I spent most of the day reading それでも歩は寄せてくる. Lots of chores had to be abandoned for the sake of it, can’t be helped though. The story actually develops (!) I wasn’t expecting that and I’m all enthralled. It had so many precious moments so far that I’ve lost count.
I’m halfway through the fourth book still a whole volume behind the book club but I definitely made incredible progress today.
At the moment I’m totally exhausted, my head’s heavy, and my brain is in shutdown mode. Note to self, [in goofy’s voice] don’t do it again like that.
I took a break from 博士の愛した数式 and read an article: ｢価格転嫁｣ができない日本企業の語らざる本音 to expand my vocabulary related to economics. I’m not very knowledgeable about the topic, so beside learning Japanese I had an opportunity to educate myself in this area too. Encountering words I learned recently on WK in a different context was also satisfying.
Where a lord is looking for an interesting rare thing, turns out the thing that captures his interest the most is a huge turnip.
Japanese found in the tall grass
New Things
お触れ「おふれ」ー Official notice; proclamation issued by the shogunate to the general people (Edo era) ちっとも ー Not at all; not a bit; not in the least. Mega-rare kanji form: 些とも, never seen that kanji before. 荷車「にぐるま」ー Cart; wagon
New Kanji form! 蕪「かぶ」ー Turnip. Also can be read as: かぶら; かぶな.
Usually I just wait for 3 days to pass to get access to the three parts that make up a chapter, but this chapter was intriguing so I used points to get access to the remaining parts immediately.
絶叫学級 転生 5 (page 105 of 168)
The most interesting part was the protagonist being a college student versus the normal ES/JHS/HS or children protagonists. The rest of the chapter was literally just o_0 I slightly regret using my points lol
授業 21「追われる者」単語
光景 こうけい scene; spectacle; sight; view
よそる to serve; to dish up; to dish out
弱気 よわき timid; weak-kneed; fainthearted
からかう to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid; to joke; to banter; to pull someone’s leg
いい様にする いいようにする to do as one wishes; to act as one wills
けなげ 健気 admirable; commendable; praiseworthy; laudable; brave; heroic; noble; courageous
通報 つうほう report; notification; tip; bulletin
借主 かりぬし tenant; lessee; renter
Yay! That’s what we like to hear! It might help to read things you’re really interested in. That way, even if the level is a little on the advanced side for you, at least you have the motivation to read it making it feel less intimidating.
For me, 佐賀のがばいおばあちゃん is a bit past my level, but I know it’s the kind of material I want to read so I push through it when I have time. Plus, the added challenge means I’ll be able to work through more books at that level a little more easily.
If you write your favorite genres (detective fiction, nonfiction, etc.) or interests (Japanese history, animals, etc.), I’m sure someone can help you out!
I finished the second chapter of 夜カフェ today, reading about 10 pages.
Grammar-wise I was able to read it without much difficulty, but I still had to look up quite a bit of vocabulary. I can feel my reading getting a little smoother each week though as I’m adjusting to reading prose instead of just manga though
I won’t continue with the other volumes of this manga because it’s not really my thing. The characters are kinda nice (I did get a little attached to them over time) and I like all the cooking, but the gags and the drawing style don’t really do it for me.
I wanted to finish it now (a little ahead of the book club) because I want to move on to デスノート ・ Death Note 📓 Vol. 2
Read a story about 野口英世, a Japanese bacteriologist who discovered the agent of syphilis. I found it charming how the story mostly talked about his motivation to help others by becoming a doctor, because of the surgeon who helped him restore his badly burned hand.
Read chapter 7 of 夜カフェ today, and since I calculated that I’ll almost definitely finish it in less than two weeks, I went ahead and ordered the next one. I don’t know if I’ll want to keep reading immediately, but I want to be prepared just in case!
Also, last night I picked up それでも歩は寄せてくる again. There was an 運動会 that I was avoiding reading (because the language suddenly became much more difficult for me), but I got through it, and remembered again how cute and sweet and fun this manga is.
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Ooh, I’m glad to hear that!
Congratulations! And thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for the review of this book! It makes me definitely want to read it. You also sent me on a browsing spree through aoitori, and now I’m not sure what to order next because there are just so many options! Werewolves …? Fairies …? Fox girls who hang out at the library …? Cinderella and the mean butler …? And the list goes on.
Was a bit more lazy than I wanted this weekend but whatever. Still read every day.
What I did the last week:
Week 3 for Yoru Cafe BBC
Week 5+6 for Happiness ABBC
Week 1 for Saga IBC
Around half a volume of Slam Dunk (6¹/₂/20 volumes down)
6 Nhk Easy articles
Some cross reading from the Freebees thread to see if theres something interesting I would like to add ( それは霊の仕業です seemed fun&ecchi)
Started Chapter 8 of Tobira (this is where I didn’t do as much as I would have liked)
Next week I want to basically continue exactly the same. Especially Week 2 for Saga IBC is next on my agenda. With easter coming up I’ll see how much time I can actually dedicate to other reading material since I’m going to visit my family over the weekend.
The flowers above the “Day #” links to my post for the previous day, and the flowers below link to the next day, except for the latest day ofc, they link somewhere special
Finished 3rd day in a row! Finished よつばと！ chapter 8. There’s still a lot of stuff that I dont understand, but I guess that comes with time. Even though I feel like I only get around 50%, it is still very enjoyable and I’m looking forward to finish chapter 9 tomorrow.
Finished chapter seven. I really like the sizes of these chapters. Not too long for a tiny read. Still requires a bit effort with all the lookups, though.
Thoughts: We learn that Maomao is a mad scientist! In the pursuit of knowledge about medicinal plants she used herself as test subject - by hurting herself and then applying stuff on the wounds. She also seems to be very bored with her new job, not much for her to do. Even I’d be bored if I were her. Also randomly had to attend a meeting between Gyokuyou and Jinshi, talking about uncomfortable stuff. I hope Maomao gets something more interesting to do.
Word of the day: 顔
for having the archaic reading かんばせ in the furigana
Also enough through 三毛猫to join in some spoiler chat haha.
三毛猫 spoiler chat
I also 100% agree with this! I feel like they did a lot at the start to set him up as the worst possible detective and then since the case started he’s been pretty competent and unfazed by the things he’s meant to be phased by. It’s still a fun read but kind of odd/cheap as you say.
Thank you for the kind words! I’ve definitely been trying to keep things interesting, even when I started reading last year. The first game I played was the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon remake on the Switch, since I knew I’d enjoy that! I’m also having a great time with Ace Attorney (and feeling very grateful for all the law vocabulary Wanikani taught me in the 20s).
I think it’s just a matter of finding that sweet spot - something moderately difficult, but also really interesting. I’m glad you’ve been able to strike that balance for yourself!
I’d love to get recommendations, actually. Thank you for suggesting that. If anyone has any ideas for me, I’d be very happy to receive them.
As for genres I like… For manga I’m mostly into really good josei (think Nana and Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa) and BL (I’d list mangakas but I’ve read So much). When gaming, I prefer rpgs and story heavy games. That’s probably also why I like visual novels. Now that I think about it, I think I’ve seen a list of otome games ranked by their difficulty floating around…
三毛猫ホームズ speculation (having read up to chapter 2.4)
Theories in reply, probable spoilers but I avoided names
The first description of him is on page 68. Doesn’t that sound a bit like the way the killer is described at the beginning? Also, we’ve been hearing here and there that he’s tired from having done something the night before, or he was on some kind of short trip. Then in chap 2.4, we meet his wife, and she definitely thinks something is up with him. The conversation with his wife seemed like a big flag to me, so big that maybe 赤川 is playing with us and it’ll turn out that he just has a gambling problem or something.
Although… When I just re-read the descriptions of the two murders, are these actually the same guy, or was the second one (p 122) a copycat? In the first one we’re told that he looks like a super ordinary salaryman. The second one has a nice coat and seems handsome and gentlemanly-looking, like, say, the guy on page 150. The second girl knows that a murder happened but it’s inconceivable to her that this guy did it, so maybe she does recognize him. Is 「でも管理人はー」something that a person from outside the campus would say? (Maybe the answer is “yes”) If it’s 150さん, he’d have an easier getaway than most.
I read six pages today and finished the book from Graded Readers, Level 0, Vol. 1, Book 4. It’s about a girl’s friend who came for a visit and stays for lunch. The elder brother is a pest. I learned how to set a table for a Japanese meal.
I just checked where 2.4 leaves off and there is a major plot development at 2.5 which makes me think this theory is less likely It’s still possible but IMO it’d be an odd twist given what happened. Though if you’re right (post 2.5 spoiler) I’m worried for 晴美!
Just reread the passage in question.「でも管理人はー」doesn’t seem unusual to me. A dorm having a 管理人 seems normal to me, and probably somewhat expected for a girl’s only university dorm. Also as the killer seemingly frequents the girls at this university, he could have heard about there being a caretaker before.
Page 6 has the coat reference:
でも、来ているコートは高級品だし、そんなごまかしをやりそうには見えない
it’s in reference to her thinking he won’t skip out on paying
Page 122:
Encountering words I learned recently on WK in a different context was also satisfying.
Japanese found in the tall grass 
And the list goes on.
Home post 
It’s still possible but IMO it’d be an odd twist given what happened. Though if you’re right (post 2.5 spoiler)