I would probably need to learn basics of dialects (sound changes, additional vocab), in addition to grammar. It’s in various materials anyway.
ガラスのうさぎ Ch.13-14
There are 16 chapters, but I can’t promise I would read fast.
ふしぎの国のバード Vol.6 Ch.28-29 (end volume)
Funeral service.
うたわれるもの
The end is near, probably.
Words of the day
くよくよ = (on-mim) fretting over. While 供養 is an actual memorial service.
ムキムキ = (on-mim) muscular
テカテカ = (on-mim) glistening; gleaming. Describing sweat (汗) in context.
ほのぼの = in a heart-warming manner / with a faint light. Indeed, 仄仄.
ほんわか = (on-mim) cozy; fluffy
ガタゴト = (on-mim) rattling; bump and jolt
いたれりつくせり = perfect; more than satisfactory = 至れり尽くせり
おはぎ = rice ball coated with sweetened red beans, soybean flour or sesame = お萩
たくあん = pickled daikon radish = 沢庵
嫁ぐ = to marry. The Kanji itself is 嫁. Also, 嫁入る, which is used in 狐の嫁入り. There are others that doesn’t involve 嫁, like 娶る.
取り乱す = to be upset
差し支えない = no objection. The latter part is the verb 支える (= to block; to interrupt), in contrast with another verb 支える (= to support; to hold up).
葦 = common reed, a kind of plant. Has Furigana. Probably also, 芦 (蘆) which is used in names.
無鉄砲 = reckless. 鉄砲 is a gun. Also, 無謀 is also reckless, although different Kanji.
艶めかしい = charming / seductive. Kanji from 艶, 艶やか and 妖艶.
お供 = accompanying with / companion
下車 = getting of a train, a car. Also, 降車. Opposite is 乗車.
書簡 = a letter; a note
種目 = an item; an event (e.g. of the day)
双六 = sugoroku, a traditional Japanese board game played with dice. No Furigana.
天真爛漫 = innocence; naivety. Has Furigana.
感慨無量 = deep emotion
言語道断 = outrageous
陰口 = malicious gossip; speaking ill behind one’s back
見納め = last look; farewell look
形見 = memento (esp. of a deceased person)
経文 = sutras; scriptures = お経. It’s the same Kanji as in 経験 and 経つ.
剣幕 = threatening attitude
豪雨 = torrential rain
氾濫 = a flood. Similar sounding 反乱 (叛乱) is rebellion.
堤防 = a embankment (mound) to protect from flood. The Furigana in context is 堤, which has the same meaning.
雨露をしのぐ = to shelter from the weather (rain and dew). The verb is 凌ぐ.
While I am still jealous of people finishing novels within a week, I am now aiming for – manga series that I can finish, or a book that I can finish. The trick is getting the difficulty right, borderline on easier.
It’s not speed, but drive more than anything.
Otherwise, consistency, particularly for the first priority material. I don’t always understand everything either. Understanding varies, and I might not bother looking everything up.
Orange
English non-fiction book (The Dip by Seth Godin, highly recommend)
My week was this:
Sorry for stealing but you said it so well.
Although those who frequent several parts of the forum would know I have been around, mostly I did what I had to. Both here, but mostly in the real world. Last week I would have been fine with people-ing, but had none of it. This week when all I wanted was to be left alone, so many things came up.
Only in the last day or so have I felt happier to talk to people.
And I didn’t read anything all week, so wanted even less to hang around here. I’ve been reading all you guys’ posts though.
So read this week’s Orange, and might read Komi-san after dinner. I’ll see.
I should have been reading Bustafellows all week and it is that “should” that partly tripped me up, and I needed to read something simple, but I didn’t want to get ahead in the manga clubs I’m in. Well, I’m gonna stop being silly. If I need something simple to read (B$ requires a lot of lookups from me), then I will read ahead. Nothing wrong with that.
Completed chapter 14 today, and Murakami is at it once again, making Freud proud. Why am I still surprised. Wish I could unread that
While the chaos is a little hard to follow, my real issue is with the characters. I’m struggling to get invested in them. I was especially annoyed when we were repeatedly reminded of how the protagonist dislikes reading books I’m not sure a change of genres will help my issue - but perhaps I will be a bit more willing to bear with the characters if the writing is a little less overwhelming (i.e. less crazy and random stuff)? Also, gritty noir detective drama sounds fun Hmmm… Maybe I’ll try to read on a little more, see if I feel any better about it :3
Got through the prologue of steins gate. it’s weird looking back on my speed because what took me an hour and 15 min felt like it should have taken me way less. I guess in general visual novels are still kind of like books where things generally go slower despite the visual cues.
Edit: Seeing video times on YouTube I guess it is about an hour long in general. So I feel less bad.
I decided I might as well keep going fast with Ruri Dragon lol.
I heard Land of the Lustrous is free for about a week, so figured I’d give it a try since I enjoyed the anime. It’s weird not seeing everyone in color. The real problem is though that it’s digital and my eyes can only handle so much screentime a day. I don’t know if I’ll try to finish the volume or not. I might buy it in the future, although I really don’t have the shelf space…
Day 47: February 16th
What did I read?: ペンギン・ハイウェイ
How much did I read?: 8 pages
How long did it take me?: 30 minutes
Day 48: February 17th
What did I read?: ペンギン・ハイウェイ
How much did I read?: 8 pages
How long did it take me?: 37 minutes
Day 49: February 18th
Missed
Day 50: February 19th
What did I read?: ペンギン・ハイウェイ
How much did I read?: 6 pages
How long did it take me?: 28 minutes
Day 51-55: February 20th-24th
Missed
Day 56: February 25th
What did I read?: ペンギン・ハイウェイ
How much did I read?: 10 pages
How long did it take me?: 38 minutes
I’ve been quite busy with work, especially this past week, so I decided to pretty much step away from the challenge for a bit to give myself the mental space I needed to deal with that. Didn’t feel like reading, so I didn’t force it. (It was very much a good move, btw, I was insanely productive the whole week and even got to complete some stuff ahead of schedule which I was not anticipating at all lol, so that was a good feeling). Trying to get back on the horse a bit for the last couple days of the challenge - can’t believe it’s almost ending already. Still enjoying Penguin Highway, the mystery keeps growing I really liked the part where the girl’s umbrella starts to sprout flowers, that really just sounded so pretty
Replies
First - happy extremely belated birthday @natarin !
Steal away hahaha, I’m glad I’m not the only one that experiences this feeling
I read a few pages of 七回死んだ男 on the bus (early reading for next week) and then a few pages of 半落ち tonight, finishing 4.7 but I’m so mentally tired that I’m having to reread a lot more than usual so going to wait til tomorrow to finish it.
I may read more 七回死んだ男 tonight as it’s a much easier book and then have tomorrow to focus on 半落ち and この本を盗むものは. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel re: books I’m going to stick to my obligations (レベル７ and whatever is the next Mystery Book Club) but I think I’m going to need to be more cautious of joining any new clubs until at least the N1 is over. I’ve barely studied for it, and I need to honestly as the question formats still catch me off guard. Also just…endurance. How to read so many boring excerpts without losing focus…
Thanks again for the birthday wishes I played some more Steins;Gate today, didn’t end up having a whole lot of time to do so but it continues to be very intriguing I have many questions and no answers lmao.
Spoilery comments (no lookie if you're planning to read the series)
I knew it! Finally confirmed: 任氏 is the character I thought he was Wheee! And he was trying to tell Maomao but she dodged the conversation, literally shut the door in his face. At least, she heard his apology.
The scene in the cave was hilarious, Maomao got to know about the frog . Label: そこそこ. I’m glad the scene didn’t go any further than that though, seems like he really wanted to prove that it was not a frog at all
Possible spoiler for volume 5, I think: In this volume, I’m glad the frog scene stopped where it did, but I’m kinda freaked out because I know Nafu complained about a scene that basically was an assault? I’m worried.
・この本を盗む者は (0% → 1%)
Also read the first 3-4 pages of new book.
PS. I fell asleep last night before I could post xD
Hello hello everyone… Many days without updating and honestly… reading during the trip didn’t go well at all, but it’s okay I guess…
11/2: わたしの幸せな結婚, 26min
12/2: わたしの幸せな結婚, 48min
13/2-14/2: missed
15/2: わたしの幸せな結婚, 23min 31%
16/2: missed
17/2: 暁のヨナ、ch107,108.
18/2: 暁のヨナ、ch108 read-aloud.
19-24/2: all missed…
25/2: 暁のヨナ、ch109. → ended up getting called to do something and had to leave the bookclub session…
I only had and with me for the trip, so nothing else read. I feel bad for falling into a reading slump but as long as I get back on track and don’t give up completely, I think it should be okay.
another short chapter of 聖☆おにいさん today, this time they went shopping and ended up doing a comedy routine for the elderly, as you do. not sure i’m enjoying it as such, but it’s something to look at. comedy in general seems harder
Posting now because I doubt I’ll read other stuff tonight. Too much studying and work to do. Pretty sure I have the same umbrella as the mom (?), also can’t wait to see what’s revealed at the start of vol 2 when it eventually (hopefully) comes.
Also thinking I’ll put Land of the Lustrous and Ruri Dragon on the same list of manga to buy later when I have the shelf/the works are complete like Rose of Versailles
Read a chapter of 推しの子 and a section of Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories. Played Genshin but admittedly ignored a lot of the dialogue.
I was pretty busy today. Had a cooking class and a Livestream of Nogizaka46. So that was about 8 hours of my day, but still made some time for reading. Tomorrow Tuesday is the last day of the challenge, so I’ll give my final results for the challenge, reflections, etc.
After Ch.16 is publication notes and I went on full reading without looking up, perhaps I was getting tired. With enough Furigana (but not all), subvocalization, or reading aloud quietly, is easy.
うたわれるもの
Words of the day
ちらほら = (on-mim) here and there
ぼつぼつ = (on-mim) gradually / scattered; here and there
つかつか = (on-mim) walking briskly; without hesitation
どやどや = (on-mim) sound of many footsteps, noisily
もたもた = (on-mim) slow and tardy
もくもく = silently = 黙々
チンプンカンプン = unintelligible; gibberish
きんとん = mashed sweet potatoes = 金団
パンダン = pandan, a kind of plant = パンダンリーフ. Seems to be of 蛸の木 family. I don’t know the English word, but in Thai is เตยหอม.
はからい = discretion = 計らい
ところせましと = being cramped; crowded; overflowing = 所狭しと. There is also 所狭い.
ないないづくし = having nothing left = 無い無い尽くし
こうむる = to sustain damage. Kanji is 被る / 蒙る. I think it sounds quite similar to 葬る = to bury.
黙想 = contemplation
人なつこい = friendly = 人懐こい = 人懐っこい
食べざかり = growing child’s appetite; being a children with a lot of appetite = 食べ盛り
奮発 = a spurt of efforts; exertions
焼けただれる = to be burned badly = 焼け爛れる
殿堂 = a hall
国技 = national sports
東洋史 = Asian history. 東洋 is the East, while 西洋 and 洋式 are of western style.
野宿 = sleeping outdoors
死去 = passing away
大黒柱 = central pillar. The 大黒 part probably refers to 大黒天.
憲兵 = Military Police. Also abbreviated MP in context.
停電 = power outage
声楽 = vocal music
予選 = preliminary contest
衆議一決 = unanimous
発会式 = opening ceremony
陽炎 = heat haze; shimmer of hot air. Another word that has this reading is 蜉蝣 = mayfly; ephemeropteran.
(The Dip by Seth Godin, highly recommend)
I’ve been reading all you guys’ posts though.
からかい上手の高木さん Volume 11 (0% ➨ 14%)
ルリドラゴン Volume 1 (10% ➨ 27%)
Hmmm… Maybe I’ll try to read on a little more, see if I feel any better about it :3
I really liked the part where 
I’m going to stick to my obligations (レベル７ and whatever is the next Mystery Book Club) but I think I’m going to need to be more cautious of joining any new clubs until at least the N1 is over. I’ve barely studied for it, and I need to honestly as the question formats still catch me off guard. Also just…endurance. How to read so many boring excerpts without losing focus… 
I played some more Steins;Gate today, didn’t end up having a whole lot of time to do so but it continues to be very intriguing 
２月２５日 
わたしの幸せな結婚, 26min
missed
暁のヨナ、ch107,108.