If you are interested in reading volume two, make sure to check out the offshoot bookclub!
We are reading the first volume of 夜カフェ as the Beginner Book Club!.
This thread is for chapter related discussion. We are reading together from the aforementioned date on, but this thread will be kept open mu~ch longer (like 10 years longer). So don’t be shy to ask questions even if you are late to the party
Vocabulary List
Feel free to add any words you looked up as well! Page numbers may be off by one or two because of differences between physical and digital editions, but we try to keep the words roughly in order of appearance
The book is also available over at koohi.cafe (formerly known as floflo).
Discussion Guidelines
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Happy to say I’ve finally reached the end! It really was a fast read (when I’m not looking up words and don’t have Tan-chan grabbing my book) with the last 3 chapters taking about 2 hours.
The story didn’t seem like much but the lessons we get from Auntie Aiko and the wholesomeness of some scenes makes it worth reading til the end (and pushing through the handicraft jargon).
If you want to build your Japanese school life vocabulary or you’re raising a kid in Japan and you want a peek into the life and struggles of preteens, this book is useful for those things.
But if you are less of a slice of life fan and looking for more fantasy-esque or even more romantic-centered read, then this isn’t really the book (but check out about 5 volumes into the series for more of the latter ).
If you don’t have a real preference for a genre and you’re just looking to get your feet wet in the (light) novel genre if you only have experience with manga, then this is really that book to help you with that transition!
I personally have trouble reading when people are talking (regardless if it’s in my native language or not), but even with the teachers being loud and having a merry old time in the staff room, I didn’t have any problems reading and following the dialogue and events in the last few chapters. I think the author did an excellent job in making the prose as accessible as possible so literally anyone can read it.
I just finished it, realise I’m a bit late but wanted to thank everyone here for the recommendation. It was quite a fast read (when I was actually reading) and therefore this got me over my hurdle of “finishing a whole book in Japanese”.
So thanks everyone!
I will tackle 時をかける少女 next as it’s been on my Kindle since forever.
あとがき (Beginner Book Club)
Too hard? Too boring?)
).