Hi everyone, the next thread is live and this week we’re reading the 十一月 chapter! This also means that we are nearing the end of this volume, so at the bottom this post you can find two proposals for the schedule for volume 2 and some polls about how to continue, so please vote!
Here are two proposals for the schedule for the 下巻 volume. Page numbers are based on the physical Bunko version. For comparison: for the 上巻 volume, we had 4 weeks that were 20 pages or shorter, 10 weeks between 20 and 30 pages and two weeks that were 30 pages or longer. My proposed schedules go a bit faster than that.
Schedule A: faster (12 or 13 weeks), respects chapter transitions
With this schedule most weeks will be close to 30 pages with one 34 page section and chapter endings correspond with the reading schedule. We could read the epilogue in the last week (which would then be quite long) or in a separate week: I will create a separate poll for that.
Week
Start page
Number of pages
Remarks
1
10
24
First half 一月 chapter
2
34
34
Long, but finishes the 一月 chapter
3
68
31
First half 二月 chapter
4
99
25
Second half 二月 chapter
5
124
26
Start of 三月 chapter
6
150
32
Longish, but a few pages with less text
7
182
29
8
211
30
Some pages with very little text
9
241
29
10
270
28
Finishes 三月 chapter
11
298
30
First half of 閉城 chapter
12
328
27
Second half of 閉城 chapter
12/13
355
10
エピローグ (see separate poll)
Schedule B: a bit slower (14 weeks), fewer 30 page weeks
With this schedule, the page count per week is a little lower, but the chapter endings will just fall in the middle of the weeks.
Week
Start page
Number of pages
Remarks
1
10
24
Start of 一月 chapter
2
34
24
3
58
30
The 二月 chapter starts in the middle of this week
4
88
28
5
116
25
The 三月 chapter starts in the middle of this week
6
141
31
7
172
31
8
193
26
9
219
23
10
242
22
11
264
30
Some pages with very little text
12
294
24
The 閉城 chapter starts in the middle of this week
13
318
21
14
339
26
End of 閉城 chapter + エピローグ
Will you be reading the second volume with us?
Yes
No
I’ll (probably) read it behind schedule
I’ve already finished the book
0voters
Do you prefer to take a break?
No
Yes, a one-week break
I’m fine either way
Other (please specify)
0voters
Do you have a preference for the schedule?
I prefer schedule A (12 or 13 weeks; respects chapter transitions)
I prefer schedule B (14 weeks; fewer 30 page weeks)
I’m fine with either schedule
Other (please specify)
0voters
What should we do with the epilogue (9 pages)?
I chose schedule A and I want to read it together with the last section in the same week (37 pages total)
I chose schedule B and I want to read it together with the last section in the same week (26 pages total)
I want to read it in a separate week if we go with schedule A or in the last week if we go with schedule B
I want to read it in a separate week at the end regardless of the schedule that we choose
It was only a matter of time, but the book is getting an anime film adaption for “winter 2022”. I use air quotes because I usually think of “winter” in anime seasons as being from January through March, meaning it’s winter 2022 right now. But I guess it means towards the end of this year.
Yay!! I’m really loving this book, so it will just be 1.5 years of 鏡の孤城。In between book and movie, I’m planning to listen to the audiobook, so there’s plenty to fill the time.
Ha, I was originally thinking I might listen to the audiobook sometime this year (despite not liking audio only media in general), but now I’m thinking I should watch the movie first and then listen to the audiobook afterwards. In theory, my listening skills should be much better by then (I’m still watching anime without English subs for listening practice) and then if the movie is a bad adaption (hopefully not though!) I can enjoy the original version again. From the preview of the audiobook it seems like it’s well cast and well produced, so I wonder if they’ll use the same seiyuu for the film.
The audiobook is fantastic - it’s closer to a radio drama than a simple narration. Good acting, nice small touches for audio effects, perfect editing (no random repeated sentences like my current book suffers a bit from…). Someone else in the Read Everyday Thread (@sycamore I think?) also listened (is listening?) to it and IIRC likes it as well.
Me too! I’m trying so hard to get to the point where I can listen to Japanese audiobooks, but I’m still not nearly there. It takes so much active focus even for basic comprehension that I’m probably still years away from getting to the point where they can fill the roll that English audiobooks do.
See, the reason I don’t like audiobooks (or podcasts) is that they always require active focus for me, including in English. My mind wanders easily, so if it’s something I actually care about I’d just end up having to pause and rewind anyway. Granted, I haven’t tried much to overcome this issue, but that’s why I usually don’t bother with them.
I’m only tempted in this case because the book was so good and because the audiobook is really well made.
I love audiobooks but have yet to find a podcast I like, including in English. Can’t stand them actually - something about them rubs me the wrong way. Or rubs my ears the wrong way, would be a better way to put it.
I go for walks while listening to audiobooks - the scenery and movement allows me to sink into the story better because it takes up that empty space that can be distracting. Might help? No worries if not.
You might be surprised. My listening comprehension was pretty terrible until I decided to really focus in on it last year. So long as your vocabulary is wide enough and you’re not tackling anything with crazy grammar you might find yourself leveling up quite quickly compared to the time it takes to become proficient in reading. I suppose because in a way then you’re just unlocking a new aspect of something you already know, rather than tackling it all from scratch.
The week 15 thread is live! This week we are reading the first half of the 十二月 chapter and that also means that there is only one more week to go for the first volume after this!
An update about the polls: it looks like we’ll be going with schedule A and we will be taking a one week break. I will probably put the full schedule up in the OP sometime next week.
@wiersm Right now the “read aloud” schedule here in the home thread and in the weekly threads are not in sync. Specifically, they are based on different time zones and daylight savings time for those time zones differs by two weeks. I’ll talk to everyone participating in the read aloud tomorrow and let you know what time zone we want to base it on so you can update it accordingly. Also just as a heads up, we will likely shift it slightly for the second part of the book.
We decided to ignore the US daylight savings time, so the read aloud will only change for me. I’ll update the OP here to use the same timezone as the threads.
We will start volume 2 on March 19th (so there’s a one week break between volumes 1 and 2) and the last week will be the week of June 4th.
I’ve included page numbers for the physical bunko in the table and end phrases for those who are reading digitally. If any of you are reading the physical Tankobon version and would like your page numbers to be included in the table, you can put them in a comment and I’ll add them (or add them yourself if you prefer).
Note that some weeks end on a blank line in the text because I couldn’t find a fleur-de-lis at an appropriate spot, so for each end page I’ve indicated whether we end on a chapter transition (月), fleur-de-lis () or blank line (*).
I’ve tried to double-check it all, but if there are any typos, let me know .
Probably not? We’ve been at the current time the entire book, and no other time would work for both me (East coast U.S.) and Kyasurin (Western Australia). Or do you mean a second group/time? There may not be enough additional people interested for that to work, but you’re welcome to ask.
You all ready for a laugh? This is the description of the manga adaption of かがみの孤城 from AniList. I suspect it was completely machine translated.
Summary
At the age of thirteen Kokoro spends the days in his room, entrusting to the buzz of television with the task of appeasing the thoughts and the noises of life outside. From when things at school are made too difficult,so he decided to respond to the discomfort and pain. Disappearing.
Until the day a sudden light in the mirror kidnaps her to drag it elsewhere: in a castle inhabited by a strange little Girl and six guys who, like you, have lost something.
The innocence of dreams. The instructions for live. The courage that is needed to accept themselves. Only in accepting the challenge that the Girl from the face of the wolf offers them, Kokoro and the others will be able to find out what has brought them this far. And find each in its own way, the way of the world.
) or blank line (*).
.
