Let me see, I have not updated in March at all, have I? Here we go:
March 1st
ユートロニカのこちら側 , 59-62% 半落ち , 70-72%
March 2-4
半落ち , 72-100%
I read a little more of ユートロニカのこちら側 to finish a very strong chapter, then devoted the rest of my time to 半落ち, to finish a very strong book! (and the first book to finish in March)
In the next few days I’ll continue with ユートロニカのこちら側, but I also need to pick at least one more book to read on the side. I used to like devoting my attention to one book at a time, but the overlapping book clubs have taught me that variety can be fun too. And I have no active book clubs (other than the informal one) until April, so…
I find seeing 五月蝿い repeatedly amusing. Having a feel of May flies (but not mayflies), seriously? Well, there are also others, like 非道い.
夏へのトンネル、さよならの出口 Ch.2 first half
ふしぎの国のバード Vol.9 Ch.41-43 (start volume)
In the time of calamities.
I also read a chapter of Yurucamp. It seems that now I can read manga without that much effort, and optional looking-up. However I still want to read faster and still have a good understanding. Also, not every material is story-type.
Words of the day
ふんだん = plentiful
こんもり = (on-mim) dense; luxuriant
ひとしきり = for a little while = 一頻り. Perhaps easier if thinking of 頻りに first. (Although used differently.)
へべれけ = dead drunk
ろれつが回らない = slurred speaking. 呂律 is articulation (though the word sounds like slurring itself ).
空耳 = mishearing
背徳 = corruption; immorality
難色 = reluctant to accept; disapproval
感銘 = deep impression
丸太 = a log of a tree. Not that 対数.
息災 = (wishing for) no illness and disaster
大時化 = very stormy weather at sea. Also, 時化. Has Furigana.
大の字 = like the shape of 大 Kanji = (lying, sleeping) with arms and legs spread wide
不可視 = invisibility
片割れ = one of a group of people / broken fragment
折り返し = replying back promptly / heading back / a flap
初対面 = first meeting
相席 = sharing a table with someone you don’t know (e.g. at a restaurant)
走馬燈 = ever-changing scenes; revolving lantern = 走馬灯. For the last Kanji, I have seen both being used interchangeably in other words too, even if some words don’t exist in Jisho.
誘導尋問 = leading questions
美辞麗句 = flowery words
仏頂面 = pout; sour look = 仏頂な顔. 仏頂 is the top of Buddha’s head.
剣呑 = risky; dangerous. Well, drinking a sword.
目処が立つ = bright prospects ahead. First half (目処) has Furigana.
I ended up reading the last three chapters of the story today. There is a crossover chapter with another series by the same mangaka, so I haven’t finished the volume yet, but I don’t think that chapter will have any bearing on the overall Orange story. Probably just a fun goof.
This is my first finished manga series in Japanese where I have not previous experienced the story before in English or another form. And that feels pretty significant to me.
I look forward to in a couple of years time, rereading the whole thing over a weekend. I could have finished Orange quicker if I was reading it by myself, so saying it took 8 months is kinda misleading. Although, maybe if I had been reading it by myself, I would have taken pauses from the series, so who knows?
In any case, very happy with this accomplishment, and Orange was such a great story so makes it even better. Highly recommend this series. And yes, while the main story is technically finished in volume 5, the additional volumes (6+7) fleshes out stuff and takes care of dangling threads, totally worth reading. Without them, I wouldn’t have been as happy about the series because I felt like one question was unanswered, but 6-7 answered it. ^^
Properly read and took vocab notes on the first chapter of よつばと！
I bought volume 1 years ago and have read it multiple times since then but it still cracks me up every time. I finally went and bought a whole 15 volume set despite having bought a few odd volumes over the years. I was hoping for it to be released as a ebook but that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon. Can’t wait to finally progress in the story!
Gonna see if I can maybe finish the 15 volumes in time for よつばと! Volume 1’s 20 year anniversary this August
02/03/23: 1Q84 Book 1 後編 (33 - 37%) Completed chapter 16!
03/03/23: 1Q84 Book 1 後編 (37 - 38%)
04/03/23: 1Q84 Book 1 後編 (38 - 41%)
I’ve been planning to finish this weeks 1Q84 reading by today, but I’ve been a little busy with sorting out travel arrangements these past few days. Will finish chapter 17 tomorrow though :3
Considering I’ve only read two light novels so far (since Yoru cafe seems to count), I don’t see it happening anytime soon since it won’t with that series unfortunately. First book was so good too, but I can’t recommend reading anymore than that one.
But I’m sure it’ll happen eventually. ^^
My next achievement should be finishing my first VN. In a couple of months. ^^
forgot to reply, but let me know when you get around to sakura, saku! With your speed I’m sure it’ll be in no time I’m gonna try to read 1 or 2 volumes / month but I’m not really in a rush since it’s still ongoing afterall
Today I read Chapter 61 of Shadows House. Only one more chapter left in this volume
This volume has felt very text dense to me compared to previous volumes, and I’ve been finding it a bit tough - but the story is really interesting!
I barely read last week and it showed in my class as my proficiency dropped significantly (plus I have been up since 2 am watching kdramas and my classes were 12 pm and 1 pm soo).
Suffice it to say that I plan to read 30 minutes per day this week even if I cannot understand the content.
Very tired today, so I didn’t have the energy to read much.
2 pages of 2.43, leaving off on pg 195. Did a tiny bit of translating, too. Today I came across 濃度, recently learned on WK, in the wild for the first time!
Busy day, read a tiny bit of 半落ち and I’m ready for bed.
Jealous, I hope to do this tomorrow!
夜警 was on sale I think? I usually binge Aozora when I’m feeling indecisive, but you have to really lean into the chaotic energy of not knowing what you’re going to get.
Although I hear 漱石 is a solid choice (こころ、坊っちゃん and the like) - I’ve only ever read a random one of his essays and it wasn’t exactly thrilling, but I’ve heard his fiction is great. I plan to read こころ eventually, maybe later this year.
I have adored every 太宰 short story I’ve read as well. His writing is such a delight.
Oh yes good suggestion actually! We could read the 10 dreams together @omk3 if you like (as I’m doing that anyways for the literature circle I signed up for), the stories are short (~3 pages each) but make for good discussion (at least the first two did). Maybe we can rope in @Myria as well?
囀る鳥は羽ばたかない 8
5 pages in chapter 45 - 1st page of chapter 47
estimating that’s p40 - 103
According to 3/5 in let’s enjoy the seasons, the reason frog and snake have 虫 in their kanji is because a long time ago 虫 meant more like creatures that “open the door” in spring ie come out of the earth. Til!
Oh boy, Saezuru. Saezuru, Saezuru, Saezuru. Ignoring how awful Japan is with consent and how both of these characters would be so much better off getting therapy, I love that Yashiro has given up pretending that he doesn’t know Domeki. I can’t wait to see him become more and more honest. I’m a bit torn about Domeki’s actions. On one hand: creepy. On the other hand: it feels like he’s playing Yashiro’s games, which is interesting. Is that supposed to be a sign of intelligent or emotional growth or that he’s still just playing at being yakuza?
Thanks for the recommendations once again! For now I decided I’d like to read 水たまりで息をする, a probably stranger story (a man starts avoiding tap water and stops taking baths) written by the author of おいしいごはん。I’ve even set up a thread in case anyone is interested to join, now or later (the book is on the expensive side, but hopefully there will be some coin-back sale soon for those interested).
I had a quick look, and it’s short and free (déjà vu) and hopefully not as hard as 糞尿譚, so why not?
).
This is a great achievement 
In a couple of months. ^^
I’m gonna try to read 1 or 2 volumes / month but I’m not really in a rush since it’s still ongoing afterall
