Secondhand Memories by @Takatsu

Reviewed and recommended by I.

"Make as many memories as we can,
So we'll always remember and cherish it."

TAKATSU's Secondhand Memories takes the readers on a poignant journey exploring themes of love, emotions and sacrifice. It tells the tale of Seiji and Aoi, two childhood friends whose relationship has blossomed into a radiant love. Since their childhood, they have been inseparable. Riding on the one-way express of youth, nothing can stop them, the world is in their fingertips. A cruel turn of fate derails everything, changing them forever in a unimaginable way. Will Seiji and Aoi be able to overcome this harsh reality?

Secondhand Memories (shortened as SHM) is a first of its kind, English Cell Phone Novel. In the eyes of a typical english-speaking audience, the term (much less the genre itself) may be unfamiliar, with only a few honorable mentions in popular Japanese anime. The versatility of Japanese language enables authors to convey their feelings and emotions using only a few characters. The ability to translate this style of minimalism proves that it is even more difficult in English. TAKATSU's SHM demonstrates that it is possible. Using the same signature line breaks, white space and short length chapters, SHM proves to be a competent contender in the genre. Each and every chapter flows poetically, line breaks and enjambments give sentences the illusion of physical structure. Conversations are streamlined in a manner that make them straightforward to understand. Even when exploring more complex concepts, the stylization solidifies their relevance, something which many classical critics would deny to be possible.

From a literary point of view, it is easy to follow. The story is told through the aforementioned "CPN format" e.g short chapters with generally 200 words or less. It is told through a primary first person standpoint walking through the shoes of Seiji. Despite its initial (if not typical) beginning, SHM particularly shines in its narration. Even the best of literary works have difficulty in conveying what exactly is going on in a person's mind when something happens. TAKATSU shows an uncanny ability to do this, ranging from Seiji's thoughts about the hazy summer days spent with Aoi, or the complex expression of his fleeting happiness. The author is able to give us a transparent view into Seiji's young mind: his characteristic diction gives SHM a feeling of authenticity that is closely related to our youth whether it is the excitement of a birthday party, or the embarrassment a person feels when they hold the hand of someone they love for the first time.

TAKATSU's Secondhand Memories truly sticks to its title, lending us vivid snapshots into the lives of two people in love, and what they must do in order to protect it. SHM is a beautiful trailblazer in its genre, providing moments for the rapidly growing Cell Phone Novel movement. It is a work that will always be remembered and cherished.