[Now voting!] Intermediate Japanese Book Club // Now Reading: 変な家

[seanblue]

There’s several notes in there about the nomination being for the beginner book club.

[jprspereira]

@neicul

I thought you said you never read Harry Potter

I had to google to get the reference

And I haven’t. I gave him the name “Hermes” because of the Greek God. My other dog is Kronos

[Radish8]

Yeah, that looks like the one nomination I could probably manage at the moment. So long as it wins at some point within the next year I don’t mind when

[seanblue]

If it doesn’t win I’m gonna pull a 時をかける少女 and threaten to read it on my own.

[neicul]

Fixed it I guess

[seanblue]

Some of it at least.

@neicul

That being said, reading the sample I posted below, I think people around N3 should be fine on their own, so it would be challenging at N4, but that’s what makes it a good learning target for the club, I think.

[Naphthalene]

@neicul

(and soon Kitsun)

This is new.

@neicul

100% copy paste from @Naphthalene’s post with some adjustments

I see!

[Naphthalene]

@seanblue

Some of it at least.

@neicul

That being said, reading the sample I posted below, I think people around N3 should be fine on their own, so it would be challenging at N4, but that’s what makes it a good learning target for the club, I think.

@neicul Change the N3 into N2 and N4 into N3, and we’re all set!

[neicul]

I already changed quite some stuff after that comment but specially for you, here goes!

[Naphthalene]

what have I done.

[QuackingShoe]

It actually sounds like a fun enough story, it was just funny in context

[QuackingShoe]

I’ve been wanting to watch this show, with no real place I want to watch it, so oooh!
although I have a bias against books that start chapter one with a lengthy description of a female character. Though that seems to be the majority of them. Haruhi only waits like 6 pages : p

[Naphthalene]

@QuackingShoe

although I have a bias against books that start chapter one with a lengthy description of a female character.

Depends on the description. But this one, yeah, not exactly optimal, to say the least.

[Ditto20]

@Naphthalene

@QuackingShoe

although I have a bias against books that start chapter one with a lengthy description of a female character.

Depends on the description. But this one, yeah, not exactly optimal, to say the least.

Yeah, I’m obviously just judging by the anime since I haven’t read the book, but I can say that there’s a reason for why I mentioned this part:

@ditto20

Not the kind of story the title made me think it would be

I don’t know if the book will be exactly the same as the anime though.

@QuackingShoe

although I have a bias against books that start chapter one with a lengthy description of a female character. Though that seems to be the majority of them.

I think SAO, the Sayaka light novel, and the rwby light novel are some of the only Japanese books I have that don’t do this, so that definitely seems to be true.

[QuackingShoe]

I’m waiting for the promised day to come, when a work can be marketed toward young Japanese men but have the confidence that it doesn’t need to titilate them to be read.
I may wait a long time.

[Naphthalene]

@ditto20

I think SAO, the Sayaka light novel, and the rwby light novel are some of the only Japanese books I have that don’t do this, so that definitely seems to be true.

@QuackingShoe

’m waiting for the promised day to come, when a work can be marketed toward young Japanese men but have the confidence that it doesn’t need to titilate them to be read.
I may wait a long time.

I have read many books that do not do that, but they aren’t targeted toward the same audience, I guess.

[Ditto20]

For what it’s worth, the author of SAO said in a recent interview that he was trying to move away from such things in his newer books. (He just mentioned it in passing though, he spent most of the interview trying to convince SAO fans reading the interview to also read yagakimi)

[QuackingShoe]

@Vanilla

since I think taking nearly half a year to read one book is a bit long >_>

I feel this. Feels like I’ll be done with WaniKani by the time we finish a book here

[Iwasneverhere]

夜市 (Night market)

Summary

日本語

妖怪たちが様々な品物を売る不思議な市場「夜市」。ここでは望むものが何でも手に入る。小学生の時に夜市に迷い込んだ裕司は、自分の弟と引き換えに「野球の才能」を買った。野球部のヒーローとして成長した裕司だったが、弟を売ったことに罪悪感を抱き続けてきた。そして今夜、弟を買い戻すため、裕司は再び夜市を訪れた――。奇跡的な美しさに満ちた感動のエンディング！ 魂を揺さぶる、日本ホラー小説大賞受賞作。

English

A mysterious city where ghosts sell various items, “Night market”. Here you can obtain any item you want. When he was an elementary school student, Yuuji got lost in the market, in exchange for his own little brother, he brought “Baseball Talent”. Yuuji grew as the baseball club’s hero, but he continued to feel guilty about selling his brother. So tonight in order to buy his brother back he visits Night market again.
A miraculously beautiful and moving ending. It shakes the soul, and won the prize for number one horror in Japan. (let me know if you can write a better translation, or actually find one.)

Availability

夜市 (角川ホラー文庫) | 恒川 光太郎 | 日本の小説・文芸 | Kindleストア | Amazon

Personal Opinion

Short, interesting, and made by the same author who wrote autumn prison which we enjoyed very much. There’s also an audiobook that you can buy to read and listen along to. Might help increase your reading speed.

Pros and Cons for the Book Club

Pros

• Short
• Interesting
• Audiobook available

Cons

• ??

Pictures

Difficulty Poll

How much effort would you need to read this book?

• No effort at all
• Minimal effort
• Just right
• Challenging
• Impossible, even with everyone’s help
• I don’t know (please click this if you’re not voting seriously)

[seanblue]

@QuackingShoe

涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱

I am learning 憂 right now on my level. Maybe it’s a sign.