Japan's touching and heartwarming work of the year
A book that makes you laugh, cry, and gain strength...
What everyone does has the potential to brighten someone else's life
33-year-old Umino Shizuku suffers from a serious illness that is absolutely incurable. Shizuku didn't even tell her father, the only relative in the world, so she took a few necessary items and chose the Lion House, a sanatorium on Lemon Island in the Seto Inland Sea, as her last residence.
Every Sunday is snack day at the Lion House. Everyone living here can propose the snacks they want to eat in the last moments of their lives. Only Shizuku has not made a choice. Bean curds, coriander, apple pie, peony cake, every snack is connected with a precious memory. Finally, Shizuku finally plucked up the courage to write "thousand-layer crepe", which was the first dessert she made for her father and the first birthday gift she gave to him.
Reader comments
When there is not much left in life, what attitude should we take to face the rest of our lives? In a gentle and healing way, Ogawa tells people how to face their hearts directly, even if it is cowardice or desire, and cherish the remaining life with a sincere and calm attitude, even if it is not without pain and misfortune. The plain narrative in the story is like a slowly flowing river infiltrating people's hearts and bringing them endless reveries about life. In the last days of his life, Umino Shizuku witnessed the death of other people in the Lion House, and accepted the fact that he would also leave, trying to reconcile with himself and his relatives, feeling the real joy and pain, and welcoming the end of life calmly, which made people feel warm. At the end of the story, the events after Umino Shizuku's death are narrated from the perspectives of different people. The simple writing style is evocative and thoughtful. Perhaps, as the story says, after death, people will turn into sunshine to illuminate others. I hope that we can all warm others in another way after we leave.
It's really beautiful! I had deep feelings after reading it, because in 2021, when I was 16 years old, I was also diagnosed with cancer, stage four lymphoma. But, I'm lucky. After 8 months of chemotherapy + bone marrow transplant, I finally recovered. When I was sick, I looked forward to the day of recovery all the time, and prayed every day that I could continue to live. This book reminded me of that time, and unlike the main character, I eventually beat cancer. This book makes me more grateful and cherish the time I have now
From the anxiety on the way to the Lion House to the stability after becoming an important member of the Lion House, Shizuku saw many beautiful things outside the world and food full of meanings, the Shino sisters' views on peony cakes, and the proud teacher's apple. Fruit pies, as well as the outstanding grapes grown by Tianyang Dijun in the sunshine, as well as tofu flowers, the sea, and the breeze nourished Xiao Shizuku, bringing her closer and closer to her true nature, and at the same time soothed us who are helpless in this overloaded world [Air kiss] [Air kiss] [Air kiss]
"So, as I said before, death is the highest level of orgasm." Say you like things you like; say you are disgusted with things you hate. God kissed me tenderly and said: "At least in the end, take off the shackles of your soul."
Kaneyoshi Yoshida said in "The In vain": "Everything is unreal, not enough to express, not enough to wish for." After watching The Lion House, I don't know why this time I don't have the feeling of loss that I felt when I finished reading a book and a movie. In fact, it is there, but it's just very weak, so I don't have it.
Maybe it's because this book is also light. It clearly tells what happened from the perspective of a person who is about to die, but it is so gentle and bright. After reading it, I will not remember the pain of death, but only the expectations, life, and snacks. Like Shizuku, I think about the weekly afternoon tea time at the Lion House, the scenery of the grape fields, about Lemon Island, the sea, loneliness and death, and I feel that the dead are like shooting stars or a beam of light at sunset, sliding across the sky.
Everyone has a different understanding of death.
Madonna thought that death might be the highest level of orgasm; some people thought that death had stepped out of time; some people thought that death was just accompanying us in another form... Death is everywhere, and we are welcoming it from the moment we open our eyes. Unable to prevent certain death, can we only wait? Or what?
Before death, after the past has passed, standing at a certain node in the long river of time, you must cherish the present. Don't wait until there are no flowers and break branches.
Compared with many popular online literature nowadays, the writing style is indeed the great charm of this novel. In the dead of night, I cried while reading, which gave me a little motivation to savor the things around me, who did not have a strong will to survive. "A beautiful arrival is enough to rival a fulfilling life." I hope that I can also have a wonderful time.
Thank you for your hard work, Shizuku. You have tried your best to live your life for a long time.
"Breathe misfortune into your heart, then exhale it as gratitude, and your life will eventually shine."
The content of this book allows me to see, through the lines of text, the process of a living and healthy person moving towards another life journey. It turns out that they are not completely miserable in their hearts. Summarizing all their lives, they only have sincere gratitude for life.
We are so small in front of life. Since we are helpless about the end of life, then use the abilities we still have to live well.
She chose mille-feuille crepes as the last snack, which reminded me of the scene when I made a cake for my dad. We all love family~ The Sunday Dessert Day in the book is also very warm, everyone shares snacks and talks about past stories. Just like when we get together with friends, warm and happy. I think this book made me appreciate the time I spend with my family and friends more.
In the House of the Lion, listen to loved ones whisper goodbye.
We all hoped for a miracle to happen, but the miracle did not come in the end. She passed away anyway. She lived quite well in her last days, didn't she? It was great to have Madonna and her friends from the Lion House with her. I still feel that just being alive is a miracle.
Living is a difficult thing, so love yourself with a smile, treat others with a smile, and be happy with a smile
To live, you must eat well and face life calmly.
The language and plot are as plain as running water, telling the story of cancer patient Umino Shizuku's experience in the Lion House. In her interactions with fellow patients, her heart was healed time and time again, and she gained the courage to face the end of her life. This also made me understand: life is never a measurable yardstick, but a process of experiencing beauty with heart.
Warmth, softness, slowly caressing the heart. My thoughts were calm and peaceful, and I experienced a soothing spa with the author and translator, and I still had so much to say. Life is not about length, it is about beauty.
Don't read this book in public, because you can't cry when you're moved.
After reading it, it feels like the story has come to a complete conclusion. I hope Ms. Shizuku can be happy there, and everyone who has finished reading the book can also be happy [Love]
Everything is wrong, not enough to say, not enough to wish for.
As mentioned at the end of the article, this book is suitable for a quiet place late at night, with no sound of music, no buzzing of insects, and no complexity, so you can chew and savor it carefully.
Following the slowly flowing words, we finally get to the true meaning of life and death. The living can die and the dead can live. The cessation of the pulse is not the only criterion for defining death.
A very good book. Recommended by a friend. I read it in one sitting. I really hope that everyone can spend their last days peacefully in a place like the Lion's House.
A book that keeps pace with the times. The author's writing style is very good.
A tearful book, very meaningful
A very warm book... It feels like drinking a cup of warm coffee. The attitude about death in the book is eye-catching. The warm and ordinary daily life is really very healing.
How to truly understand death, and what is the meaning of death?
This book unfolds with a warm time before the death of the protagonist. There are several desserts. Each dessert has a story. It is very heartwarming❤️[almost crying][almost crying][almost crying]
It is a very heart-warming book. Although I am not very young, I still understand the meaning of death. It turns out that the most precious thing is the ordinary and happy daily life. I will cherish every moment.
A very good short story about facing death. There are also memories, emotions and food that contain both in the story. You can take a look at it.
This is a very touching book. It expresses the sadness of Xiao Shizuku's death and the moment when she wants to work hard to live~
I have a question, is there a real soul after death? And why are they all relieved?
When there is not much left in life, what attitude should we take to face the rest of our lives? In a gentle and healing way, Ogawa tells people how to face their hearts directly, even if it is cowardice or desire, and cherish the remaining life with a sincere and calm attitude, even if it is not without pain and misfortune. The plain narrative in the story is like a slowly flowing river infiltrating people's hearts and bringing them endless reveries about life. In the last days of his life, Umino Shizuku witnessed the death of other people in the Lion House, and accepted the fact that he would also leave, trying to reconcile with himself and his relatives, feeling the real joy and pain, and welcoming the end of life calmly, which made people feel warm. At the end of the story, the events after Umino Shizuku's death are narrated from the perspectives of different people. The simple writing style is evocative and thoughtful. Perhaps, as the story says, after death, people will turn into sunshine to illuminate others. I hope that we can all warm others in another way after we leave.
It's really beautiful! I had deep feelings after reading it, because in 2021, when I was 16 years old, I was also diagnosed with cancer, stage four lymphoma. But, I'm lucky. After 8 months of chemotherapy + bone marrow transplant, I finally recovered. When I was sick, I looked forward to the day of recovery all the time, and prayed every day that I could continue to live. This book reminded me of that time, and unlike the main character, I eventually beat cancer. This book makes me more grateful and cherish the time I have now
From the anxiety on the way to the Lion House to the stability after becoming an important member of the Lion House, Shizuku saw many beautiful things outside the world and food full of meanings, the Shino sisters' views on peony cakes, and the proud teacher's apple. Fruit pies, as well as the outstanding grapes grown by Tianyang Dijun in the sunshine, as well as tofu flowers, the sea, and the breeze nourished Xiao Shizuku, bringing her closer and closer to her true nature, and at the same time soothed us who are helpless in this overloaded world [Air kiss] [Air kiss] [Air kiss]
"So, as I said before, death is the highest level of orgasm." Say you like things you like; say you are disgusted with things you hate. God kissed me tenderly and said: "At least in the end, take off the shackles of your soul."
Kaneyoshi Yoshida said in "The In vain": "Everything is unreal, not enough to express, not enough to wish for." After watching The Lion House, I don't know why this time I don't have the feeling of loss that I felt when I finished reading a book and a movie. In fact, it is there, but it's just very weak, so I don't have it. Maybe it's because this book is also light. It clearly tells what happened from the perspective of a person who is about to die, but it is so gentle and bright. After reading it, I will not remember the pain of death, but only the expectations, life, and snacks. Like Shizuku, I think about the weekly afternoon tea time at the Lion House, the scenery of the grape fields, about Lemon Island, the sea, loneliness and death, and I feel that the dead are like shooting stars or a beam of light at sunset, sliding across the sky. Everyone has a different understanding of death. Madonna thought that death might be the highest level of orgasm; some people thought that death had stepped out of time; some people thought that death was just accompanying us in another form... Death is everywhere, and we are welcoming it from the moment we open our eyes. Unable to prevent certain death, can we only wait? Or what? Before death, after the past has passed, standing at a certain node in the long river of time, you must cherish the present. Don't wait until there are no flowers and break branches.
Compared with many popular online literature nowadays, the writing style is indeed the great charm of this novel. In the dead of night, I cried while reading, which gave me a little motivation to savor the things around me, who did not have a strong will to survive. "A beautiful arrival is enough to rival a fulfilling life." I hope that I can also have a wonderful time. Thank you for your hard work, Shizuku. You have tried your best to live your life for a long time.
"Breathe misfortune into your heart, then exhale it as gratitude, and your life will eventually shine."
The content of this book allows me to see, through the lines of text, the process of a living and healthy person moving towards another life journey. It turns out that they are not completely miserable in their hearts. Summarizing all their lives, they only have sincere gratitude for life. We are so small in front of life. Since we are helpless about the end of life, then use the abilities we still have to live well.
She chose mille-feuille crepes as the last snack, which reminded me of the scene when I made a cake for my dad. We all love family~ The Sunday Dessert Day in the book is also very warm, everyone shares snacks and talks about past stories. Just like when we get together with friends, warm and happy. I think this book made me appreciate the time I spend with my family and friends more.
In the House of the Lion, listen to loved ones whisper goodbye.
We all hoped for a miracle to happen, but the miracle did not come in the end. She passed away anyway. She lived quite well in her last days, didn't she? It was great to have Madonna and her friends from the Lion House with her. I still feel that just being alive is a miracle.
Living is a difficult thing, so love yourself with a smile, treat others with a smile, and be happy with a smile
To live, you must eat well and face life calmly.
The language and plot are as plain as running water, telling the story of cancer patient Umino Shizuku's experience in the Lion House. In her interactions with fellow patients, her heart was healed time and time again, and she gained the courage to face the end of her life. This also made me understand: life is never a measurable yardstick, but a process of experiencing beauty with heart.
Warmth, softness, slowly caressing the heart. My thoughts were calm and peaceful, and I experienced a soothing spa with the author and translator, and I still had so much to say. Life is not about length, it is about beauty.
Don't read this book in public, because you can't cry when you're moved.
After reading it, it feels like the story has come to a complete conclusion. I hope Ms. Shizuku can be happy there, and everyone who has finished reading the book can also be happy [Love]
Everything is wrong, not enough to say, not enough to wish for.
As mentioned at the end of the article, this book is suitable for a quiet place late at night, with no sound of music, no buzzing of insects, and no complexity, so you can chew and savor it carefully.
Following the slowly flowing words, we finally get to the true meaning of life and death. The living can die and the dead can live. The cessation of the pulse is not the only criterion for defining death.
A very good book. Recommended by a friend. I read it in one sitting. I really hope that everyone can spend their last days peacefully in a place like the Lion's House.
A book that keeps pace with the times. The author's writing style is very good.
A tearful book, very meaningful
A very warm book... It feels like drinking a cup of warm coffee. The attitude about death in the book is eye-catching. The warm and ordinary daily life is really very healing.
How to truly understand death, and what is the meaning of death?
This book unfolds with a warm time before the death of the protagonist. There are several desserts. Each dessert has a story. It is very heartwarming❤️[almost crying][almost crying][almost crying]
It is a very heart-warming book. Although I am not very young, I still understand the meaning of death. It turns out that the most precious thing is the ordinary and happy daily life. I will cherish every moment.
A very good short story about facing death. There are also memories, emotions and food that contain both in the story. You can take a look at it.
This is a very touching book. It expresses the sadness of Xiao Shizuku's death and the moment when she wants to work hard to live~
I have a question, is there a real soul after death? And why are they all relieved?