwar Japan, the damaged buildings and struggling inhabitants. Hatsue was employed by a nursery to take care of impoverished workers’ children, and Hiiragi bases her section on aspects of Japan’s history particularly the establishment of Nitta Nursery School in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward.

Hirasaka’s next two clients are among his most challenging cases: one’s a murdered yakuza, Shohei Waniguchi who finds it difficult to locate any happy memories; the other’s a small girl killed by abusive parents, a child whose suffering will lead to Hirasaka taking unprecedented action. Although Hiiragi’s novel can be sentimental and a little uneven - Hatsue’s narrative was by far my favourite – it’s also well-researched, atmospheric and absorbing. The style and unusual blend of genre conventions is likely to appeal to fans of books like Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Picador for an ARC

[spillingthematcha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smutnie piękna, przede wszystkim w swej prostocie.

[jula disco kula · Rating 4 out of 5]

jest to bardzo „moja” książka, opowiadająca o momencie między życiem a śmiercią. historia o mocy wspomnień i pamięci, o zdjęciach, które skrywają w sobie wiele emocji i przeżyć. spokojna, poruszająca, piękna.
„Życie to podróż, w trakcie której stopniowo wypuszczamy pamięć z rąk”

[Celestina1210 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un très joli livre sur la vie sur la mort. Ce livre est comme un bonbon acidulé. Nous sommes dans un salon photographique ou un gardien attend les gens qui viennent de mourir pour leur proposer de construire une lanterne avec des photos de sa vie. Et pourquoi je parlais de bonbons acidulés parce qu’on pense à ce qu’on a réussi mais aussi à ce qu’on a échoué.
Si vous cherchez tout tranquille sur la vie sur la mort n’hésitez pas.

[Ms. Smartarse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in English as The Lantern of Lost Memories.

Mr. Hirasaka lives in an old-fashioned photo studio, and spends his time helping departed souls move on, by making them pick out photos of their memories. Occasionally, he even helps them restore some of the more "faded" ones, by letting them revisit a specific event.
Although he lost his own memories, that never stops him from being a great guide even when faced with the most aggressive soul.



In this short little novel, we meet three very different souls that end up in Hirasaka-san's studio: Mrs. Hatsue a kindly 92-year-old woman, Mr. Waniguchi a 47-year-old shady debt collector, and Misturu-chan a shy little girl.

I got very invested in the first two stories, but the third one left me rather confused, even though it is objectively the most heart-breaking and intriguing one. I suspect the issue here was with the translation. I don't mean to say that it was a bad or a subpar one, because I was perfectly fine with the first two stories, and this third one even made me shed some tears. However a more natural, less plagued by figures of speech, writing style would have made things more enjoyable for me.


Hungarian (left) and Romanian(right) editions of this book

As a big fan of (modern) Japanese literature, I tend to pick up anything written by Japanese authors, especially if it is also set in Japan. Yes, this sometimes has me buying the same book twice, though rarely in different languages. I blame their vastly different covers. Having decided to read more in Hungarian, I was delighted to be able to mix both aspects so I ended up proceeding with the Hungarian translation after all. To be fair, I had not intended to compare and contrast the two at first.

As I mentioned before, the 3rd story left me very confused at one point, so I ended up (re)reading that part in Romanian. This helped... but it also felt like I was reading a story written by someone else. E.g. one translation had the protagonist narrate some of the events alternating with an omniscient view, while the other kept the same narrative perspective throughout the entire story. I have a sneaky suspicion that my preferred version was not one more closely resembling the original...

At the end of the day, the Hungarian translation felt more taxing to get through. Yes, I'm more fluent in Romanian, but that doesn't change the fact that the latter was written in a more accessible style. And I say that as a person hard-wired to (at the very least) be circumspect of anything written in Romanian. Thank my high school literature classes for that.

Score: 4.4/5 stars

Great collection of short stories, very atmospheric and bitter-sweet, but I chose the wrong translation. I feel like there's an argument to be had on not taxing the original work for the failings of the translation, but I firmly blame the translation for detracting from my overall reading enjoyment. So I'll be petty and just shy of letting it rock a well-deserved 5-star rating.

[Laubythesea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestamente, este libro no es que sea nada del otro mundo. No especialmente memorable, ni con una historia que no olvidarás jamás. Pero también es verdad que me ha encantado. ‘El pequeño estudio de los recuerdos perdidos’ es un libro-abrazo y es exactamente lo que yo necesitaba esta semana.
 
Plantea algo que, si bien es difícil de creer, es bonito pensar que ojalá fuera así.
 
La novela nos lleva hasta un estudio fotográfico muy especial, un lugar acogedor donde llegan las personas tras morir. Allí, acompañadas por una persona que les ayudará a entender lo que está pasando, les otorgan una fotografía de cada día de su vida y deben elegir una por año. Con ellas se hará una “lampara giratoria” que permite hacer un repaso por los momentos que han destacado antes de ir al otro lado.
 
Cada persona, además, tiene la oportunidad de viajar a un momento especial de su vida y hacer la fotografía de ese día. Así conoceremos las historias de tres personajes muy distintos (una anciana, un yakuza y una niña) que pasan por este estudio además del misterio que envuelve a Hirasaka, el trabajador del estudio, que no conserva ningún recuerdo de su vida anterior.
 
Mi historia favorita ha sido la primera, la de Hatsue, una mujer anciana, con una larga vida a sus espaldas, donde lo que destaca es su labor como maestra. La parte de cómo fue llevar a cabo ese trabajo después de la segunda guerra mundial, ¡me encantó!
 
Parece ser que la autora es amante de la fotografía y eso queda plasmado en la novela, en el cariño con el que habla de las diferentes cámaras y sus características, el proceso de revelado...
 
 Lo dicho, una novela muy bonita, perfecta para cuando busques algo sencillo y acogedor. Una historia sobre el valor de los pequeños momentos a lo largo de una vida, para pensar sobre cuánto olvidamos sin darnos cuenta, pero cuánto queda en nosotros de cada día que vivimos.

[DoGoryKsiazkami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nie powaliła, ale zdecydowanie tknęła czułą strunę w moim sercu, stąd 4 gwiazdki.

[simona.citeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

O altă surpriză plăcută de la un autor japonez.

Un studio foto în care ajungi atunci când mori și în care îți sunt arătate fotografii din timpul vieții tale.

[Amirhossein · Rating 5 out of 5]

وای چه کتابی بود! خوشحالم امسال همش دارم کتاب هایی میخونم که ایده های جدید به ادم میدن و اینم دقیقا یکی از همون ایده هاست. فرض کنید یکی ازم بپرسه در مورد یه موضوع رندومی داستان بنویس، مطمعنا آخرین موضوعی که فقط گذرا از ذهنم رد میشد، "عکاسی" بود ولی... بووومممم. ساناکا هیراگی یه کاری کرد که از این به بعد راجع به ساده ترین چیز ها هم داستان بخونم و از قبل قضاوت نکنم. واقعا آسیای شرقی متحیرم کرده، سه کتاب خوندم و واقعا بی نظیر بودن همشون، این کتاب رو از همشون بیشتر دوست داشتم.

با این کتاب خندیدم، بغض کردم، فکر کردم حتی مشتاق شدم یه دوربین عکاسی بخرم و خاطراتی که به وجود میان رو عکس بگیرم، به قول یه عزیزی، وقتی میمیری، دیگه مهم نیس که چقدر ثروتمند بودی یا قدرتمند، تنها چیزی که میمونه خاطراته! جالب شد، کلمه مرگ!!! در واقع این کتاب داره لحظه پس از مرگ آدم ها رو نشون میده. این کارگاه عکاسی که هیراساکا توش کار میکنه، درواقع یجور ایستگاه بین زندگی و مرگ کامل هست. سه داستان مختلف تو کتاب هست، اولی یه زن پیر، دومی یه آقای میانسال و سومی یه بچه و در نهایت داستان جوری گره میخوره که این سه کاراکتر بهم مربوط میشن. وقتی کتاب رو میخوندم همش با خودم میگفتم، لعنتی! من تو جمع فامیل میشینم و خاطراتی که تعریف میکنن رو متنفرم و حوصلم سر میره، تو چیکار کردی که زندگی 4 نفر و خاطراتشون باید برام مهم باشه؟ و همینطور بود که غرق در کتاب تو یه روز تمومش کردم. کتاب اینطور بود یه مشت کتک مفصل میزنتتون، میگیرید میخوابید و روز بعد که بلند شدید تازه میفهمید چقدر درد میکشید. سورپرایز هایی داشت که تنم مور مور میشد.

واقعا لذت بردم. داستان ساده ولی بی نهایت لذت بخش و دوست داشتنی. حداقل با خوندن این کتاب الان میتونم به زندگی آدم های دور وبرم بیشتر اهمیت نشون بدم و پای خاطره هاشون بشینم و بخندم و گریه کنم و غر بزنم، شاید حتی باعث شه دست به غیبت کردن هم بزنم، خدا رو چه دیدی

[Mewa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nastrojowe miejsce, tajemniczy „pracownicy“ i wgląd do przeszłości, jakiej zmienić już nie można, to częsty motyw w kulturze dzisiejszej Japonii. Wszystkie tytuły można włożyć do jednej szufladki, a jednocześnie każdy ma w sobie indywidualność, jaka budzi moją ciekawość. Najwyraźniej jednak moje serce w zetknięciu z nimi jest na dystans i czerpie więcej estetycznej niż emocjonalnej przyjemności, a pod względem stylu Sanaka Hiiragi niestety okazała się dla mnie zawodem. W akapitach bowiem panuje spory chaos formy (jak chociażby mieszanka czasów opisywania narracji), a dialogi często brzmią niczym zdania wycięte z gazet i sklejone do kupy, czyli po prostu sztucznie. Ogromnie irytujące. Kompozycja ma ładną klamerkę, pomysł jest ciekawy, a całości nie brakuje klimatu (nostalgia przemieszana z ciepłem), ale niestety nie należę do grona zadowolonych czytelników. Choć. Powieść za jakiś czas może zostać przeze mnie zapomniana, ale pozytywne uczucia, jakimi mnie obdarzyła, już niekoniecznie wyparują tak szybko. To natomiast jest ważne.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautiful story. Unique, interactive, and emotional.

Check trigger warnings...part 3 broke my heart.

3.5 stars rounded up.

[Jess✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"These, Hatsue, are the photos of your life. One for every day, three hundred and sixty-five for every year."

⁕⁎⁕⁎⁕⁎ 3,5 stars rounded up ⭐ ⁎⁕⁎⁕⁎⁕

What happens after you have died? "The Lantern of Lost Memories" discusses the concept of a stop in a photo studio to choose and sometimes retake a favorite single photo for every year of your life to see before you go into the afterlife.

"You see, once you get here, it doesn't matter how wealthy or important you were in life. All you're left with are your memories."

In three completely different stories we get to know four different main characters, and, at least for me, a little bit more about Japan.

""You were broken." said the Mouse, looking right at him. "And I couldn't fix you. [...] I conducted as much research as possible. But I couldn't fix you. [...] I wanted to fix you."💔

And how can I not round up my rating to four stars, when a book with not even 200 pages, and especially the last two short stories with less than 40 pages each, made me drop a few tears?

"I find myself wondering what it even means for me to die if I don't remember anything and nobody knows who I was. A boring life, a boring death, and no one to ever remember me. Is there any meaning or purpose to my existence that way? Why was I even alive in the first place?"

I read "Before the Coffee gets Cold" earlier this year, and yes, my mind started to compare the two stories. But in the end, besides a small place for a short amount of time, they don't actually share that much in common (in case you were wondering).
I read the majority of the book in one sitting, and loved to get to know the people, especially their stories. This book is for everyone, that enjoyed the vibes of "Before the Coffee gets Cold" and wants to experience something short but meaningful. 🫰🏻

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Sanaka Hiiragi for the advanced copy! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. "The Lantern of Lost Memories" in the English translation will be out on September, 17.

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a Japanese myth where Yomotsu Hirasaka is a slope or liminal place at the boundary between the living and the dead. In "The Lantern of Lost Memories" that space is located in Mr Hirasaka's photography studio. People go there soon after death and get to view photographs of their lives. They also have the opportunity to go back invisibly to view and take a photo of a special moment in their life before they go to the afterlife.

There are three interlocking tales about three very different people in this charming book. Mr Hirasaka is a patient, thoughtful guide when his patrons recall their memories, prompted by the photographs of their lives. It's a book that makes the reader think about memories, preserving our recollections in photos, and how the past makes us what we are today.

Small Japanese translated books have become very popular lately. I've seen them labeled as cozy reads, comfort reads, sentimental books, healing fiction, inspirational books, and "feel-good" reads. "The Lantern of Lost Memories" is one of the more enjoyable books of the genre.

[Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lantern of Lost Memories is for anyone who wants to feel hope during this time of madness in our world. I strongly recommend this one for those who read Japanese literature. I also believe that readers of Mitch Albom’s books that ponder the afterlife would enjoy it.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a creative and cozy exploration of the transition between our earthly and heavenly lives. There are three stories where characters transition to a type of transition station where they must choose one photograph from each year of their life to be projected as they pass on to heaven. This novel nudges readers to reflect on their lives, ponder questions, and take time to appreciate all that surrounds them.

Mr. Hirasaka is the caretaker of the photo studio that is the gateway between life and the afterlife. He has no memories or evidence of his life, except for one photograph. After greeting each person, he helps them select a camera and takes them back in time to capture a moment to add to their collection of memories/photographs to usher them to the afterlife.

The first story is about a nursery school teacher. This one stole my heart! The second story is about a mobster’s murder that is witnessed by a young man, the Mouse, who was taken in to repair objects as a front for the illegal activity. WOW! I did not expect to love this one as much as I did. The Mouse turns out to be the heart of the story, more so than the murdered man moving on to the afterlife. The third story is equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting. It is the soul of the novel. It captures the horrors of the world and the hope provided by everyday people.

There is something for everyone in The Lantern of Lost Memories. It made me want to walk in the world, take a hike, and reflect on life. It was a great reminder of all aspects of earthly life and provided an endearing view of transitioning from earthly to heavenly life.

[Ana Belén Carnero Villar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5 ⭐

Lectura del "marzo asiatico". Narración estilo japonesa, lenta, pausada en acción, descriptiva y detallada que se diferencia bastante de nuestro estilo más occidental donde se prima más la acción y los altibajos en la narrativa.

El libro se compone de tres bonitas historias que nos acercan a un estudio de fotografía regentado por Hirasaka donde, a través de Yama, el repartidor, llegan paquetes con fotografías y notas de las personas que van a llegar al estudio previo a su paso al otro mundo.

Así vemos en el estudio la historia de Hatsue, una anciana que fue maestra de infantil en la época de la posguerra, la historia de Waniguchi, un hombre de mala vida perteneciente a la yakuza y la dura historia de Mitsuru, una niña maltratada por su propia familia.

En el estudio las almas se encuentran en un espacio a medio camino entre el mundo de los vivos y el mundo de los muertos donde deberán elegir una foto por cada año vivido para conformar una linterna giratoria con los recuerdos de su vida y pasar así a lo que Hirasaka cree que es el Nirvana, ya que él no posee esa información.
Además viajarán como fantasmas a un determinado momento especial de su vida pasada y lo volverán a vivir haciendo una nueva fotografía que incorporarán a la linterna giratoria.

De hecho, Hirasaka no recuerda nada de su vida y vive a través de los que llegan al estudio sus vidas preguntándose mientras mira la única foto que tiene de lo que cree es su pasado quién fue y cómo llegó y se quedó allí en el estudio.

Me ha gustado los mensajes que dejan las historias aunque el estilo narrativo se me hace un tanto cuesta arriba 😅. De las tres historias, la mejor sin duda la última por lo que significa no solo para Mitsuru si no también para descubrir al verdadero Hirasaka

[Mizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm literally so satisfied right now! It was such a great and moving story, and I really hope I never forget it. Also, this book is my favorite Japanese book ever; and one of my favorite books of all time!

So basically, the story is set in this photo studio that people go to after they die, before moving on to the afterlife. And there’s this guy who kind of helps people through their death, and later on helps them revisit a moment from their past. So, they can die peacefully.

This book has three chapters, and each one tells a different story with a different character who meets Hirasaka—the guy who helps them move on—and each chapter packs a punch and hits you hard in the guts. Especially the last story, hence the way that the character dies? And not! If you’ve read the book, you would know what I mean.

One thing that I kind of wasn't a fan of—was the ending. I didn’t really understand it. I don’t know why the author made it so ambiguous—but even with that, the book is still amazing and phenomenal!

Also, this book was really emotional. Each chapter was full of teary moments. I didn’t cry as much as I was expecting, though. The first story got a few tears out of me but very minimal. Same with the second one, some tears, but still not so much. But the third one! That one was hard. I wanted to sob while reading it so badly, but I was around people, so I held back as much as I could. Even with that, some tears were shed!

So if you want to read an emotional book that also makes you reflect on life, and at the same time feels cozy and heartwarming, read this book.

[Habiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

لو قرأت قبل ان تبرد القهوة هتفهم المشاعر اللي هتحس بيها هنا ♥️
الرواية دافيه جداً وكانها كوباية شاي نعناع في البلكونة بتاعه جدتك بعد الساعة اربعه العصر كده ..

جميلة جداً والترجمة ممتازة واتمني يكون ليها جزء تاني وتكون سلسلة رايقه افصل بيها بعد الكتب الكبيرة ♥️🥹

[Miray ﾐﾗｲ · Rating 5 out of 5]

──The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
★★★★★
They say that at the time of death, life flashes before one's eyes. But in this book? It lingers. Mr Hirasaka's studio isn't just a place, it's a threshold between life and death. One last glance at life through memories—each one frozen in a single photo, one for each year of one's life.

I loved every moment of this book. It was raw, devastating, and just so hauntingly beautiful. And it's only 3 chapters long. Who thought a book this short would make my heart ache in ways I can't even explain?

"That’s the way it goes," said Hirasaka. "We have to let go of certain memories as we make our way through life."

Chapter 1—Hatsue's story was so damn beautiful, it moved me to the core. It’s one of those reminders that even when everything feels dark, there’s still that small flicker of hope.

Punch someone and the bruise goes away eventually. But if you destroy something that means the world to them, there’s no healing that wound.

Chapter 2—Waniguchi's story was my favourite. Proof that even broken people can leave behind hope—and still make a difference.

“If the man in her dream had taught her one thing above all else, it was hope. The ability to keep bouncing back. To keep raising her voice against the madness of the world.”

Chapter 3—The last story, and the most beautiful. Shattered my heart into a million pieces. Mr Hirasaka, the man you are. My heart aches for you. You deserve the whole damn world.

Mazin, thank you for recommending this book and ruining my emotional stability!
And forcing me to write this review. Love that for me.

—Hauntingly beautiful.
—Stunning prose.
—Raw and absolutely heart-wrenching.

[Książkomanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐

Bezapelacyjnie maksymalna możliwa ocena. Zakochałam się w każdym zdaniu, każdym słowie. A przede wszystkim w historiach, które ta książka opowiada. Na ostatnim (czyli 3) opowiadaniu ryczałam jak bóbr. Czuję, że ta książka na długo zostanie w mojej pamięci