Haha it definitely feels hard! But there is still time… I’ll have a look at some kanjis used on the first pages to get a headstart a bit, maybe that helps? I don’t think I have enough vocabulary yet to read a long, but I’ll try to work on some very easy graded books until then!
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MMmm my problem is the grammar/syntax. I don’t have a lot of vocabulary, but I can always look that up. It’s rather difficult to understand a sentence if you have no idea what all those particles mean and what tense the verb is in. 
I just ordered a book on sentence structures (woohooo I discovered amazon Japan), I hope that will help.
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I feel you! I have the same issue. Could you tell me the title of your book?
I’ve just bought Genki 1 and 2 (also from Amazon JP), but I’m looking for just about anything that might help me get further.
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Hi, yes, of course! I bought the Minna no Nihongo series (because I’m the type of person that likes grammar exercices 
) and then I also bought:
Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference Paperback – English Edition by [Taeko Kamiya]
I also have the book “All about particles” (small pink one) and “The dictionary of basic Japanese grammar”.
EDIT: I also use Bunpro (online), maybe that would help?
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That’s brilliant! I’ve only just started thinking about doing grammar, so this is extremely helpful. Thank you 
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Don’t worry, you’ll also have the book club to help you out if there’s something you’re struggling with 
My first real Japanese book was 魔女の宅急便 (Kiki’s delivery service) and it really helped in the beginning when I looked through the book club threads about the book here on WaniKani
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I’d give Cure Dolly a try - her course is a little like grammar boot camp: Japanese From Scratch
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Thank you! I saw those videos in the past, but they weirded me out a bit. I’ve started watching them this morning after your recommandation and I really like them! (after I got used to their style)
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Yes, it definitely takes getting used to.
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Very excited for this, looking forward to learning more about Japan!
Physical order has arrived, first time I’ve ordered something physical for a book club. I also took advantage to get a physical manga of Yotsuba and One Piece at the same time.
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I wish Cure Dolly would offer proper videos. I just can’t stand listening to that robot voice 
I’ll probably have a look at some Transkripts, the contents are interesting for sure.
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Right, now that you mention it I think I remember they started working on transcribing the videos … If the transcripts work for you that’s great!
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My copy just arrived as well and I’m super excited!
I was a bit nervous because other than some articles on the Todai Easy News app, I haven’t really read that much native Japanese. I think once, a while ago, when I had first started studying Japanese at all, I tried reading some children’s stories like a version of Momotarou and it had definitely been outside of my abilities at that time and made me a little nervous. But when my book arrived today, I had a look through the first few pages and I’m so pleased by how much I can pick up! I think this is a really, really good pick for beginners because I think you can still work out the main gist of things from just the nouns and a few other words in a sentence alone.
I’m trying not to look too far ahead, lol, even if the illustrations are very cute, because I definitely want to read along, but I’m thinking about going back and ordering some more elementary-age books as well now that I know they’re this accessible 
Can’t wait for the book club to start, it’ll be my first time doing anything like this
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I’m glad that we’ve been given substantial time in advance to know when the next book club begins as it will take 4 weeks for my copy of the book to arrive!
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I got my arrival notice at the Kinokuniya Bookstore that my copy has arrived. Two weeks exactly since I ordered online, so I’m very happy not to have paid any shipping. Only the local sales tax of 10%. Plus now I have an excuse to go back to Mitsuya Marketplace (where it’s located) and have a meal and some matcha ice cream! (hmm…maybe the book wasn’t that cheap, LOL)
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The Torrance location? That’s where I’m headed soon. It will be 2 weeks on Thursday so hopefully I’ll get it soon 
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Yep! I picked up the second Yotsuba(to) volume last week when I went. It’s a nice store.
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Could someone who has their copy share a photo of the contents page/s so I can put the schedule together please?
Also please could someone share a photo of the introductory chapter so we can use this for a bit of prereading?
Thank you!
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Thanks @_Mae! I’ve not tried this before, but I’ve created a prereading thread where people can try reading the introductory chapter (pages 4-5) before the club kicks off properly on May 14th. It will either work or it won’t…
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