RaveAsian Review of BooksEven though Hiro and Aki remember key events from their own distinct vantage points, they come to a new understanding of their past and the secrets that have been hidden from them...Throughout the book, Onda repeatedly returns to images of clocks, alluding to the complex associations between time and memory...The only remaining object in their apartment is an expensive photo frame with a timepiece...Looking at it, they imagine how their story could have turned out differently...Then focusing their attention to a snapshot from the hike, they consider which emotions shine through—grief or joy, frustration or love...After all, memories, like photos, can be seen through different filters...While some memories swim to the surface easily, some are distorted by time, and others do their best to remain buried...Ultimately, Onda’s novel centers on uncovering deeper aspects of the past, and readers won’t be able to stop reading until the solution comes to light.
